There are not many annual photo competitions where a project can move from a laptop screen to real international visibility. ND Awards 2026, the Neutral Density Photography Awards, is one of them. The contest brings together photographers from around the world, with a professional grand prize of $3,500 and a non professional grand prize of $2,400, plus a wide range of category, subcategory and honorable mention distinctions. It is open to photographers aged 18 and over from any country, with separate sections for those who earn most of their income from photography and those who do not. All entries are submitted online, which keeps the process simple wherever the photographer is based.
The call is organized around six professional categories and five non professional ones that mirror how many photographers already build their portfolios. ND Awards 2026 covers architecture, editorial, fine art, nature, people and a special section for more technical or experimental approaches. Photographers can send single images or series of two to five images, with no upper limit on the number of works or categories entered. Early entry fees start at $19 for a non professional single image and $24 for a professional single image, the final deadline is September 20, 2026, and the winners will be announced on November 22, 2026, following online evaluation by an international jury.
For those who discover ND Awards 2026 through Deartline, the contest sits naturally within our curated photography awards list.
Contents
The ND Awards 2026 Prizes
ND Awards 2026 combines cash prizes with visibility in its Winners’ Gallery and official recognition that photographers can use in their own promotion.
- Professional Grand Prize
- $3,500 in total cash ($3,000 for the overall title plus $500 linked to the category win)
- Title “ND Photographer of the Year”
- Feature on the front page of the Winners’ Gallery
- International press and publicity
- Winners logo and certificate
- Non Professional Grand Prize
- $2,400 in total cash ($2,000 for the overall title plus $400 linked to the category win)
- Title “ND Discovery of the Year”
- Front page exposure in the Winners’ Gallery
- International press and publicity
- Winners logo and certificate
- Professional Category Winners
- Six winners in Architecture, Editorial, Fine Art, Nature, People and Special
- $500 in cash for each category winner
- Titles such as ND Architectural Photographer of the Year or ND Nature Photographer of the Year
- International press and publicity, winners logo and certificate
- Non Professional Category Winners
- Five winners in Architecture, Fine Art, Nature, People and Special
- $400 in cash for each category winner
- Titles such as ND Architectural Discovery of the Year or ND People Discovery of the Year
- International press and publicity, winners logo and certificate
- Subcategory Winners and Honorable Mentions
- Gold, Silver and Bronze awards at subcategory level in both professional and non professional sections
- Honorable Mention medals and inclusion in the online Winners’ Gallery
- Certificates and the right to use the official ND Awards winner logo
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the ND Awards 2026
ND Awards 2026 is divided into Professional and Non Professional sections, each with broad categories that reflect key areas of contemporary photography.
- Professional Categories
- Architecture
Built environments, cityscapes, bridges, interiors and structural views. - Editorial
Daily life, documentary, environmental stories, general news, photo essays and sports. - Fine Art
Abstract, conceptual, landscape, nude and photomanipulation work. - Nature
Aerial views, landscapes, seascapes and waterscapes, trees, underwater scenes and wildlife. - People
Portraits, self portraits, children, family and wedding, fashion and beauty, street photography, travel and culture. - Special
Advertising, analog or film, drone photography, long exposure, mobile photography, night photography, open theme and panoramic.
- Architecture
- Non Professional Categories
- Architecture and Fine Art
Similar structure to the professional section. - Nature
Flowers, landscapes, macro and micro views, seascapes and waterscapes, trees and wildlife. - People
Portraits, self portraits, children, family and wedding, fashion and beauty, street photography, travel and culture. - Special
Analog or film, drone photography, long exposure, mobile photography, night photography, open theme, panoramic work and photojournalism or story driven series.
- Architecture and Fine Art
ND Awards 2026 Dates and Entry Fees
ND Awards 2026 has two main deadlines with different prices for early and final entries. All fees are paid in US currency by PayPal or credit or debit card, and they are non refundable.
| Phase | Date | Non Professional Fees | Professional Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Deadline | 26 April 2026 | Single image: $19 Series (2–5 images): $24 | Single image: $24 Series (2–5 images): $29 |
| Final Deadline | 20 September 2026 | Single image: $24 Series (2–5 images): $29 | Single image: $29 Series (2–5 images): $34 |
There is an extra fee of $10 for each additional category when the same work or different works are submitted in more than one category. There is no limit to the number of images or series that can be submitted, and there is no restriction on when the photographs were taken.
