Photography Contest
IPA Photography Competition 2025
Deadline |
CLOSEDTheme |
Several categoriesTerritory |
WorldwideEligibility |
Open to allEntry Fees |
Between $20 and $65Prizes |
Cash PrizeThe International Photography Awards conducts an annual photography competition for professional, non-professional, and student photographers on a global level, creating one of the most ambitious and comprehensive competitions in the photography world today. The IPA recognizes photography's leading talents who are creating, shaping and defining the world of photography today.
- Be honored by receiving the coveted Lucie Statue at the Lucie Awards Gala
- Receive the IPA Trophy at the “Best of Show” Exhibition in New York City
- Be Published in the IPA Annual Book of Photography
- Be Featured in the IPA Best of Show Exhibition in New York City and beyond
- Win $47,500 in cash prizes
- And more!
International Photographer of the Year Award
The top award in the Professional Categories includes The Lucie Trophy and a $12,000 cash prize
Discovery of the Year Award:
The top award in the Non-Professional Categories includes The Lucie Trophy and $6,000 cash prize
The winner of these two awards will be announced during the Lucie Awards Ceremony.
Category Winners - Professional
The 13 Category winners in the Professional Categories will each receive a $1,200 cash prize, and the 13 Category winners in the Non-Professional Categories will each receive a $500 prize. Each of the above winners will also receive two tickets to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York city,
An additional $500 allowance towards their travel/accommodation costs will be given to every category winner joining the Lucie event week in New York (Lucie Awards & IPA Best of Show (*). They will also receive the IPA Trophy, which will be awarded at the opening of the curated IPA Best of Show exhibition in New York City, where their winning work will also be featured.
Category Winners - Non-professional
The 13 Category winners in the Non-Professional categories will each receive a $500 cash prize and 2 tickets to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City, where they will be finalists for the Discovery of the Year award.
An additional $500 allowance towards their travel/accommodation costs will be given to every category winner joining the Lucie event week in New York (Lucie Awards & IPA Best of Show (*). They will also receive the IPA Trophy, which will be awarded at the opening of the curated IPA Best of Show exhibition in New York City, where their winning work will also be featured.
* The travel allowance will be given only to those finalists who choose to attend the event, and will be reimbursed to the attendee after the Lucie Awards & IPA Best of Show have concluded.
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners in all sub-categories include:
Printable Winner Certificate and IPA Seal
Publication in the IPA Annual Book of Photography
A curated selection of winning images to be exhibited in the IPA Best of Show Exhibition which opens in New York City during the Lucies, and is shown around the world through the following year.
Receive significant international publicity and extensive media exposure through our online promotional campaign, and magazine and newspaper partners distributing and promoting winners works.
1 Free ticket to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City.
- Be honored by receiving the coveted Lucie Statue at the Lucie Awards Gala
- Receive the IPA Trophy at the “Best of Show” Exhibition in New York City
- Be Published in the IPA Annual Book of Photography
- Be Featured in the IPA Best of Show Exhibition in New York City and beyond
- Win $47,500 in cash prizes
- And more!
International Photographer of the Year Award
The top award in the Professional Categories includes The Lucie Trophy and a $12,000 cash prize
Discovery of the Year Award:
The top award in the Non-Professional Categories includes The Lucie Trophy and $6,000 cash prize
The winner of these two awards will be announced during the Lucie Awards Ceremony.
Category Winners - Professional
The 13 Category winners in the Professional Categories will each receive a $1,200 cash prize, and the 13 Category winners in the Non-Professional Categories will each receive a $500 prize. Each of the above winners will also receive two tickets to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York city,
An additional $500 allowance towards their travel/accommodation costs will be given to every category winner joining the Lucie event week in New York (Lucie Awards & IPA Best of Show (*). They will also receive the IPA Trophy, which will be awarded at the opening of the curated IPA Best of Show exhibition in New York City, where their winning work will also be featured.
Category Winners - Non-professional
The 13 Category winners in the Non-Professional categories will each receive a $500 cash prize and 2 tickets to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City, where they will be finalists for the Discovery of the Year award.
An additional $500 allowance towards their travel/accommodation costs will be given to every category winner joining the Lucie event week in New York (Lucie Awards & IPA Best of Show (*). They will also receive the IPA Trophy, which will be awarded at the opening of the curated IPA Best of Show exhibition in New York City, where their winning work will also be featured.
* The travel allowance will be given only to those finalists who choose to attend the event, and will be reimbursed to the attendee after the Lucie Awards & IPA Best of Show have concluded.
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners in all sub-categories include:
Printable Winner Certificate and IPA Seal
Publication in the IPA Annual Book of Photography
A curated selection of winning images to be exhibited in the IPA Best of Show Exhibition which opens in New York City during the Lucies, and is shown around the world through the following year.
Receive significant international publicity and extensive media exposure through our online promotional campaign, and magazine and newspaper partners distributing and promoting winners works.
1 Free ticket to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City.
Featured Photo Contest
AAP Magazine #55/Women
$1,000 cash prizes | Winning image(s) published in AAP Magazine #55 | Extensive press coverage and global recognition
© Jacque Rupp
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 03/13/26
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 03/13/26
The 28th edition of the PICTO Fashion Photography Award holds a special significance for the PICTO Foundation.
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 03/16/26
The prize is endowed with €5,000 to use as the winner sees fit.
ENDS 03/17/26
Be Featured in our April 2026 Online Juried Solo Exhibition!
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 03/29/26
Be seen, be supported, and be part of Head On Photo Festival 2026.
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 03/31/26
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 03/31/26
Selected photobooks will be featured in Der Greif’s Articles section, including a dedicated editorial feature highlighting the project, its context, and the maker(s).
ENDS 04/12/26
The winner will receive a grant of $14,000 for a solo exhibition
ENDS 04/16/26
Emerging Photographers (under 30 year old ) 2 X $ 5000 grants.
ENDS 04/16/26
The main grant is open to professional photographers worldwide, one $30,000. grant
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 06/15/26
Submit your best photographs now and get your chance to be one of the winners awarded in Siena!
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.