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Eurazeo Photo Prize 2026 has shifted from rewarding completed photographic series to funding an idea before it is made. One professional photographer will receive a €20,000 grant to develop and produce an original project around the theme “Stories of Europe”. The call is international, free to enter and closes on September 13, 2026. The selected photographer will then have six months to complete the project with production guidance and support from Eurazeo.
The opportunity is aimed specifically at professional photographers and accepts one project per applicant. Candidates must present a substantial portfolio, a project proposal, methodology, budget and supporting documents, submitted via WeTransfer. Up to five finalists will be interviewed by the jury before the winner is announced on September 21. For photographers comparing current photography contests, the distinction here is significant: this is a production grant designed to finance new work rather than a prize for photographs that have already been completed. It also belongs among free photo contests, with no application charge.
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Prizes
The Eurazeo Photo Prize is structured as a production grant for one laureate.
- Selected laureate: Receives a €20,000 grant, which must be used exclusively to research, develop and produce the approved photographic project.
- Production support: The Eurazeo Photo Prize coordinator provides guidance on both the content and practical production of the project.
- Travel and accommodation: Eligible expenses are reimbursed against supporting documentation. Individual expenses above €500 require prior written approval.
- Project development: Eurazeo provides additional support with finalising the work according to the nature of the project and its presentation or distribution.
- Professional visibility: The grant programme includes communication through Eurazeo, press and photography media, social networks and partner channels.
The grant therefore combines substantial photography funding with structured support during production.
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Categories or Themes
There are no separate categories. The 2026 theme is “Stories of Europe”. Applicants must propose an original photographic project that responds to this theme and has not yet been developed and produced.
Dates and Entry Fees
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | May 26, 2026 |
| Application deadline | September 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm Paris time |
| Jury meetings | September 18 and 21, 2026 |
| Finalist presentations | September 21, 2026 |
| Winner announced | September 21, 2026 |
| Project begins | October 2026 |
There is no application fee, and only one project may be submitted per photographer. This places the Eurazeo Photo Prize grant among free photography competitions with a substantial project-development award.
How to Enter
Applications must be sent exclusively via WeTransfer by email, with the submission named SURNAME_FIRSTNAME. The complete application should include a CV; a report or portfolio of at least 50 JPG images at a minimum of 8 megapixels; a Word document containing the image captions; the completed and signed application form; a copy of a valid ID; and a statement of intent of no more than 5,000 characters.
The statement must explain the proposed project, motivation, working methodology and technical approach, together with an estimated budget and projected expenses. Portfolio images should be numbered in the intended viewing order. The WeTransfer timestamp is used to determine whether the application meets the deadline.
About the Jury
The published jury brings together photographers, editors, cultural professionals and representatives of Eurazeo. It includes Jean-François Camp, President of the Jury; Dimitri Beck, Director of Photography at Polka Magazine; photographers Elisabeth Bret and Olivier Roller; Hélène David-Weill; Thierry Grillet of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France; Aurélie de Lanlay of Les Rencontres d’Arles; Anne Lesage of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux; William Kadouch-Chassaing and Coralie Savin of Eurazeo; and Eurazeo employees with voting rights.
Applications first undergo an eligibility review. The jury then shortlists no more than five photographers, who present their proposals in a 20-minute interview on September 21. Candidates abroad may participate by videoconference. The presentation covers the concept, methodology, timetable and estimated costs.
Why Enter Eurazeo Photo Prize?
The most distinctive aspect of this Eurazeo Photo Prize is its timing within the creative process. Many awards assess completed bodies of work, Eurazeo instead selects a proposal and provides €20,000 to make it possible. That makes the strength and feasibility of the project almost as important as the applicant’s existing portfolio. The six-month production period, interim reporting and budget requirements also make this closer to a professional photographic commission or grant than a conventional image competition.
Eurazeo has maintained a photography collection since before establishing its annual photo prize in 2010, and works by previous laureates have become part of that collection. For photographers considering the best photography competitions to enter, the strategic interest here lies in receiving funding before production, alongside professional guidance and a planned public presentation of the completed work.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the Eurazeo Photo Prize to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
The call is restricted to professional photographers who can provide evidence of professional status under the conditions described in the rules. There are no nationality or geographic restrictions. Submitted portfolio work must be original and unpublished, and applicants must hold the necessary exploitation rights and permissions from identifiable people appearing in their photographs.
The winning project must be completed according to the approved timetable and budget. The laureate is required to provide progress reports and supporting documentation demonstrating that the €20,000 grant has been used for the selected project. At completion, two or three signed physical prints chosen by Eurazeo must be transferred permanently to its photographic collection.
Copyright and Image Usage
The photographer retains intellectual property rights in the work. The winner grants Eurazeo exclusive rights to the completed project until the public presentation organized by Eurazeo, followed by royalty-free rights to reproduce, display, adapt, communicate and use specified photographs, captions and texts worldwide for purposes described in the rules.
Those uses include communication relating to the prize, including promotional and commercial communication, Eurazeo corporate communication connected with 2026–2027, communication concerning its photographic collection and exhibition of the winner’s work. Uses outside the scope established in the rules require a separate rights agreement.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
