Borders Calling asks a deceptively simple question: where is the “border” in your everyday life, and what story does it quietly hold. Run as the B-SHAPES photo competition for high school students, this call focuses on “borderlandscapes” outdoor places where human-made traces meet natural elements and create a sense of division. The submission window closes on January 31, 2026, and the top three photographers receive cash prizes of €300, €200, and €100.
The competition is aimed at students aged 15 to 19 living in countries participating in the Horizon Europe Programme. Entries can be shot with any device, including phones, and each participant submits one image with a title plus a short English description (up to 100 words) that explains the connection to the theme. For photographers browsing similar photo challenges online, this one stands out for its tight concept and its emphasis on story over gear, making it a natural fit for anyone already following landscape photography contests.
Entry is free, which also makes it relevant to anyone collecting deadlines from free photo competitions. Results are scheduled to be announced by February 28, 2026, and winning images are set to be shared through ENRS channels, connecting the selected photographs to a wider educational project about borders and heritage.
Contents
The Borders Calling Prizes
Borders Calling keeps prizes straightforward and tied to placement, with awards paid as cash prizes.
- 1st place: €300 (cash prize).
- 2nd place: €200 (cash prize).
- 3rd place: €100 (cash prize).
In addition, the winning works are planned to be presented on ENRS and partners’ websites and social media, alongside the broader visibility that comes with the project’s public outputs.
Other Free Contests
The Categories of the Borders Calling
Borders Calling does not list separate categories, it runs on a single theme: “borderlandscapes.” The focus is on outdoor spaces where natural features and human-made elements meet and suggest a boundary, whether that boundary is physical (a wall, fence, river, road) or social and cultural (where communities, identities, or habits shift across a place). The required text description is part of the concept, helping the jury understand what “border” the photographer is pointing to and why it matters locally.
Borders Calling Dates and Entry Fees
The competition timeline is structured around a submission period followed by a results announcement.
- Competition period: December 15, 2025 to February 28, 2026
- Submission form active: December 15, 2025 to January 31, 2026
- Submission deadline: January 31, 2026
- Results announcement: by February 28, 2026
Entry fee: Free.
How to Enter:
Submissions are made through the online form on the official contest page. Each entry includes one photo, a photo title, and an English description of up to 100 words. Entrants also provide where and when the photo was taken (city and country).
About the Jury
Evaluation is handled by a selection team that combines organisers and project partners. The jury structure is described as the organisers’ staff, a photographer chosen by the organiser, and representatives of the B-SHAPES project consortium. The selection team scores submissions, selects the three laureates, and the decision is final.
Why Enter Borders Calling?
Borders Calling is designed for photographers who want a clear assignment with room for interpretation. The theme pushes entrants to connect an image to local history and identity, and the required short text makes the entry feel closer to a visual story than a standalone shot. Because images can be made with any device, it also fits photographers exploring smartphone work without changing how they shoot.
For students, the practical upside is simple: a free entry route, fixed cash awards, and planned publication of winning images through ENRS channels. For anyone browsing Deartline for best online photography awards, this competition is also notable for its defined eligibility and its connection to a wider research and education consortium, which shapes the topic and how entries are judged.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Borders Calling has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Eligibility is limited to high school students aged 15 to 19, with age assessed as of December 15, 2025, and residency required in a country participating in the Horizon Europe Programme.
Each participant may submit one application and one photograph, submitted in English via the online form by January 31, 2026.
The application includes participant details, a photo title, and an English description (maximum 100 words) explaining the image’s link to the theme.
If AI tools were used to generate the image (or an element of it) or to support the application, the entrant must disclose this and specify what AI was used for.
The organiser can exclude entries that do not comply with the rules, and selection team decisions are final.
Copyright and Image Usage
Winning participants are expected to sign an agreement connected to prize payment.
Under that agreement, winners transfer economic copyrights to the organiser and the cooperating institute free of charge, without time or territorial limits, for use across broad fields of exploitation. The stated purposes include preparing photo exhibitions (print and online) and using the images in merchandise and marketing projects.
Winning works are also intended to be presented on ENRS and partners’ websites and social media.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
