Academy Photo Awards 2026 invites photographers worldwide to present work distinguished by a clear visual voice, accomplished craft and the ability to make an image resonate beyond its first impression. From an intimate portrait to an expansive landscape, a decisive street photograph to a carefully developed series, the open call welcomes distinctive ways of seeing.

The competition spans twelve categories: Open Color, Open Black & White, People & Portrait, Fine Art, Documentary, Street, Travel, Architecture, Landscape, Drone, Nature & Wildlife, and Minimalism. Photographers may enter individual images or cohesive series of 2–7 photographs, choosing the category that best serves the work.

The overall winner will receive $1,000 USD and the title Academy Photographer of the Year 2026. All winners and honourable mentions will be featured in the official Academy Photo Awards 2026 Awards Book, bringing the edition's recognised work together in a dedicated publication. Official certificates and Winners Gallery recognition accompany the awards. Academy Photo Awards will also publish interviews with the first-, second- and third-place winners in every category, exploring their practice, ideas and awarded work, subject to each photographer's participation. There are no separate category cash prizes.

The competition is open internationally to photographers aged 18 or over, or with legal guardian consent where required. Photographs taken in any year are eligible, including work previously published, exhibited, entered or awarded elsewhere, provided the entrant holds the necessary rights and respects existing exclusivity agreements. Copyright remains with the photographer. AI-generated images and nude or sexually explicit photographs are not eligible.