The CEWE Photo Award is back for a new 2026–2027 edition. Open to everyone and truly international in scope, this competition invites photography enthusiasts—both amateur and professional—to share their vision of the world through their finest photographs.
Building on the record 656,738 photos submitted in the previous edition, confirming its status as the world’s largest photography competition, this new edition takes on a special significance: the year 2026 marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of photography, a unique opportunity to celebrate this art form and its evolution through the eyes of the participants.
Guided by the universal theme “Our World is Beautiful”, the competition once again embodies an approach that is artistic, unifying and socially engaged.
The CEWE Photo Award will run from 6 May 2026 to 31 May 2027, giving participants over a year to submit their photos.
A true international benchmark, the competition aims to consolidate its status as the world’s largest photography competition, whilst continuing to grow in terms of the number of participants and entries submitted.
As in previous editions, an exceptional prize fund of over €250,000 will be awarded to the 1,000 winners, selected by an international jury of recognised experts from the world of photography.
10 categories to celebrate the world’s diversity
Entrants may submit up to 100 photos free of charge via the official platform https://concours.cewe.fr/cewephotoaward2027/fr_fr/, across 10 categories that reflect the full breadth of contemporary photography.
Among the changes for this edition, a new category has been introduced: The World in Abstract, which replaces the Cuisine & Gastronomy category.
The 2026–2027 categories:
● Animals
● Nature & Wildlife
● Macro Photography
● Travel & Culture
● Architecture
● Landscapes
● People
● Sports
● Street Photography
● The World in Abstract (new)
The Young Talent Award returns to showcase emerging talent. Open to 16–25-year-olds, this special prize will highlight young photographers through:
● one winner each month,
● a dedicated prize fund,
● and significant media exposure.
The CEWE Photo Award 2026–2027 will bring together a prestigious international jury chaired by Christie Goodwin, a world-renowned concert photographer, alongside leading figures in contemporary photography such as Lois Lammerhuber, Ulla Lohmann, JC Pieri and Jimmy Nelson. With their diverse backgrounds and expertise, these jurors will ensure a rigorous selection process, befitting the world’s largest photography competition. A true enthusiast of travel and photography, Thomas Mehls, CEO of the CEWE Group since 2025, will complete the jury.
With their diverse expertise and perspectives, these judges embody the richness and artistic rigour of the CEWE Photo Award, ensuring a selection worthy of this world-class competition.
