Belfast Photo Festival 2026 is open for international Photographers

  • Award, Competition, Festival
  • Paid Funding Type
  • Deadline in 2 months
https://www.belfastphotofestival.com/open-submission-info-2026
  December 11, 2025

About Opportunity

The internationally recognized Belfast Photo Festival is accepting applications from photographers worldwide for its 2026 Festival call. Submissions must be photographic or lens-based, but may incorporate other art forms such as performance, painting, sculpture, music, or literature. This year’s theme is open. An international selection committee will evaluate all submissions. All participants receive professional review by a diverse jury and exposure through festival materials and social media. Finalists (20–40 photographers) will have their work exhibited as large-format prints in city centre locations, and will be featured in the festival programme, website, partner exhibitions, media promotion, dedicated online features, and in Abridged Magazine. Following the exhibition, winners will be awarded cash prizes, opportunities for interviews with leading photographic institutions, artist talks, full editorial features, and ongoing mentorship and support from the Belfast Photo Festival.

About Organizer

Founded in 2011, the Belfast Photo Festival is a not-for-profit organization that has grown to become one of the United Kingdom’s leading annual international photography festivals, as well as the foremost visual arts festival in Northern Ireland. The event attracts thousands of visitors each year and showcases exceptional national and international contemporary photography across 30 museums, galleries, and public spaces. The festival provides a significant platform for artists to present their work to a global audience, with previous editions drawing over 150,000 visitors from around the world.
The Belfast Photo Festival provides both emerging and established photographers with the opportunity to have their work evaluated by a prominent jury, receive various awards, and benefit from support in the production and promotion of their artworks through festival exhibitions and outreach programs.

Details

The judges for 2026 Belfast Photo Festival:

  • Roxana Marcoci – Acting Chief Curator, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, U.S.A

  • Florian Ebner – Head of Photography, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France

  • Kim Bubello – Deputy Director of Photography, TIME, New York, U.S.A

  • Lisa Sutcliffe – Curator, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, U.S.A

  • Alessia Glaviano – Head of Global PhotoVogue, Vogue, Milan, Italy

  • Michael Weir – Director, Belfast Photo Festival, Belfast, UK

Eligibility:

  • All photographers, artists, curators, over the age of 18, individually or in collectives, across the globe can participate in this festival

Project/event location:

  • Belfast, Ireland


Participation fee:

  • Application fee is £26

Award/prize: 

  • Cash prize - £2,000

  • Exhibition

  • Social media and online acknowledgment, interviews, talks

  • Promotional and curatorial support

Application requirements:

  • Online application form in English

  • CV/portfolio 

  • Artist statement

  • Up to 15 images for the exhibition

  • A single cover and reference image must be uploaded

The submission closes:

  • 3 March, 2026

Specifications

Opportunity Types
Award, Competition, Festival
Deadline
03 March, 2026
Funding Type
Paid
Open to
Worldwide