Photography Contest
The Dummy Award 2025
Deadline |
CLOSEDTheme |
Photo bookTerritory |
WorldwideEligibility |
Open to allEntry Fees |
36 EurosPrizes |
BookHost |
PhotoBookMuseumSince 2010, the Kassel Fotobook Festival has been inviting photographers to take part in its Kassel Dummy Award.
The participating photographers have been able to establish contacts with galleries, publishers and festivals and presented their books to an international audience. Hundreds of books from the shortlist have been exhibited at countless international photography events, festivals and exhibition spaces.
Over this period of time thousands of photobook prototypes have been submitted from all over the world.
Since 2023 the PhotoBookMuseum in Cologne is in charge of the Dummy Award.
We are sure that this will increase the importance for a new generation of photographers and put it on an even broader footing. Together with MAS Matbaa in Istanbul, our printing and publishing partner, this is destined to maintain the high quality and reputation of the Dummy Award in the future.
The rules are easy: Each year, we invite all photographers worldwide to take part. From all entries, around 50 books are selected for a shortlist to be exhibited at international photography events. Together with the votes of the shortlist jury, each exhibiting venue has a vote, either determined by public vote or by curator’s choice. With these votes, 5 winning books will be selected from the shortlist. The book that wins the PBM/MAS Prize will be produced and published by the leading Turkish photobook printing and binding house MAS Matbaa, in cooperation with the PhotoBookMuseum. The costs will be fully covered. The other four winning books will receive a production grant for printing their books at MAS Matbaa.
The participating photographers have been able to establish contacts with galleries, publishers and festivals and presented their books to an international audience. Hundreds of books from the shortlist have been exhibited at countless international photography events, festivals and exhibition spaces.
Over this period of time thousands of photobook prototypes have been submitted from all over the world.
Since 2023 the PhotoBookMuseum in Cologne is in charge of the Dummy Award.
We are sure that this will increase the importance for a new generation of photographers and put it on an even broader footing. Together with MAS Matbaa in Istanbul, our printing and publishing partner, this is destined to maintain the high quality and reputation of the Dummy Award in the future.
The rules are easy: Each year, we invite all photographers worldwide to take part. From all entries, around 50 books are selected for a shortlist to be exhibited at international photography events. Together with the votes of the shortlist jury, each exhibiting venue has a vote, either determined by public vote or by curator’s choice. With these votes, 5 winning books will be selected from the shortlist. The book that wins the PBM/MAS Prize will be produced and published by the leading Turkish photobook printing and binding house MAS Matbaa, in cooperation with the PhotoBookMuseum. The costs will be fully covered. The other four winning books will receive a production grant for printing their books at MAS Matbaa.
Featured Photo Contest
All About Photo Awards 2026
$5,000 cash prizes, a prestigious jury panel, extensive press coverage and global recognition
© Steve McCurry
Best Photography Contests in 2025
Each year, there are hundreds of photography competitions all over the world, so we've decided to select for you the best of the best! Our selection of the best photo contests in 2025 is thoroughly curated to help you, whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur, to help find your next creative breakthrough. These all-star competitions offer the greatest opportunities for international exposure and/or incredible financial benefits. Some of them are closing soon, so get your photo submissions in!
ENDS 01/17/26
The annual photo contest rewards photographers for the best single exposure pictures contributing to the past year of visual journalism.
ENDS 01/20/26
Be Featured in our January 2026 Online Juried Solo Exhibition! Juror: Harvey Stein
ENDS 01/26/26
Wherever you are in the world, we invite you to send us your most beautiful Colors or Black & White street photos.
ENDS 01/27/26
Our 11th edition of the All About Photo Awards invites photographers from around the world to submit their best work for consideration. Winners will receive $5,000 in cash awards, extensive press coverage and global recognition.
ENDS 01/29/26
The PhMuseum Photography Grant is an annual initiative that recognises the importance of photography and visual storytelling.
ENDS 01/31/26
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 02/09/26
The Center for Photographic Art (CPA) is excited to announce the 2026 Members’ Juried Exhibition! This year, we are offering $2,400 in awards and prizes.
ENDS 02/15/26
Art is born out of passion. Fine Art photography is a perfect instrument, which allows a person to communicate with the world and share their vision. It results from the author's deep sensitivity, a need to express feelings through image.
ENDS 02/28/26
Win a Hasselblad X2D II 100C, two XCD lenses of choice, €5,000 and the coveted Hasselblad Masters title.
ENDS 03/01/26
Full Tuition, a Leica camera system on loan for the academic year and an opportunity to present their work at the Leica Store in New York City’s Meatpacking District.
ENDS 03/02/26
The biennial Belfast Photo Festival provided the perfect platform for gaining exposure to an international audience, with previous editions having welcome over 100,000 visitors from all over the world
ENDS 03/04/26
BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS is an international platform for photographers from all levels and genres to share their best images with the creative community in Hungary and Eastern Europe.
ENDS 03/15/26
‘On the Block’ celebrates the unposed, unfiltered, and fleeting moments that define the art of documenting everyday life, whether in dense urban streets or sleepy rural towns.
ENDS 03/21/26
The FORMAT Portfolio Review is returning in 2026. It will take place online on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March.
ENDS 03/31/26
Entries are open worldwide to photographers using an iPhone or iPad. Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are eligible.
ENDS 04/16/26
The main grant is open to professional photographers worldwide, one $30,000. grant
ENDS 04/16/26
Emerging Photographers (under 30 year old ) 2 X $ 5000 grants.
ENDS 05/07/26
The 2026 Virginia Prize, worth €10,000, will be awarded to its winner in November 2026.
ENDS 05/17/26
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
ENDS 05/31/26
This season will feature five main categories, with ‘Family’ serving as the primary theme.
ENDS 06/30/26
The IPA recognizes photography’s leading talents who are creating, shaping and defining the world of photography today.
ENDS 07/22/26
Submit your best work to our photo competition for a chance to win up to $11,500 in cash prizes, be selected by our curators for the PX3 exhibition in Paris and inclusion in the Annual PX3 book.