Chester Photo Festival 2026 is built around a simple question that can unlock surprisingly strong work: what story are you trying to tell, and what parts of your past, feelings, or personal mythology are still asking to be seen. The festival’s 2nd edition runs from 16 to 29 October 2026 across venues in Chester City Centre, with the main event expected on 16 to 18 October. For photographers who want their images to live beyond the screen, this open call is designed with physical presentation in mind, from exhibitions to a printed festival book.
Submissions open on 1 December 2025 and start out genuinely accessible: entry is free for up to five works, and selection is handled on a first-come, first-served basis with capacity limits. The key deadlines are 15 May 2026 for early entries (or when 200 works have been selected) and 15 June 2026 for late entries (or when 300 works have been selected). If a work is selected, a participation fee applies per work £45 for early entries (about €52) or £60 for late entries (about €69). For photographers browsing photography contests to join online, this one stands out for its clear timeline, limited-capacity selection model, and emphasis on storytelling through exhibited work.
The theme for the Chester Photo Festival 2026 edition is “Making Voices Heard”, inviting images shaped by myths, memories, feelings, and personal stories. Selected participants can be included in on-site exhibitions, referenced in festival promotion, and featured in a UK-published exhibition book. It’s a practical option for anyone looking for an open theme photography contests style brief, but with a strong curatorial focus on narrative and meaning.
Contents
Prizes
Chester Photo Festival’s prizes are participation outcomes tied to exhibition and publication rather than a single winner-takes-all award. If your work is selected, the benefits are designed to help it reach a public audience during the October programme.
- Selected works for exhibition. Chosen works are allocated exhibition space across venues in Chester City Centre as part of the 16 to 29 October 2026 festival programme, with the main event expected from 16 to 18 October.
- Production support for standard entries. For standard entries, the participation fee per selected work includes printing and installation in the festival’s standard frames (various sizes around 50×40 cm, 50×50 cm, 40×30 cm, or 30×30 cm).
- Inclusion in the festival publication. Participants’ works are planned for inclusion in the “Chester Photo Festival 2026 2nd Ed” exhibition book, published in the UK. The organizers indicate they aim to include one or two works per participant.
- Festival participation and programming. Selected participants are part of the wider festival activity, which may include on-site exhibitions, talks, and workshops beginning from 16 October 2026, plus opportunities to meet other artists during the main event weekend.
- Participation certificate. Every participant receives a participation certificate.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The open call does not list fixed categories. Instead, it centres on one curatorial theme for Chester Photo Festival 2026 “Making Voices Heard.” The organizers invite photographers to explore myths, feelings, memories, and personal stories, with space for both standard photographic submissions and “non-standard” forms such as installations, videos, projections, objects on display, larger works, or focused small-group projects (arranged directly with the team).
Dates and Entry Fees
The festival uses two submission windows and a selection model that can close early once capacity is reached.
Key dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Early entries deadline (or when 200 works have been selected) |
| 15 June 2026 | Late entries deadline (or when 300 works have been selected) |
| 30 June – 30 August 2026 | Notifications sent (selected works only) |
| 15 September 2026 | Festival programme announced |
| 16 – 18 October 2026 | Main event (programme to be confirmed) |
| 16 – 29 October 2026 | Festival open across venues in Chester City Centre |
Entry fees
Submission is free for up to five works.
If a work is selected, a participation fee applies per work:
- Early entries: £45 per selected work (about €52).
- Late entries: £60 per selected work (about €69).
For non-standard entries, additional charges may apply depending on project requirements, to be discussed during the selection and curation process.
How to Enter:
Prepare up to five JPEG files (shortest side at least 6 inches at 300 dpi). Name files using your surname and numbering (for example, Surname_01 to Surname_05). Include a single Word document listing the title, year, size (if applicable), and a personal statement of up to 100 words for each work.
Submit via the Chester Photo Festival’s entry form. If your five JPEGs exceed 10MB in total, send the entry to the festival email address using a file-transfer option such as WeTransfer, Dropbox, Google Docs, OneDrive, or MailDrop. The organisers state they aim to confirm receipt by email within 24 hours. You will be notified only if your work is selected, and selected participants receive an invoice for the participation fee.
About the Jury
The selection is handled by the festival’s curatorial team. The organisers note that selection may include a curatorial process, and if needed they will discuss and agree display details such as location, printing, size, medium, and installation approach, especially for non-standard works.
Why Enter Chester Photo Festival 2026?
Chester Photo Festival 2026 offers a straightforward route from submission to real-world presentation. The call is free to enter, notifications are tied to clear dates, and selection is capacity-based, which can benefit photographers who submit early and want a defined outcome. For selected works, the participation fee includes practical production support for standard entries, reducing the logistical barrier to exhibiting, especially for photographers submitting internationally.
It’s also a solid fit for photographers building a body of narrative-led work. With a theme focused on personal stories, memory, and meaning, the festival supports projects that sit between documentary and poetic interpretation, and it leaves room for expanded formats beyond framed prints. If you’re also comparing other popular photo challenges on Deartline, this one is worth noting for its combination of physical exhibition opportunities and planned publication in a festival book.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Chester Photo Festival 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
Entries are submitted as JPEG files with a supporting Word document containing details and a short statement for each work. The organisers indicate they will contact participants only from their stated phone number or email address, and that receipt confirmation is typically sent within 24 hours.
Only selected works trigger a participation fee invoice. For standard entries, the fee is described as covering printing and installation in the festival’s standard frames. For non-standard entries, the organisers note that extra charges may apply and should be agreed during the curation process. Artists are responsible for transport and insurance of artworks, and the organisers state they are not liable for damage, loss, or theft of artwork.
Copyright and Image Usage
Participants must hold full copyright ownership of submitted work and confirm they have any necessary permissions or consents from third parties. Submitted material is treated as non-confidential.
By submitting, participants grant the festival a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, and display the material for promoting the festival’s exhibitions and activities, including use on the festival website, social media, and related promotion. The licence is described as perpetual unless the participant withdraws consent in writing, after which the festival will cease using the material.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
