As the festival reaches its 18th edition, it symbolically enters a phase of maturity, capable of reflecting on and exploring central issues of transition. Coming of Age (18+) focuses on the process of coming of age, not as a chronological or legal milestone, but as a multifaceted condition shaped by internal and social ruptures, redefinitions, and acts of self-determination.

Innocence does not disappear, but is transformed, while the subject is constituted as conscious, responsible, and socially exposed. The theme centers on the emergence of autonomy: the individual ceases to function as an extension and is constituted as a distinct entity. The body becomes a field of meaning, desire, control, and assertion, while identity—gender, social roles, status—is subject to constant negotiation.

Thoughts on coming of age hover between childhood and responsibility, where play coexists with the weight of choices. “Permitted” and “forbidden” are understood not only as social rules, but also as internalized boundaries that are tested and reconfigured. In this context, the 18+ designation functions as a symbolic marker of a liminal state, signifying the tension between freedom and responsibility, the personal and the social.

The theme highlights personal and collective experiences of transition: first decisions, ruptures, moments of emancipation or conformity, as well as the social expectations that shape the concept of “adulthood.” Coming of age is approached as a dynamic field of tension between the past, social imperatives, and subjective choice.

“Coming of Age (18+)” provides a framework for reflection on the fragility, ambivalence, and boldness that accompany the transition to adulthood, prompting the audience to consider whether this constitutes a stable state or a constantly renegotiable condition. Awards

1st place: NIKON Z30 Kit NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR, sponsor courtesy by Damkalidis SΑ
2nd & 3rd place: A signed photo album by Alec Soth

In addition, one of the top three shortlisted winners will have the opportunity to participate in next year’s festival with a solo exhibition.

The exhibition of the 25 selected photographs from the Photometria Awards 2026 will take place in Ioannina during the 18th Photometria International Photography Festival. It will also continue its journey after the festival ends.