Photography Contest

2026 ZEKE Awards

2026 ZEKE Awards

Deadline |

01/15/26

Theme |

Documentary - Systemic Change

Territory |

Worldwide

Eligibility |

Open to all

Entry Fees |

$25

Prizes |

Cash Prize

Host |

Social Documentary Network & ZEKE Magazine

We are happy to announce that we will be giving two separate awards.
ZEKE Award for Systemic Change
ZEKE Award for Documentary Photography
Each awardee will receive $2,500

2026 ZEKE Award for Systemic Change
SDN is proud to partner again with the Foundation for Systemic Change for the fourth year to award the ZEKE Award for Systemic Change.
SDN will award one photographer a $2,500 honoraria and recognition of their outstanding visual stories documenting systemic changes leading to sustainable solutions to important issues affecting the world today.
We are particularly interested in issues related to the threat to democracy, human rights, global health, climate change, migration and refugees, conflict, race and gender, reproductive rights, sustainable farming practices, and others.
We look to photographers to educate us as to what issues are most pressing and the change that is being done.
What is important is to show solutions and not only problems.

ZEKE Award for Documentary Photography
SDN will award one photographer the ZEKE Award for Documentary Photography and a $2,500 honoraria to recognize their success in documentary visual storytelling about any subject matter with an emphasis on themes that affect the global community.
Jurors will look at the quality of the photographic images and accompanying text and how well the combination adds to our understanding of the issue.

Awards

Two First-Place Winners will receive

• $2,500 cash prize.
• Featured in ZEKE magazine.
• Featured in exhibitions of ZEKE Award winners at Photoville in Brooklyn, NY in early June 2026.
• Featured in SDN's email Spotlight sent to SDN's 8,500 members and on SDN's home page, Facebook, and Instagram feeds.

Honorable Mentions

• Presented in ZEKE magazine.
• Featured in exhibitions of ZEKE Award winners at Photoville in Brooklyn, NY in early June 2026.
• Featured in SDN's email Spotlight sent to SDN's 8,500 members and on SDN's home page, Facebook, and Instagram feeds.

Featured Photo Contest

AAP Magazine #54 / Nature

Our 54th printed issue of AAP Magazine will feature the best projects showcasing the theme: Nature. Capturing the Splendor of Landscapes, Wildlife, Flora & Fauna

© Jo Fields

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 12/04/25
Winners of the competition receive cash awards, certificates, a trophy (for the top award) and an invitation to the awards ceremony in London, have their work published in the competition’s portfolio book
ENDS 12/09/25
Publication in AAP Magazine 54 Nature + $1,000 Cash Prizes
ENDS 12/15/25
Do you believe the world could be a kinder place? It can, through your photography! The 2025 Our World Is Kind global photography contest is now accepting submissions.
ENDS 12/16/25
Be Featured in our January 2026 Online Juried Solo Exhibition!
ENDS 12/17/25
Winners will be exhibited in New York during The Photography Show + Cash Prizes
ENDS 12/31/25
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 01/06/26
Rewarding the best single images! Enter for free and you could win $5,000, top Sony digital imaging equipment plus more!
ENDS 01/06/26
Dedicated to young photographers under 19 years-old - first prize is top Sony digital imaging equipment plus benefit from global exposure
ENDS 01/06/26
First place receives Sony Digital Imaging equipment and inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book
ENDS 01/08/26
All Finalists: All five finalists participate in a group exhibition organized by Aperture at AIPAD in New York in April 2026.
ENDS 01/09/26
First-place winners in each category will receive $3,000, while second and third places will get $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.
ENDS 01/13/26
Rewarding the best photo series worldwide! Enter for free and you could win $25,000, a range of Sony digital imaging equipment plus more!
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 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 03/31/26
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 05/17/26
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
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.