This is your sign to share your best work: 10 global photo contests now open for entries from September to January

Whether you're a seasoned photographer, a beginner just getting started or simply someone who loves capturing beautiful moments, submitting your work to photography competitions is one of the best ways to gain exposure and recognition.

Entering competitions isn't just about winning – though prizes and publicity are great bonuses! It's also a chance to dive into your archives, rediscover your best images and refine your personal style. Even if you don't make the shortlist, the experience itself is rewarding and can push your photography to the next level.

In fact, many photographers say competitions were the stepping stone that helped them build a name, grow their audience or land their first big feature. And with so many open calls across all genres – from astrophotography and macro, to wildlife, travel, food, portrait, or conceptual photography – there's something for everyone.

The best part is that most competitions offer multiple categories, so you're likely to find a perfect match for your work. To help you get started, I've put together a list of photography competitions with open calls that are accepting submissions through at least August until January next year. It's a small selection to spark inspiration, but there are countless others out there…

Tokyo International Foto Awards

Deadline September 1, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Categories: Advertising, Architecture, Book, Editorial, Events, Fine Art, Nature, People, Portfolio, and Science

Fee: Students: $15 per image, $20 per series, Non-professional: $20 per image, $25 per series, Professional: $30 per image, $40 per series, For all: 30% off per additional category, if the same entry is submitted to multiple categories

Prize: Over $5,000 in cash prizes, TIFA Trophies, prestigious Photographer & New Talent of the Year title, publicity benefits from extensive awards communication campaign and more

For more information, visit the Tokyo International Foto Awards website.

KBr Photo Award

Deadline: September 1, 2025
Open to: Professional photographers

Focus: Documentary photography – "Work demonstrates artistic values of particular interest within the tradition of documentary photography."

Fee: Free to enter
Prizes: €25,000 cash award to develop the project within 10 months, solo exhibition at KBr Barcelona and Fundación MAPFRE Madrid, and accompanied by a published catalogue

For more info, visit the KBr Photo Award website.

Paris Photo-Aperture PhotoBook Awards

Deadline: September 5, 2025,
One copy of each submitted photobook plus submission form(s) need to be sent to Aperture’s offices in New York
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Categories: First PhotoBook, PhotoBook of the Year,
Photography Catalog of the Year

Fee: First PhotoBook: $30 per project, PhotoBook of the Year: $60 for first project from a given publisher, $30 for each subsequent project from the same publisher, Photography Catalog of the Year: $60 for first project from a given publisher, $30 for each subsequent project from the same publisher
Prizes: $10,000 cash prize

For more info, visit the Aperture website.

The Indian Photo Festival (IPF)

Deadline: September 14, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Focus: Submissions are free and open to all topics and issues, submissions should be a body of work (photo series or photo essay), including a minimum of 15 images and include an artist statement

Fee: Free to enter
Prizes: Exposure and exhibition at IPF 2025 in Hyderabad

For more information, visit the IPF website.

Leica Society International (LSI)

Deadline: September 14, 2025 – or when the limit of 60 submissions is reached
Open to: Photographers of all levels, the use of a Leica camera is not required

Focus: “Submit an in-progress, personal project demonstrating the theme 'Through the Lens of Hope.' We are looking for projects/stories whose images express our innate ability to achieve greatness and positivity, determination and courage, and success and victory; the kinds of stories whose arc have the potential to inspire fellow human beings to act, to celebrate achievement, and to uplift all people.”

Fee: $35 per project
Prizes: $7,500, a new Leica camera and lens

For more info, visit the LSI website.

Center for Photographic Art (CPA)

Deadline: October 1, 2025
Open to: Creatives working in still photographic media

Focus: There is no theme; any subject matter is eligible

Fee: $10 for one image (entry discount available)
Prizes: $5,400 in cash awards, CPA gear, online exhibition and exhibition at CPA's historic gallery in Carmel, California

For more info, visit the Center for Photographic Art website.

19th Picture Award

Deadline: October 5, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Category: Animals
Focus: Diversity, from pets, urban wildlife, underwater or macro insights

Fee: One image €5, three images €13, five images €20
Prizes: €650 cash & product prizes,

For more info, visit the Picture Award website.
For inspiration, you can discover previous winning images here.

Nature Photography Contest

Deadline: November 15, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Categories: Natural landscapes, Wildlife, Macrophotography, Underwater, Birds, Plant Life, Night World, Environmental Impact, Sharing the Planet, Funny Nature

Fee: €10 per image
Prizes: Prestigious "Photographer of the Year" title, €2,000 cash prizes, and more

For more info, visit the Nature Photography Contest website.

Anthology Photography Competition

Deadline: November 30, 2025
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Focus: 'The World As You See It' – "Photography styles can include street photography, landscapes, natural world & wildlife, macro photography, lifestyle, object and still life and architectural. Technically manipulated images, such as abstract, panoramic, stitched, and composite, are also permitted."

Fee: Standard €18 from May until November 2025
Prizes: The winner will receive a €500 cash prize and editorial coverage in a future issue of Anthology magazine

For more info, visit the Anthology magazine website.

Sony World Photography Awards

Deadlines:
Student Competition: November 28 2025
Open and Youth Competition: January 6, 2026
Professional Competition: January 13, 2026
Open to: Photographers of all levels

Categories:
Student Competition: Together
Open Competition: Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography, Travel
Youth Competition: Open Call: Show us your best images!
Professional Competition: Architecture & Design, Creative, Documentary Projects, Environment, Landscape, Perspectives, Portraiture, Sport, Still Life, Wildlife & Nature

Fee: Free to enter
Prizes: Global press exposure, $25,000 cash prize, Sony gear, solo exhibition at the Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition, and more

For more info, visit the World Photography Organisation website.

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