Every city has a rhythm. It lives in the first commute, the crowded market, the quiet doorway and the light that changes a familiar street. UPOTY 2026 invites photographers to explore those rhythms and reveal the people, places and everyday moments that give urban life its character.

Urban Photographer of the Year celebrates attention, individuality and visual storytelling. From candid encounters and architecture to neighbourhood rituals, transport and life after dark, the competition welcomes photographs that make us look again at the places we share. Enter a single image or develop a connected series, and bring your own perspective to an international audience.

The overall title recognises a photographer's achievement across their submitted work, considering judging scores, accepted entries and awards across categories, followed by the jury's final assessment.
Awards: USD 1,500 in total cash prizes, alongside publication, exhibition and recognition benefits.

- Urban Photographer of the Year: USD 1,000, the UPOTY trophy, a dedicated spread in the annual awards book, an interview, prominent virtual-exhibition placement and media promotion.
- Discovery Photographer of the Year: USD 500 for one emerging or previously unrecognised photographer, selected regardless of age, plus an interview, awards-book inclusion and other published recognition benefits.
- Urban Perspective Award 2026: support to develop and publish the winner's own photography book, subject to having a sufficiently substantial body of eligible work. This award also includes an interview, annual awards-book inclusion and other published recognition benefits.
- Category winners and Top 3 finalists: interviews, annual awards-book inclusion, prominent virtual-exhibition placement, digital certificates of excellence and media promotion. Category awards do not carry cash prizes.
- All accepted entries: virtual-exhibition participation and a digital certificate of participation. Selected accepted entries may also appear in the annual awards book.

Consideration for Discovery Photographer of the Year and Urban Perspective Award 2026 is automatic, with no separate application or opt-in.