Our pick of the best UK & international photography competitions in 2024 with dates, deadlines, prizes and entry fees…
If you’ve been scanning our UK Art Competitions list for photography prizes then scroll no more, here’s your new home on MoMa. Featuring UK photography competitions and a selection of the best international photography awards.
Our art competitions page lists several photography friendly competitions but every contest here is specifically aimed at photographers.
For those aged 17 and under our Children’s Art Competitions page also includes some photography competitions. Now go win some photography prizes!
Scottish Portrait Awards
Anyone living, studying or born in Scotland can enter these photography awards with touring shows in Edinburgh, Glasgow & Banff.
| Close: | 2nd May 2024enter now! |
| News: | Finalists notified by: 29th May 2023 (50 photographic submissions, 30 in colour and 20 in black and white, will be awarded a place in the Scottish Portrait Awards travelling exhibition). |
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| What: | Any photographic process may be used to create the work. Photographs may have been digitally manipulated. Photographs selected for the exhibition must be delivered framed and mounted, behind glass with D-rings attached. In general, photographs submitted to the exhibition should be no smaller than 28cm x 31cm (without frame) and no larger than 65cm x 65cm (with frame). |
| Who: | Anyone born, living or studying in Scotland (over 16 years old on 1 Sep 2023) |
| Past: | Previous winners |
| Fees: | £10 per work (Max 6. Free entry is available to anyone receiving universal credit or any form of income support. Phone Portrait Award is free.) |
| Site: | Enter here |
Le Prix de la Photographie de Paris (PX3)
Founded in 2007 to discover emerging talent and introduce photographers from around the world to Paris in an exhibition & book.
| Close: | 6th May 2024enter now! |
| News: | Early Bird Deadline: January 31st, 2023. Last closed: 8th May 2023. |
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| What: | Advertising, Book, Fine Art, Nature, Portraiture, Press/Editorial, Architecture, Special |
| Show: | Espace Beaurepaire, Paris (TBA) |
| Who: | All Photographers: Amateur and Professional from all over the world (18+) |
| Fees: | Non-Professional & Students – Single image: $20, Series (2-9 images): $40. Professional – Single image: $30, Series (2-9 images): $50. (20% off for additional categories) |
| Site: | Enter here |
RPS International Photography Exhibition 165
The Royal Photographic Society in Bristol holds the 166th edition of their historic photographic exhibition with a £2,000+ prize fund.
| Close: | 21st May 2024 enter now! |
| News: | Early-bird prize draw deadline to win a signed photobook: 26th March. |
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| Show: | RPS Gallery, Bristol (Dates TBA) |
| Who: | UK & International photographers (no age restrictions) |
| Past: | IPE 165 exhibition |
| Fees: | 1 free single image, £30 for 4 images (RPS Members: £24 for 4, Under 30s: £18 for 4) |
| Site: | Enter here |
Black and White Photography Awards
International photography competition celebrating the best of monochrome art with a first prize of €1,000 and various category awards.
| Close: | 15th June 2024 enter now! |
| News: | Shortlist date TBA. |
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| What: | Black and white photographs. Categories: Architecture, Street, Fauna and Flora, Portrait, Landscape. |
| Who: | UK & International photographers (over 18) |
| Past: | 2023 winners |
| Fees: | €15 per category. Allows 5 pictures for the chosen category. |
| Site: | Enter here |
Anthology Photo Competition
Celebrating outstanding standalone images and providing a platform for photographers to showcase their work through publication.
| Close: | 31st October 2024 enter now! |
| News: | All entrants will be notified of the result by email. |
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| What: | Images submitted must be on the theme of ‘Everyday Wonders’. Submissions will be judged on quality, creativity, originality, and visual/emotional impact. 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. Extra merit will be awarded to creative interpretation of the brief. |
| Who: | UK & International photographers |
| Past: | 2022 winner |
| Fees: | Very Early Bird: €10 – to 31 March 2024, Early Bird: €12 – April–June 2024, Standard: €18 – July–October 2024 |
| Site: | Enter here |
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Currently Closed
PhotoX Awards
An international open call for photographers with an impressive judging panel brought to you by the folk behind the Art Gemini Prize.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | TBA |
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| Who: | UK & International artists (no age limits) |
| Fees: | Under 18s free, 1 entry £15, 3 entries £30, 6 entries £50, 8 entries £60 |
| Site: | Enter here |
LensCulture Summer Open 2022
New competition to discover and reward 20 photographers — with a $20,000 prize fund, London exhibition, publication, global media exposure.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | 20 finalists will be selected. Last closed: 24th August 2022 |
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| Show: | Exhibition in London during Photo London 2023 |
| What | “Work that is fresh, impactful, surprising, profound, intense, visionary. Classic or eclectic, candid or constructed, artfully poetic or hard-edged realism, we are open to all. All photographers. All ages. All topics. All genres.” |
| Who: | UK and international photographers (18+) |
| Fees: | Single entry: Free, 5+ Singles: $35, Series: $45 (max 10) |
| Site: | Enter here |
Ultimate Sea View
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society charity launches its annual maritime photography competition searching for the UK’s ultimate sea view.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | Last closed: 28th August 2023 |
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| What: | Submit images that capture the UK’s unique relationship with the sea, including its merchant ships, fishermen, coasts, harbours and ports. |
| Who: | Residents of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland (16 & over) |
| Fees: | Free to enter (no limit on entries) |
| Site: | Enter here |
D31 Photography Prize
Open international exhibition from the Doncaster based gallery featuring black and white photography on the theme ‘Nostalgia’.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | Shortlist: before 15th July 2022. Last closed: 5th September 2022 |
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| Show: | D31 Art Gallery, Doncaster and online exhibition (20 Sep – 15 Dec 2022) |
| What: | This year’s theme is “NOSTALGIA”. All photographs must be in “BLACK and WHITE” |
| Who: | UK & international photographers. |
| Fees: | No entry fee. You can submit 3 works only. Participation fee of £25 if selected. |
| Site: | Visit Website |
TDM Magazine Awards
Not-for-profit street photography award with $3,500 of prizes for your creative stories from around the world or the local streets you photograph in.
