Snow & Ice International Photo Festival – IMAGE & NEIGE
- Deadline: 30 September 2025
- Website: https://site.picter.com/image-et-neige-2026
Image & Neige is the only European photography festival entirely dedicated to snow and ice.
Founded in 2009 and held annually in Haute-Savoie, France, the festival has been running for 16 years. It presents up to 200 selected photographs per edition, exhibited in indoor galleries and large-scale outdoor installations. More than 600 French photographers submitted work in the past three editions.
2026 marks the first international edition, open to photographers worldwide.
All selected prints are produced and mounted by the festival at gallery standards: 40×60 cm, aluminium Dibond, wooden floating frames. A public vote is held to award one of the four international exhibitors.
STORIES, VISIONS AND WONDERS BORN OF WINTER
The open call welcomes submissions from all countries, focusing on snow, ice, and cold across multiple perspectives — from urban and sports photography to nature, portrait, abstraction, documentary, and poetic approaches.
Selected works will be exhibited during the 16th edition of the IMAGE & NEIGE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL, held January 30 to February 1, 2026, in the heart of the French Alps.
This year, the jury will pay particular attention to entries exploring winter sports and urban snow environments.
The exhibition program includes artist talks, screenings, workshops, and portfolio reviews.
CATEGORIES
Each entry may include 1 to 15 images, in any combination of the following themes:
- Winter sports
- Urban snow and ice
- People and snow (staged, documentary, everyday scenes)
- Poetry and wonder
- Abstraction and graphic compositions
- Snow and ice landscapes
- Animals in winter
ORGANIZATION
The contest is organized by the City of Cluses (France) as part of the Image & Neige International Photography Festival.
It is managed by Giandra de Castro, artist photographer and Fine Arts Director of the Cultural Center La Gorge.
The festival was founded by Frédéric Boiteux, recipient of the Silver Medal from the French Professional Photography Federation (2023).
Fees:
Paid
Prizes:
4 Exhibition Prize Winners
Each winner will have 3 photographs printed, framed, and exhibited in gallery conditions during the 2026 edition of the Image & Neige Festival, in Cluses, France.
10 Honorable Mentions
The jury will select ten additional photographers for honorable mention. Their names and selected works will be featured in the official printed and online catalogue.
Visitors’ Choice Award
A public vote will determine the best international photographer among the 4 exhibition winners. Additional distinctions may be awarded at the discretion of the jury.
Eligibility:
The contest is open to all photographers aged 16 and over, regardless of nationality, location, or professional status. Submissions must be made via Picter before the deadline. Each entry includes 1 to 15 images, which may consist of standalone works or series (minimum 3 images per series). Submitted images must relate to snow, ice, or cold, in any context: nature, sport, urban, abstraction, portraiture, or conceptual work.
Copyrights & Usage Rights:
All submitted images remain the full property of the artist.
Selected artists grant the festival a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce their images solely for:
– Exhibition production (printing, mounting, display)
– Festival communication (press, web, social media, catalogues)
– Archival and educational documentation of the event
No commercial use will be made of the images.
The photographer’s name will be credited in every public use.
Any additional use beyond these purposes requires explicit written consent from the artist.