The Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture is a $20,000 prize awarded annually to a photographer whose work demonstrates a compelling new vision in photographic portraiture. The jury will select a Top Ten, from which the winner and three finalists will be chosen. The three finalists receive a $500 stipend each. All artists recognized in the Top Ten will be included in the online exhibitions hosted by Maine Media.

In addition to cash awards for the Prize recipient and Finalists, all photographers selected for the Top Ten in the 2026 Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture will be featured in a professionally produced publication celebrating the work of the Prize recipient, three Finalists, and six additional photographers recognized in the Top Ten.

This softcover, perfect-bound publication will serve as a lasting record of the year’s most compelling approaches to photographic portraiture. It will feature the Prize recipient, selected works by the Finalists and Top Ten photographers, and contextual essays on Arnold Newman’s legacy, the history of the Prize, and Maine Media’s role as its steward.

Each of the ten selected photographers will receive complimentary copies of the publication, with the Prize recipient receiving an expanded allotment to support the promotion of their work. In addition, a limited hardcover edition will be distributed to photography festivals, museum and university libraries, collectors, and partner institutions, extending the reach of the selected artists through a publication of a quality and scale that is often beyond the means of individual photographers. The Prize recipient will also receive complimentary copies of the hardcover edition.

In a time when publications remain one of the most powerful ways to elevate an artist’s voice and project, this new initiative offers both recognition and real-world impact.