Organizer Information
Daylight is a non-profit organization dedicated to publishing and promoting contemporary photography. By exploring the medium through digital and physical forms, including their renowned monograph series and the Daylight Photo Awards, they provide an essential platform for emerging and established photographers to reach a global audience of collectors, curators, and editors.
Title & Description:
2026 Daylight Photo Awards.
This international competition seeks to discover and promote powerful photographic narratives and portfolios. The program is distinguished by its direct connection to Daylight Books, offering winners and "Juror Picks" not just financial rewards, but significant industry visibility through marketing campaigns and potential collaborative book projects. The awards emphasize artistic excellence and the potential for a cohesive body of work to be translated into a professional publication format.
Categories
Photography, Fine Art Photography, and Photojournalism.
Eligibility
- Open to International photographers of all levels, from emerging to established practitioners.
- Applicants must submit a cohesive body of work or portfolio for review.
- There are no specific thematic restrictions, allowing for a wide range of photographic styles and subjects.
Program Benefits and Awards
- Top Prize: One winner receives a $2,500 cash Award/Prize.
- Digital Portfolio: Creation of a professional digital portfolio for the top winner.
- Monograph Opportunity: Juror picks have the chance to collaborate with Daylight on the creation of a monograph (book) of their work.
- Promotion: Selected works will be promoted via extensive internal and external marketing campaigns.
- Prestige: Join a list of distinguished past winners such as Bryan Schutmaat and Katrin Koenning.
Fees
- Application Fee: $35.00 per submission.
- This fee covers the administrative costs of the jury process and the award fund.
Application Requirements
- A portfolio of photographic work (typically submitted via the official entry portal).
- Payment of the $35.00 entry fee by the established deadline.
How to Apply?
Photographers must submit their portfolios through the official Daylight Photo Awards website. Apply via Daylight Photo Awards Portal
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026.
- Winners Announcement: August 2026.
Location
Online / International.
Additional Details
The 2026 jury features elite industry professionals: Mike Kamber (Bronx Documentary Center), Hideko Kataoka (Newsweek Japan), Tif Ng (Magnum Foundation), Momo Takahashi (The New Yorker), and James Wellford (National Geographic).