How do you visually define yourself or others in a world of diverse expressions? The Identity by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2026 invites artists to submit powerful images that explore identity in its many forms. This photography open call is your chance to showcase work that delves into this deeply personal and versatile theme and gain valuable exposure in Glasgow and online.
The Glasgow Gallery of Photography welcomes photographers to submit their work for this exhibition in 2026. The theme, “Identity,” is broad and can be explored through many photographic genres. Portraits can express personal or collective identity, documentary work can reveal the experiences of individuals or groups, and landscapes or cityscapes can reflect the environments that shape who we are.
How we identify and express that identity varies widely. It may be rooted in culture, religion, place, community, hobbies, nationality, or countless other influences. Photographers are invited to explore identity in all its forms, whether reflecting their own identity or telling the story of someone else’s. There are no specified genre restrictions, and photographers can submit their work until August 28, 2026. Photographers whose work is selected will have their images displayed in the gallery space in Glasgow and featured in an online gallery. For photographers seeking exhibition opportunities, this could be one of the best photography contests 2026 and photography open calls to consider.
Entering Identity 2026 is initially free, allowing you to submit up to 8 images for consideration. If selected, a participation fee of £38.00 applies. The gallery will arrange for the selected work to be printed and displayed, using one of its standard print sizes depending on the image. All selected artists receive a digital certificate, inclusion in the exhibition catalogue, and a chance to be named Photographer of the Month. This exhibition offers a dedicated platform for work exploring identity, providing professional presentation and visibility.
The Identity 2026 Prizes
The Identity 2026 exhibition offers selected photographers physical and online exposure, professional documentation, and recognition.
Benefits for selected artists include:
- Their work printed and displayed at The Glasgow Gallery of Photography.
- Their work displayed in an online gallery on the gallery website.
- Their work included in an exhibition catalogue.
- A digital certificate of participation sent before the start of the exhibition.
- Their installed work photographed in situ. These photographs will be shared with participants directly by email and through the gallery’s social media after the exhibition has started.
- Their work videoed, with the videos shared through the gallery’s social media pages.
- Automatic consideration for the Photographer of the Month title.
Related Photo Contests
Identity by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography Dates and Entry Fees
Key dates for the Identity 2026 exhibition:
- Open Call Live: August 3, 2026.
- Submission Deadline: August 28, 2026.
Initial submission is free. If selected, a participation fee of £38.00 is required.
Unless otherwise stated by the gallery, selected images will be printed at either 16″ × 12″, 18″ × 12″, or 12″ × 12″, depending on the image. Please note that the frames used belong to the gallery.
How to Enter:
Submit your work by email using Smash, WeTransfer, or Dropbox. Please do not send images as email attachments, as this can compress the files. Send all your images together rather than sending them one at a time.
Submission checklist:
- Files must be JPEG files only.
- Images must be 300 ppi and at least 3000 pixels on the shortest side.
- Use your name as the file name in the format Firstname-Surname, for example: John-Smith1 and John-Smith2.
In your email or in the message section of your submission, please include:
- The name you wish the gallery to use. This should be the same name used in your file names.
- Your nationality or the country in which you reside.
- A statement confirming that you are submitting to the Identity exhibition.
- The titles of your images, if applicable.
- Any social media or website links you wish the gallery to use.
If you are selected to participate or placed on the reserve list, you will be notified by email. Applicants who are not selected will not be notified.
Why Enter Identity by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2026?
Entering the Identity 2026 exhibition offers photographers an opportunity to showcase their work in a physical gallery setting in Glasgow, Scotland, and gain international exposure. The theme of “Identity” is broad and allows for diverse creative interpretations, making it suitable for photographers exploring personal identity, collective identity, culture, religion, place, community, hobbies, nationality, environments, and the experiences of others. This is a great chance for artists working with human-focused themes, documentary photography, portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, and other photographic genres to find a dedicated platform. Like other photography contests and awards, it offers a tangible exhibition benefit.
The submission process begins with a free entry, allowing photographers to have up to 8 images considered by the gallery without an upfront financial commitment. In addition to the physical exhibition, selected work will be featured in an online gallery on The Glasgow Gallery of Photography website and included in an exhibition catalogue, expanding the audience reach and providing digital visibility.
Selected work will also be photographed and videoed after installation. This content will be shared with participants and may be published through the gallery’s social media pages, providing photographers with additional documentation and promotional exposure.
Rules and Copyright
This section summarises the submission rules for Identity by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2026. Photographers interested in participating should also review the complete and most recent rules provided by the gallery on the official exhibition page.
Rules
Submission is free, and photographers may submit up to 8 JPEG images. Files must be 300 ppi and at least 3000 pixels on the shortest side. Files should be named using the format Firstname-Surname#, such as John-Smith1 and John-Smith2.
Images must be sent together using Smash, WeTransfer, or Dropbox by email before August 28, 2026. Images should not be sent as email attachments.
The submission message must include the photographer’s preferred name, nationality or country of residence, the name of the Identity exhibition, image titles if applicable, and any social media or website links the photographer wishes the gallery to use.
If selected, a £38.00 participation fee applies. Images will normally be printed at 16″ × 12″, 18″ × 12″, or 12″ × 12″, depending on the image, unless otherwise stated by the gallery. The frames used belong to the gallery.
Photographers selected to participate or placed on the reserve list will be notified by email. Those who are not selected will not be notified.
Unless an artwork has been marked for collection or donation, the exhibition print will be destroyed after the exhibition. Prints marked for collection will be held for one month after the exhibition has finished. Artists must inform the gallery that they wish to collect their work by the deadline stated in their acceptance email.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains with the Artist during and after the exhibition. By submitting, photographers confirm that they are the creators and copyright owners of the photographs and that the submitted work does not infringe third-party copyright, intellectual property, privacy rights, trademarks, or other applicable rights.
The Glasgow Gallery of Photography does not acquire ownership or royalties from the submitted works and will not commercially exploit or sell a photographer’s work without their permission.
Entrants grant The Glasgow Gallery of Photography permission to use submitted images to promote and advertise the gallery and the exhibition. Images may be displayed on the gallery’s website and social media pages and included in advertising, promotional materials, publications, and exhibition catalogues. Photographs used by the gallery will be credited to the photographer.
The gallery is not responsible for photographs submitted in violation of copyright regulations or for technical differences and colour variations in the printed or displayed images. The gallery also reserves the right to select the print size, paper type, and presentation style used for the exhibition.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit the official website.
