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The Copenhagen Photo Festival – Call for Solo Artists 2027 places exhibition-making at the center of its selection. The open call is looking for developed photographic and lens-based projects that can become solo presentations during the festival in Copenhagen. Applications close on September 1, 2026, and ten projects will advance to the shortlist, with three to five ultimately presented as solo exhibitions.
The 2027 theme, “Frie hænder | Free Hands”, examines freedom of action, artistic independence, human agency and the growing influence of technology. Projects may move between fine art and documentary practice, but each proposal must respond to the theme and explain how the work could be installed. Selected solo artists receive an exhibition produced by the festival, participation and travel support, publicity, a permanent online feature and access to professional networks. The remaining Selectees receive a digital festival screening, a fee and additional visibility.
Applications cost 215 DKK (about €28) and must include at least ten supporting images, a biography, a CV and a project description of no more than 3,000 characters. For photographers comparing opportunities through Deartline’s photo contest calendar, this Copenhagen Photo Festival – Call for Solo Artists 2027 is distinguished by its focus on complete projects, physical presentation and direct collaboration with a curatorial team.
Prizes
Ten projects will be shortlisted. Following interviews in autumn 2026, three to five artists will be chosen for solo exhibitions, while the other shortlisted applicants will be announced as Selectees.
- Solo Artists: Each selected artist receives a solo exhibition at the festival center in central Copenhagen, produced and covered by Copenhagen Photo Festival.
- Solo Artist participation fee: €537.
- International travel and accommodation support: €400 for artists traveling from outside Denmark.
- Local expenses: €134 toward food and transportation in Copenhagen.
- Promotion: A targeted public relations and marketing strategy across the festival’s communication channels, together with a permanent feature on its website.
- Professional programme: Opportunities to meet exhibitors, curators and other photography professionals, as well as participation in activities connected to the exhibition, which may include talks, tours or workshops.
- Selectees: Artists not chosen for a physical solo exhibition receive a digital screening of their project at the festival center, a €200 fee, a permanent website feature and free access to the festival’s opening days.
The principal opportunity is therefore an exhibition prize, supported by artist fees, production collaboration and festival promotion rather than a ranked cash-award structure.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
There are no separate entry categories. Every proposal must engage with the festival theme, “Frie hænder | Free Hands”. The phrase describes the freedom to act, make decisions and shape one’s own direction, while also acknowledging the uncertainty, responsibility and risk that accompany that freedom.
The curatorial framework connects political and personal freedom with artistic practice. It considers censorship, inequality, technological automation and the human presence behind an image. Applicants may approach these questions through conceptual photography, fine art, documentary work or other forms of lens-based art, provided the submitted project has a clear relationship to the theme.
Dates and Entry Fees
The application period runs during summer 2026, with the selected program announced the following March. The Copenhagen Photo Festival 2027 schedule is:
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| July 8, 2026 | Applications open |
| September 1, 2026 | Application deadline |
| Autumn 2026 | Interviews with the ten shortlisted artists |
| March 1, 2027 | Solo Artists and Selectees announced |
| November 15, 2027 | Festival grand opening |
| November 21, 2027 | Final day of the festival |
The entry fee is 215 DKK (about €28) for each submission.
How to Enter
Applications are submitted through the contest’s Picter platform and may be written in English or Danish. Each submission must contain a biography, a CV, at least ten images and a project description limited to 3,000 characters. Images must measure at least 1,500 pixels on the longest side and use the sRGB color space.
The project description should set out the finalized concept, its relationship to “Free Hands”, the expected number of works, formats and materials, any audiovisual requirements and whether the project has previously been exhibited. Applicants should also explain how the work could be presented or installed, including consideration of sustainable production and display.
About the Jury
The Copenhagen Photo Festival – Call for Solo Artists 2027 program committee brings together experience in curation, publishing, photojournalism and festival management:
- Søren Pagter: Head of the Department of Photojournalism at the Danish School of Media and Journalism.
- Patricia Breinholm Bertram: Curator and Head of Communication at Martin Asbæk Gallery.
- Stinus Duch: Founder of Disko Bay Books.
- Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen: Managing Director of Copenhagen Photo Festival.
The selection considers the aesthetic, conceptual and journalistic dimensions of each project. All ten shortlisted applicants will first be invited to an interview before the final solo exhibition program is determined.
Why Enter Copenhagen Photo Festival – Call for Solo Artists 2027?
The Copenhagen Photo Festival – Call for Solo Artists 2027 is structured around the development and presentation of a complete body of work. Solo Artists collaborate closely with the festival’s curatorial team on exhibition planning, installation and related public programming. This offers a different format from competitions centered solely on individual photographs or portfolio rankings.
The festival takes place in Copenhagen and works with galleries, museums and cultural institutions across the city and southern Sweden. Selected artists receive both a physical or digital presentation and a permanent place in the festival’s online archive. For those reviewing the best photography contests, the combination of curatorial dialogue, an international festival setting and direct exhibition support provides a clear basis for comparison.
The Copenhagen Photo Festival 2027 is particularly relevant to artists whose projects examine freedom, technology, authorship or the human imprint within contemporary image-making. Its inclusion of installation planning also makes it suitable for photographers ready to consider how a body of work functions spatially, materially and in relation to an audience.
Rules and Copyright
Summarize the critical points of the rules and rights or usage of images.
Rules
- The submitted concept must relate to “Frie hænder | Free Hands”.
- A minimum of ten supporting images is required.
- A few works from the project may have been shown previously in Denmark, but the full project must not have been exhibited there.
- Projects shortlisted in earlier editions will not be reconsidered. Previously shortlisted applicants should submit a different project.
- Artists selected as Copenhagen Photo Festival solo artists within the previous three years are advised to wait before applying again.
- Applicants must be willing to discuss exhibition design, installation and associated public activities with the festival.
- Selected exhibitors are expected to participate in activities before and during the festival, online and in person, including an exhibition-related event or public presentation.
- The application is binding, and the same terms apply to applicants based outside Denmark.
- AI-generated work is accepted when the application clearly explains how and why artificial intelligence was used. Documentary projects must not be AI-generated.
Copyright and Image Usage
Applicants confirm through submission that they hold the copyright to the entered images. The festival requests the right to use selected work on its website, social media channels and other communication platforms during the festival and afterward. Copyright ownership is not stated as being transferred to the organizer.
Exhibitors will remain in close dialogue with the festival concerning exhibition design and installation. The published terms strongly encourage their presence during the opening days and their participation in talks and related events.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
