Deadline: November 3, 2026
8th Chelsea International Photography Competition 2026
Organizer
New York Art Competitions; partners and sponsors include Agora Gallery, ARTmine, AGI Fine Art, and Harlowe
Location
New York, USA (exhibition venue); open to entries worldwide
Deadline
November 3, 2026
- Amateur Photography (for those pursuing photography for pleasure rather than financial benefit)
- Professional Photography (for photographers running a profitable practice and earning the majority of their income from photography)
Eligibility
Open to photographers worldwide over 18, in either the amateur or professional division. Entries must be original photographs owned and authored by the entrant; collaborations of no more than two photographers are accepted. There is no creation-date limit; all submitted photographs must be available for sale. Videos and sexually explicit, violent, or racist material are excluded. Résumés and artist statements are neither required nor encouraged at submission; professional-category entrants may optionally provide a series description.
- Amateur Photography: $45 for up to 5 images, plus $5 for each additional image
- Professional Photography: $55 for 5 images, plus $5 for each additional image
Prizes/Awards
Prizes valued at more than $55,000:
- 30 photographers selected for a New York collective exhibition: 15 amateur photographers displaying one photograph each and 15 professional photographers displaying three to five photographs each (amateur exhibition works are printed and mounted by the organizer; professional exhibition recipients are responsible for printing, framing or mounting, shipping, and transit insurance)
- Five photographers receive $500 cash prizes
- One receives the Harlowe Art of Light Award with an Avant Max Creator Kit (Midnight)
- Five receive one year of exposure on ARTmine.com
- Five receive one week of social media promotion during the exhibition
- 10 receive Honorable Mentions with complimentary entry to the 9th Chelsea International Photography Competition
Core Introduction
The 8th Chelsea International Photography Competition is the current edition of New York Art Competitions' international photography call, focused on contemporary photographic practice and creative image-making. The competition has no fixed subject theme, allowing work to explore subjects ranging from regional cultures and travel photography to commercial imagery and photojournalism. The 8th edition is judged by Alison Morley, Chair Emerita of the Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Program at the International Center of Photography; photographer and director Roy Schweiger; and Sandra M. Stevenson, Deputy Director of Photography at The Washington Post. The open-topic format gives photographers considerable freedom in choosing the work that best represents their practice, and the judging process is strongly image-focused: résumés and artist statements are neither required nor encouraged at submission, making the competition a direct opportunity to have photographic work assessed by an experienced professional jury. Selected photographers take part in a New York collective exhibition and gain cash prizes, gallery and art-platform exposure, and promotional support — a significant channel for recognition within the New York art scene.
