Arbella International Photography Competition with Prizes Worth up to USD 10,500 in 2026
Applicant criteria
- 18 - 24
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
Arbella Pasta has opened submissions for the 16th edition of the Arbella International Photography Competition 2026, one of the leading free international competitions and awards for amateur and professional photographers worldwide, including participants from Arab countries.
The competition gives photographers the opportunity to showcase their work and visual stories across two main categories. The first category, “The Beauty of Imperfection,” welcomes photographs that reveal beauty in imperfect details, the marks of time, natural transformations, fragility, and irregular forms. The second is an Open Category, which accepts photographs covering a wide range of themes, including portraiture, street photography, nature, landscapes, architecture, documentary photography, and experimental work.
The competition offers total cash prizes of USD 10,500, including a grand prize of USD 2,500, awards for the top three winners in each category, and special prizes for young photographers aged 18 to 24. A selection of shortlisted works will also be featured in the competition exhibition, giving participants the opportunity to reach an international audience and strengthen their professional presence in the field of photography.
Benefits
The total value of the cash prizes is USD 10,500, distributed as follows:
- Grand Prize: USD 2,500.
- First Place in Each Category: USD 1,500.
- Second Place in Each Category: USD 1,000.
- Third Place in Each Category: USD 750.
- Future Viewfinder Award for photographers aged 18 to 24: USD 750 in each category.
- A selection of shortlisted photographs will be displayed in the competition exhibition.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Apply individually, as team submissions are not accepted.
- Be either amateur or professional photographers.
- Be of any nationality.
- Submit up to five photographs in each category.
- Submit photographs created by the applicant.
- Submit photographs taken on or after January 1, 2021.
- Not submit AI-generated images.
- Applicants aged 18 to 24 will automatically be considered for the Future Viewfinder Award, with no separate application required.
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