| Close: | TBAcurrently closed |
| News: | TBA |
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| What: | Unobtrusive, Intrusive, Black & White, Mobile Photography, Analog, Fine Art, Conceptual, Portrait, Urban, Geography, Street Art, Architecture, Abstract, Modern, Smart |
| Who: | All Photographers: Amateur and Professional from all over the world (18+) |
| Fees: | Single image: $15, Multiple images: $25 (max 5) |
| Site: | Enter here |
what3birds? Photography Competition
Contest encouraging photographers to capture images of at-risk British songbirds to help raise awareness of 50% decline in UK songbirds in 50 years.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | TBA |
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| What: | Entry open to any photographs of song and other small birds from the UK |
| What: | Best Female Bird, Best Male Bird, New Acts (best fledgling), Best Bird in Flight, Children’s Prize |
| Who: | UK & International residents (any age) |
| Fees: | Free to enter (contributions welcome, no limit on entries) |
| Site: | Enter here |
LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards
International black and white photography competition with a cash prize of £10,000, London show & feature at international photo festivals.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | 20 finalists will be selected. Last closed: 24th October 2022. |
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| Show: | Exhibition at Photo London 2023 |
| What | “We want to discover remarkable B&W photographers from all cultures and all experience levels” |
| Who: | UK and international photographers (18+) |
| Fees: | Single entry: Free, 5+ Singles: $35, Series: $45 (max 10) |
| Site: | Enter here |
Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year
The UK’s largest amateur travel photography competition is asking you to gather your soul-stirring photos to send them in for their judges to ponder.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | Shortlisted photographers will be contacted in January 2023. Last closed: 15th Nov 2022. |
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| What: | Categories: People, Wildlife, Landscape and Travel Icons – the latter recognising shots of people, landscapes or events that have achieved a landmark status in the travel world. |
| Who: | UK & International photographers (Amateur photographers only. Entrants must be 18 years old or over and in possession of a valid passport to travel to Singapore.) |
| Fees: | Free to enter |
| Site: | Enter here |
National Geographic Traveller Photography Competition 2023
Among the most coveted travel photography prizes in the country, the free to enter competition is accepting submissions in up to six categories.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | Winner will be notified by email within 60 days of the competition closing. Last closed: 27th November 2022 |
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| What: | Categories: Food & travel, People, Urban environments, Landscape, Wildlife, Portfolio |
| Who: | UK or Ireland residents (age 18 and over) |
| Fees: | Free to enter |
| Site: | Enter here |
RWA Photo Open Exhibition
A unique opportunity to show – and sell – your work in one of the UK’s most prestigious and beautiful art galleries.
| Close: | TBAcurrently closed |
| News: | Selection results available online on 14th December 2022. Last closed: 5th December 2022 |
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| Show: | RWA, Bristol (28 Jan – 1 May 2023) |
| What: | The exhibition is a celebration of the full range of contemporary photographic practice. There is no theme, but selectors will have a particular eye for images that say something about the world today. Entries can be single images or limited series; they can be simple photographs or artworks that include a photographic element, including 3-D works. They can be any size. Those who use photography to inform their sculpture, installation, architecture or other artistic practice are also encouraged to enter. The work must be available for sale at the exhibition, and selected work will need to be framed or presented in an exhibitable format. |
| Who: | UK & International artists and photographers |
| Fees: | £21 per work, Students £15.90 per work; Friends of the RWA £15.90 per work; Artist Network Members £10.50 per work; Academicians: free |
| Site: | Enter here |
RBSA Photography Prize
The fifth RBSA Photography Prize exhibition invites artists creating working with photographic processes to enter work.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | Selected artists announced: 10th February 2023. Last closed: 31st January 2023. |
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| Show: | RBSA Gallery, Birmingham (2 Mar – 8 Apr 2023) |
| Who: | UK & International photographers. |
| Fees: | 1 entry: £19, 2 entries: £32, 3 entries: £40, 4 entries: £48 (under 35s can pay over phone for 50% discount, free for RBSA Graduate Artists) |
| Site: | Visit Website |
Reader’s Digest Photo Competition
Capture a photo that sums up the beauty of Britain for a chance to win a £400 Amazon voucher and feature on the back cover of Reader’s Digest.
| Close: | TBA currently closed |
| News: | All entrants will be notified of the result by email. Last closed: 12th May 2023. |
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| What: | ‘What encapsulates the beauty of Britain for you? Is it rolling green hills and hidden valleys of the countryside? Or cobbled medieval streets and grand cathedrals? Take a compelling picture that sums up the beauty of Britain for you, and send it to Readers Digest. We’re looking for a unique and unusual approach, so let your creative juices flow! The competition will be judged by professional photographer James Eckersley, and the winning entries will be published in the July issue, with the top winner gracing the back cover.’ |
| Who: | Residents of the UK, Eire and BFPOs (aged 18 or over) |
| Fees: | Free to enter |
| Site: | Enter here |