OPEN CALL – SUBMISSION LINKS AT THE END OF THIS PAGE!
International Photography Call
Applications for the FotoDoc Photo Contest 2026 are now open. This contest showcases photographers from Brazil and worldwide, offering annual awards and global visibility.
Organized by FotoDoc – Documentary Photography Festival, the contest celebrates diverse photographic approaches, without limits on theme or style, emphasizing narrative strength, visual excellence, and impact.
How It Works
- Submission is free in three categories: Single Image, Photo Essay, Portfolio.
- If selected, works are published on the FotoDoc website and Instagram after a USD 29 publication fee.
- Revenue covers contributor compensation, operational costs, and contest promotion. The contest is independent and receives no cultural incentive funding.
Rolling Submissions
Submissions are open until June 30, 2026. Selected works are published continuously on Selected – FotoDoc Photo Contest 2026.
Early submissions gain longer online visibility!
After the submission period, 60 finalists will be announced: 9 Portfolios, 21 Photo Essays, and 30 Single Images.
A Jury of 5 experts will select 25 winners: 3 Portfolios, 7 Photo Essays, 15 Single Images. Among Portfolio winners, an overall winner receives the FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2026 Trophy.
Exhibition at Festival FotoDoc 2026
- Winning works are featured in a major exhibition at the festival in São Paulo, November 2026.
- The overall winner receives airfare, accommodation, and presents their Portfolio during festival Talks.
- All finalists are included in the Festival FotoDoc 2026 catalog.
FOTODOC PHOTO CONTEST 2026 – RULES
Read carefully. Submission links at the end of this page.
Submissions: Dec 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026
The contest publishes the work of Brazilian and international photographers with annual awards.
Before submitting, read the Regulations and choose your category at the end of the page.
1 – OBJECT
Photographs can be submitted in three categories:
- Single Image: Strong standalone photos capturing an event, story, or idea (1–3 images per submission).
- Photo Essay: Concise visual narratives (6–8 images per submission).
- Portfolio: Long-term or in-depth projects (10–15 images per submission). Images from multiple series must demonstrate coherence.
Each photographer may submit multiple entries, but can only win once per category. Images can be analog or digital. AI-generated images are not accepted, but AI for retouching is allowed if declared.
2 – SUBMISSION
- Entries accepted from Dec 1, 2025, to Jun 30, 2026, 11:59 PM (UTC-3, Brasília time).
- Submissions require a completed form and JPEG files (longest side: 1920 px). Incomplete submissions will be discarded.
- Selected works are published online after payment of USD 29.
- Participants have 7 days to pay after selection. Non-payment disqualifies the entry.
- Submissions are online only. Entry implies acceptance of the Regulations.
3 – SELECTION
- Rolling evaluation by the curators; selected works are published online.
- After submission closes, 60 finalists are selected: 9 Portfolios, 21 Photo Essays, 30 Single Images.
- A Jury of 5 professionals selects 25 winners: 3 Portfolios, 7 Photo Essays, 15 Single Images.
- The overall winner is chosen from the 3 Portfolio winners and receives the Trophy.
- Jury members’ identities are revealed only at final results.
4 – AWARDS
- Selected works are published online with a profile page including bio, portrait, links, and selected works.
- All finalists appear in the Festival FotoDoc 2026 Catalog.
- Winning works are exhibited at the festival in São Paulo, November 2026.
- Overall winner receives airfare, accommodation, and the Trophy.
- Results are widely published on the website and catalog.
5 – COPYRIGHT AND IMAGE RIGHTS
- Participants authorize FotoDoc to use submitted works, always crediting authorship, on the website, exhibitions, printed/digital media, and catalogs.
- Copyright and moral rights remain with authors. Works can be used elsewhere freely.
- Participants declare full authorship and responsibility for permissions and rights.
- Organizers will properly credit all works.
6 – FINAL PROVISIONS
- Questions: festival@fotodoc.com.br
- Submission implies full acceptance of these Regulations.
- Jury decisions are final.
- Organized by Vertente Edição, Impressão e Produção LTDA, São Paulo, CNPJ: 34.862.316/0001-04.
- Jurisdiction: São Paulo, Brazil.
