The 16th Arbella International Photography Contest is an international photography competition organized by Arbella as part of its long-running commitment to supporting photographic art and cultural exchange. Marking the 200th anniversary of the invention of photography, the 2026 edition invites photographers from around the world to present compelling visual stories through contemporary photography.
The competition features two submission categories. The themed category, “The Beauty of Imperfection,” encourages participants to explore the aesthetic, emotional, and narrative value of imperfections, traces of time, irregularities, and unexpected details. The Open category allows photographers to submit work on any subject, offering complete creative freedom across documentary, portrait, street, nature, architecture, conceptual, and other photographic approaches.
The contest provides an international platform where amateur and professional photographers can share original work with an experienced jury and a global audience. By combining an anniversary celebration of photography with an open call for diverse visual perspectives, the competition encourages thoughtful storytelling and creative excellence across contemporary photographic practice.
Entry fee: Free entry. No submission, upload, or judging fee is charged for any participant.
Eligibility
Open to individual photographers worldwide aged 18 or over; group entries are not accepted, and AI-generated images are prohibited.
Prize
A total prize fund of USD 10,500 will be awarded. The competition offers overall cash awards across its official prize structure, including category prizes and a special youth recognition for participants aged 18–24 through the Future’s Viewfinder evaluation, which is automatically applied to eligible entrants.