How to Enter:
All entries are submitted through the ND Awards website. The process is straightforward and can be completed in a few steps.
- Create an account on the official ND Awards platform and complete a personal profile.
- Prepare images as JPEG files at 1,200 pixels on the longest side, in sRGB or Adobe RGB 8 bit colour space, without borders, watermarks, logos or copyright text, except when the border is part of the original process.
- Select the appropriate section, professional or non professional, then choose the category and subcategory for each single image or series.
- Submit images through the online form and pay the entry fee by PayPal or credit or debit card in US currency.
- Receive a confirmation email once payment has been processed. Entries cannot be changed after payment, and submissions are accepted only in digital form. Prints, CDs and email entries are not allowed.
About the Jury
ND Awards 2026 is judged by an international panel of photographers, educators and artists with experience in contemporary photography, along with professionals from galleries, publishing and related fields.
- Jorge Monaco, photographer
- Mahe Elipe, photographer
- Federico Scarchilli, photography professor
- Isabela Pacini, photographer
- Valery Poshtarov, photographer
- Jooeun Bae, photographer
- Ciprian Mihai, fashion and commercial photographer
- Angelika Kollin, artist and photographer
- Peter Franck, interdisciplinary artist
- Sarah Cooper and Nina Gorfer, photographic duo
- Javier Arcenillas, documentary photographer
- Lilah Benetti, artist and filmmaker
- Maurizio Di Pietro, photographer
- Yossi Michaeli, photographer
Entries are judged category by category, and category winners and overall winners are selected based on the highest image scores.
Why Enter ND Awards 2026?
Since 2014, ND Awards has become a regular reference point for photographers who follow international photography contests. ND Awards 2026 continues that line, with a clear structure and a focus on showing work in a way that is easy to share. The Winners’ Gallery, official titles and certificates help participants present results to clients, curators and collaborators without needing to explain how the contest works.
The range of categories also makes ND Awards 2026 a flexible option when planning a year of entries. A single portfolio might include architecture, fine art, nature, people or street photography, and the contest allows that mix. Series entries are useful for coherent projects, while single image entries work well for photographs that stand alone. For photographers who use Deartline to compare opportunities and build a long term submission strategy, ND Awards 2026 is one more event that fits neatly alongside other best online photography awards and can be revisited year after year.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the ND Awards 2026 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
ND Awards 2026 is open to photographers over 18 years of age from all countries, except for employees of the organizers, associated companies and prize sponsors. There are two experience levels. Professional photographers are defined as those who earn at least half of their income from photography, and non professional photographers are those who do not.
Entries are accepted only as digital files uploaded through the official website. Photographs must be saved as JPEG files in sRGB or Adobe RGB 8 bit color space, with the longest side at 1,200 pixels. Images must not include added borders, watermarks, copyright notices or logos, except where a border is part of the original process. Winners may be asked to supply higher resolution files to confirm authorship.
Participants can submit single images or series of two to five images that share a common theme and title. A series is judged as one work. There is no limit to the number of images or series, and the same image can be entered into multiple categories or subcategories, with an extra fee for each additional category. Entry fees are non refundable, and entries cannot be changed after payment.
The competition accepts both published and unpublished photographs, including work that has already won prizes or is entered in other contests. There is no restriction on the date when the image was captured. Digital manipulation is allowed if it stays within what the organizers define as reasonable taste. In the Advertising category, text or logos that are part of the image are acceptable.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains with the photographer. By entering ND Awards 2026, participants grant the organizers a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to use submitted images in connection with the contest and its promotion. This license is worldwide and covers all media, and the organizers indicate that images are used only for marketing and promotional activities linked to the awards.
For awarded images, the organiszrs may use high resolution files without additional payment for promotion on the competition website, social media channels and printed or online materials about the awards. Low resolution versions can be displayed on the ND Awards site, and winning and commended images may appear on official social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram.
Where possible, images are accompanied by a credit naming the photographer. ND Awards and its media partners do not accept responsibility for misuse of images by third parties that are outside their control. By entering, participants agree that their name and images may appear in publicity and promotional material related to the contest without further compensation beyond the stated prizes.
All entries must be the original work of the photographer and must not infringe the rights of any other person. Entrants must hold the copyright to their images and have any necessary permissions from people who appear in the photographs, including parents or guardians where minors are involved.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
