Organizer Information
The İstanbul Photo Awards is organized by Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s national news agency, and is a leading international photojournalism competition.
It champions global press photography, offering photographers from around the world a high-profile platform, rigorous jury review, and opportunities to show their work in exhibitions.
Title & Description
İstanbul Photo Awards 2026
The 2026 edition of the Istanbul Photo Awards invites professional photographers globally to submit powerful, newsworthy images captured in 2025.
The competition spans 10 categories (single and story: News, Sports, Nature & Environment, Portrait, Daily Life) and seeks images that deeply reflect current social, environmental, political, and human stories.
The aim is to elevate the role of photojournalism, offer recognition, and support visual storytelling that shapes global understanding.
Categories
- Photography / Photojournalism
- Subcategories include: Single News, Story News; Single Sports, Story Sports; Single Nature & Environment, Story Nature & Environment; Single Portrait, Story Portrait; Single Daily Life, Story Daily Life.
Eligibility
- Open to professional photographers, irrespective of press affiliation.
- Images must have been taken between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
- Both published and unpublished works are allowed.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total prize fund: US $58,000.
- Photo of the Year (Single News): US $6,000.
- Category prizes:
- 1st prize in each category: US $3,000.
- 2nd prize: US $1,500
- 3rd prize: US $1,000
- Winners benefit from exposure, international recognition, and exhibition opportunities through the Istanbul Photo Awards. (Historically, winning work features in their photobook and exhibitions.)
Application Fee
No entry fee.
Application Requirements
- High-resolution digital images (JPG, JPEG, or PNG).
- For story (series) categories: exactly 10 images per series.
- Accurate personal info and metadata for each image.
How to Apply
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Opens: 13 November 2025
- Application Deadline: 9 January 2026
- Winners Announced: March 2026 (jury selection).
Location
Istanbul, Turkey
Additional Details
- Up to 4 different single images may be submitted per single-image category.
- For story categories, photographers may submit up to 2 separate series per category.
- Winners’ work may be published in the İstanbul Photo Awards annual photobook.
- The jury evaluates based on: technical skill, storytelling, emotional impact, and relevance.
- Submitted images should follow ethical and press standards, especially for sensitive or conflict-based content.