Organizer Information: The Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) is one of the world's most significant photography awards, founded in 2011 under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum. Established to celebrate outstanding visual storytelling, HIPA has firmly positioned Dubai as a global hub for the arts. The award is renowned not only for its massive prize pool but for its commitment to encouraging intellectual and artistic talent worldwide.
Title & Description: For its 15th season, the main theme of the contest is "Family." While the concept implies human connection, HIPA encourages a broader interpretation. Family represents belonging in its widest sense—a quiet language of connection found wherever elements coexist and rely on one another. Photographers are invited to explore family as a shared system that may include plant families, mineral formations, or materials shaped by time. The goal is to capture the essence of unity, continuity, and belonging in all its forms.
Category: The competition includes five distinct categories:
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Family (Main Theme)
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Dreams Through AI (Requires an original photo transformed via AI)
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Sports Photography
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Portfolio (Story-telling)
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General (Black & White and Colour)
Eligibility: The competition is open to all individuals aged 18 or over, from any country in the world. Both professional and amateur photographers are welcome to apply.
Program Benefits & Awards: HIPA is the world's richest photography competition with a total prize pool of $1,000,000 USD.
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Grand Prize: $200,000 (Awarded to the best overall image).
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Family Category: 1st Prize: $40,000 | 2nd: $30,000 | 3rd: $20,000.
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Other Categories: Significant cash prizes ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for top placements in AI, Sports, Portfolio, and General categories.
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Special Awards: Including "Photographer of the Year" ($80,000) and "Photography Appreciation Award" ($100,000).
Application Fee: Free to enter.
Application Requirements: Submissions must be made via the official HIPA website. Standard requirements usually dictate that photos must be in JPEG format, high quality (min 5MB), with the longest edge no less than 2000 pixels and 300dpi resolution. Images must not contain signatures, logos, or frames.
How to Apply?
Photographers must register and submit their images directly through the online portal linked below.
Key Dates:
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Application Deadline: 31 May 2026 at 11:59 pm (UAE Local Time).
Location: Dubai, UAE (Organization headquarters). Submissions are online.
Additional Details: The new "Dreams Through AI" category is a significant addition, inviting creators to fuse reality with imagination. Participants must submit an original photograph and then an AI-generated interpretation of it, simulating an imagined dream.
Website: Official HIPA Application Portal