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Head On Photo Awards 2026 for Photographers with Prizes Worth Over AUD 80,000

By: Head On FoundationLast update:
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Deadline
(Available)

Applicant criteria

NationalityNo specific nationality required
Age
  • 18 - 60
Gender
  • Both

Opportunity criteria

Opportunity FieldPhotography and Filmmaking
Deadline2026-08-16

Opportunity description

The Australian Head On Foundation has opened entries for the Head On Photo Awards 2026, an international photography competition that welcomes work from professional and amateur photographers from around the world.

Photographs are judged completely anonymously, without showing photographers’ names to the judging panel. Selection is based only on the strength, quality, and creativity of the image, regardless of the photographer’s reputation, experience, or the equipment used.

The competition includes three main categories: Portrait, Landscape, and the Exposure category, which is open to various types of photography, such as photojournalism, street photography, architecture, fashion, art, travel, wildlife, and sports.

Competition Categories

Portrait Award

This category accepts images that show a person or a group of people, or reflect their essence and personality. It includes:

  1. Individual and group portraits.
  2. Self-portraits.
  3. Composite images and collage.
  4. Different artistic and technical approaches to photographing people.

A total of 40 finalists will be selected, including one overall winner, one Australian runner-up, and one international runner-up.

Landscape Award

This category covers a broad concept of landscape, including:

  1. Natural and marine environments.
  2. Urban landscapes.
  3. Industrial environments.
  4. Wide and innovative scenes.

People may appear in the image, but they must not be the main subject. A total of 40 finalists will be selected.

Exposure Award

This is an open category for images that do not primarily fall under portrait or landscape photography. It includes:

  1. Photojournalism and documentary photography.
  2. Street photography.
  3. Architecture.
  4. Fashion.
  5. Fine art.
  6. Travel.
  7. Wildlife and animals.
  8. Food, sports, and advertising.
  9. Experimental photography techniques and styles.

Between 20 and 30 finalists will be selected in this category.


Benefits

  • Cash prizes and professional products with a total value exceeding AUD 80,000.
  • Total cash prizes amounting to AUD 15,000.
  • The overall winner in each category will receive AUD 5,000 in cash.
  • Each overall winner will receive a professional camera kit from OM System.
  • Winners will receive a photo book printing package and subscriptions to specialized magazines.
  • Around 110 finalists will be selected to participate in a printed and digital exhibition.
  • Around 200 semi-finalists will have their works displayed in a digital exhibition.
  • Finalists’ photographs will be showcased at the Head On Photo Festival 2026.
  • Finalists’ works will be included in a premium hardcover book.
  • The foundation covers the costs of printing, preparing, and installing the selected works.
  • Finalists are not required to send physical prints themselves.
  • Selected works may later be displayed in touring exhibitions inside and outside Australia.
  • The photographer retains full intellectual property rights to their photograph.

Eligibility criteria

  1. The competition is open to photographers residing in any country around the world.
  2. Applicants from all nationalities are accepted, including all Arab countries.
  3. Professional and amateur photographers may participate.
  4. Applicants must be 18 years old or older.
  5. A parent or guardian may submit an entry on behalf of a participant under the age of 18.
  6. There is no time limit on when the photograph was taken.
  7. Photos that have previously been submitted to other competitions or events may be entered.
  8. Participants may enter more than one category.
  9. An unlimited number of images may be submitted in each category.
  10. The image must be produced using a camera, phone, or any photographic device.
  11. Color and black-and-white photographs are accepted.
  12. Composite images and collage are accepted.
  13. Images generated entirely using artificial intelligence are not accepted.
  14. AI tools may be used in post-processing, such as noise reduction or sharpening, provided that the original image was captured using a real photographic device.

Technical Image Specifications

The image must be:

  1. In JPG format.
  2. Less than 2 MB in size at the initial submission stage.
  3. 2400 pixels on the longest side.
  4. 72 dpi in resolution.
  5. Saved, preferably, in the sRGB color space.
  6. Accompanied by a title and description of no more than 90 words.

Application Fees

Fees are charged per submitted image:

  1. AUD 30 per image during early-bird registration for applicants aged 25 and above.
  2. The general entry fee increases to AUD 35 starting July 21, 2026.
  3. AUD 15 per image for photographers under 25 during early-bird registration.
  4. The under-25 entry fee increases to AUD 17.50 starting July 21, 2026.
  5. AUD 25 per image for Friends of the Festival members.

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Deadline
(Available)