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The Open Theme Photography Contest 2026 by The Artist Gallery Awards gives photographers complete freedom over subject and genre. Landscape, portrait, street, abstract and experimental work can all compete within the same open call, with the strongest entries selected for cash awards, online presentation and print publication. The submission deadline is January 15, 2027, followed by the winners announcement on February 4.
The three highest-ranked photographers receive 15%, 10% and 5% respectively of the money collected through contest registration fees. The top three will also be featured in editorial coverage about their photography careers and aspirations. Up to 25 photographs may be presented through The Artist Gallery’s website and social media, while selected work will appear in its printed magazine, which is sold internationally. Entry fees start at $9 during the early-bird period. Those browsing Deartline’s popular photo challenges online can also compare it with other opportunities covering more specific photographic genres.
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Prizes
The prize structure combines a percentage-based cash award with editorial and publication opportunities. Since the monetary prizes depend on the total amount collected through registrations.
- 1st Place: 15% of the money collected from contest registration fees.
- 2nd Place: 10% of the money collected from contest registration fees.
- 3rd Place: 5% of the money collected from contest registration fees.
- Top 3 photographers: A dedicated blog feature covering their photography careers and aspirations.
- Up to 25 selected photographs: Publication through The Artist Gallery’s digital gallery and social media channels.
- Selected photographers: Digital certificates and possible prizes supplied by The Artist Gallery’s partners.
- Selected photographs: Publication in the organization’s printed magazine, distributed and sold internationally.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
There are no separate categories. The Open Theme Photography Contest 2026 by The Artist Gallery Awards uses a single Open Theme, allowing photographers to submit work from virtually any photographic genre or visual approach.
This can include landscape photography, portraits, street photography, abstract photography, experimental work and other subjects. The format therefore fits naturally within Deartline’s open theme photography competitions.
Dates and Entry Fees
The Open Theme Photography Contest 2026 by The Artist Gallery Awards remains open through January, with discounted fees available during the early registration period.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Early-bird period | Before November 23, 2026 |
| Submission deadline | January 15, 2027 |
| Winners announcement | February 4, 2027 |
Early-bird entry fees:
- 1 photo: $9
- 3 photos: $22
- 5 photos: $31
- 10 photos: $49
Regular entry fees:
- 1 photo: $11
- 3 photos: $28
- 5 photos: $38
- 10 photos: $59
How to Enter
Entries are submitted directly through the form on the official competition page. Participants select an entry package, provide their contact information, upload the corresponding photographs, add titles and descriptions, accept the competition terms and complete payment.
Files must be JPG or JPEG, no larger than 12 MB, with at least 1,000 pixels on the shortest side. Watermarks are not permitted. Adjustments to exposure, contrast, sharpness and color saturation are allowed, but the rules prohibit adding or removing elements from an image.
About the Jury
The Artist Gallery identifies Jorge Becerra Martínez as the juror presented specifically for its Open Theme Photography Contest 2026 by The Artist Gallery Awards. His background spans landscape and documentary photography, fashion and portrait work, as well as commercial photography and audiovisual production.
Becerra has worked in photographic production since the 2010s and has collaborated on campaigns and projects for major brands. His experience across different photographic fields is particularly relevant to an open-theme competition in which images from unrelated genres are assessed together.
The general judging rules state that photographs are scored on factors including creativity, technical skill and composition. Photographer details are withheld from the judges during evaluation, making the judging process anonymous.
Why Enter Open Theme Photography Contest 2026 by The Artist Gallery Awards?
The distinctive feature here is not simply the lack of a theme, but the way that freedom combines with a percentage-based prize system. Photographers do not need to adapt existing work to a particular subject, and the value of the top three cash awards grows with the registration pool. That makes the final monetary value variable, but also gives participants a clearly defined share of the competition’s entry revenue.
The publication structure adds another dimension. Recognition is not restricted to three cash winners: up to 25 photographs can receive online exposure, while selected images may also move into a physical printed publication. For photographers interested in seeing a single strong photograph circulate beyond the results page, the combination of digital presentation, editorial profiles and print publication is one of the more relevant aspects of the contest.
If this open call does not match the kind of work you want to submit, there are many more opportunities to discover in Deartline’s list of photography competitions, with different themes, deadlines and prize formats.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the Open Theme Photography Contest 2026 by The Artist Gallery Awards 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 competition is open internationally without a formal age restriction. The organizer recommends parental approval for participants younger than 18.
Submitted photographs must be the entrant’s own work and comply with the technical requirements. Images generated using artificial intelligence are not accepted. Standard photographic editing such as exposure, contrast, sharpness and saturation adjustments is permitted, but participants may not add or remove elements from an image.
Previously submitted photographs may enter another The Artist Gallery competition, except for images that have already placed in the Top 3 of one of its contests. The organizer may request an original file if judges need to verify a photograph.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain copyright to their photographs and should be credited whenever The Artist Gallery uses their work. By entering, however, participants authorize the gallery to use submitted photographs for purposes connected with its activities, including exhibitions, marketing, its website and social media.
The Top 3 images and honorable mentions may also appear in a special printed edition produced by Docu Magazine and sold internationally. The published rules state that Docu Magazine does not acquire ownership of the images and may use them only for that print publication.
The Artist Gallery states that it keeps the 25 best photographs for internal use and for public presentation through exhibitions, its website and social media. Other submitted photographs are scheduled for deletion two months after the contest closes. No specific duration is stated for the gallery’s ongoing rights to use the retained selected photographs.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
