Photographers from around the world have until 31 May to apply for the 2026 edition of the HIPA International Photography Award, which this year is structured around five main categories and a central theme: Family.
“Strengthening the power of photography to draw attention to major global issues.” This is how Ali Bin Thalith, Secretary General of HIPA, reiterates the ambition of the competition, which returns for a new edition marked by several new developments.
After the theme of power in 2025, family takes centre stage in 2026. “Beyond its human meaning, family represents belonging in its broadest sense,” the organisers emphasise. “It is a subtle language of connection found wherever elements come together, coexist and depend on one another.”
This main theme, “Family”, is complemented by four other major categories. These include Sports Photography, now an essential category, the General category (divided into colour and black and white), as well as Portfolio, designed for photographers wishing to demonstrate their narrative abilities through a coherent series of images.
Another notable new feature is the creation of the category “Dreams through AI”. The jury will pay particular attention to “the strength of the original concept, composition, vision and execution. This category offers a creative space dedicated to the poetic fusion of reality and imagination.”
All participants may also compete for the title of Photographer of the Year, created in 2024. This award will honour “an exceptional photographer whose creative achievements have stood out over a continuous twelve-month period” and carries a prize of 80,000 dollars.
In total, the prize fund reaches one million dollars, with awards ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 dollars per category and between 50,000 and 100,000 dollars for invitation-only prizes such as the Photography Appreciation Award or the Photography Content Creator Award.
Beyond the financial stakes, the HIPA Award offers decisive international visibility. As Rahul Sachdev, a previous laureate, points out: “Winning the HIPA Award was a true transformation. It revealed my work to the international photographic community and opened the door to many collaborative opportunities.”
Benjamin Rullier
