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OD Photo Prize 2026

A launchpad for emerging photographic artists

Open Doors Gallery   /   Deadline: 08/11/26

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Open Doors Gallery is delighted to invite submissions for the sixth edition of the OD Photo Prize. An annual open call for emerging artists working within the first ten years of their practice.

"Winning the OD Photo Prize meaningfully widened the audience for Angels, but what's stayed with me is the support I received from Tom after the win. Tom didn't just hand over a prize and walk away; he built an entire platform around the work and has stayed genuinely invested well past the announcement, putting hands-on care into every aspect of the process. Working with Tom and OD Gallery has been a real pleasure, and I'd recommend the prize without hesitation to any emerging artist thinking about applying."
— J.A. Young, Winner, 2025

For over a decade, Open Doors Gallery has championed the discovery and mentorship of early-career artists working across the full spectrum of contemporary photography. From Kensuke Koike's sculptural alchemy to Marisol Mendez's piercing portraiture, and bold pioneers of new visual languages such as Wysocka / Pogo and Sander Coers, ODG has showcased emerging talents through a dynamic programme of exhibitions, pop-ups and international art fairs. We are proud to have played a role in raising the profiles of these artists while gaining deep insight into what it takes to build a sustainable career in this industry.

The OD Photo Prize is a natural extension of this mission, a platform designed to broaden our search for exceptional talent and to foster lasting relationships with photographic artists worldwide. It is deliberately kept open-themed because we want to welcome and celebrate the full breadth of the medium. Each year the prize draws an extraordinary international field, with last year's edition alone attracting over 1,200 projects from more than 70 countries.

Location

London, UK | Open to international submissions

Fees

23

Eligibility

Artists must be working within the first ten years of their practice to be eligible. Please highlight your career start date in your bio, and contact us if you are in doubt.

Requirements

We only accept projects or bodies of work as submissions. Each submission must consist of between 6 and 15 images and a supporting text.

Awards

What Finalists Receive
Grand Prize
A £2,000 cash prize supported by Open Doors Gallery

An exclusive interview published on the 1000 Words Magazine website alongside the winner announcement

Long-term mentorship through Open Doors Gallery, including portfolio guidance, presentation to our community of collectors and ongoing industry advice

Listed as an OD Artist on our website and given an Artsy profile for at least one year, presenting available artworks from the submitted project

Exhibited in London as part of the OD Photo Prize group exhibition

Two Runners-Up
Long-term mentorship through Open Doors Gallery, including portfolio guidance, presentation to our community of collectors and ongoing industry advice

Invited to be listed on the OD Artist page and Artsy platform for at least one year, presenting available artworks from the submitted project

Exhibited in London as part of the OD Photo Prize group exhibition

Judges' Picks
Each member of the jury selects one artist from the Longlist they feel deserves a special mention, with the opportunity to be exhibited at the OD Photo Prize exhibition

InCadaqués Award
We are delighted to continue the InCadaqués Award for a third year

Olivia and Valmont, founders and directors of this renowned festival in Spain, will select one artist from the Longlist to present at next year's festival

The form of the presentation will adapt to the nature of the work, whether an exhibition, projection or installation

AJ Page Award (People's Choice)
A People's Choice award for exceptional single images, selected by Open Doors Gallery from this year's Longlist

The ten selected artworks will be posted to the @odtakeovers feed and voted for in the comments by the public

At least one will be included in the OD Photo Prize group exhibition and online show

Shortlisted artists will receive the following support and opportunities:

Exhibiting artists will be published in a limited run exhibition catalogue with extended features for selected artists, the winner & runners up. Available for purchase at the exhibition & online.

Having their work produced for a group exhibition hosted by Open Doors Gallery in London, Nov-Dec 2026 [dates and venue TBC]

Exhibited in London and online, gaining exposure to the Open Doors Gallery collector base, with profits from any sales shared with the artist

Exhibition exposure to a substantial number of visual arts professionals and the media

Inclusion in the gallery website announcement and dedicated newsletter

Their projects viewed and considered by our panel of leading industry experts

Their work shared with our 100,000+ social media following

Inclusion in an ongoing community and support network facilitated by Open Doors Gallery

Artists retain full copyright of their work at all times

Portfolio Reviews

This year a limited number of one-to-one portfolio review places will be offered to Longlisted artists. Each review comprises of two sessions: one with a selected OD represented artist matched to your practice, and one with gallery director Tom Page. Places are strictly limited. Reviews are heavily discounted for Shortlisted artists, and free for the two Runners-Up and the Winner.

Considerations

"Being included in the OD Photo Prize has significantly boosted my photography career. When my project POST was selected as a judge's pick by Rosie Wadey in the 2023 edition, it opened up a lot of opportunities for me. This recognition not only helped me gain visibility among an international network of photography enthusiasts but also led to my representation by Open Doors Gallery. Recently, I had the experience of exhibiting with them at Photo London, which was a milestone moment in my career. The support and exposure from the OD Photo Prize have been invaluable in advancing my professional journey."

— Sander Coers [Judge's Pick, 2023]

"The OD Photo Prize allowed me to further advance my practice by providing the necessary funds to purchase equipment and enhance the quality of my work. With support from Metro Imaging and MPB, I was able to take on larger and more complex projects. The prize has been instrumental in fostering innovation and helping me reach a wider audience."

– Patricia Voulgaris, OD Photo Prize Winner, 2023

"Winning the 2022 OD Photo Prize was a significant validation of many years working on what has now become, 'They Still Owe Him a Boat'. The prize provided me with a wonderful platform and network for my work to be seen, engaged with, and then exhibited – which was a very special moment for me. It has been a great source of encouragement during the final stages of this work and has reinforced my belief in the caliber and importance of it. The competition is a great way to connect with a lot of talented photographers and I am immensely appreciative of Tom and everyone at Open Doors for the many ways they continue to provide guidance, access, and support through the OD Photo Prize."

— Jono Terry [OD Photo Prize | 2022 Winner]

Evaluation Criteria

OD Photo Prize is open themed. We greatly encourage submissions from artists working across all forms of photographic art: this includes, but is not limited to, storytelling, narrative, social documentary, construction, archival, conceptual or theoretical practices. Submissions must be photographic or lens-based but can incorporate other art forms (i.e. performance, collage, painting, sculpture, music, literature etc), and may result in unique artworks.

Contact Information

Tom Page
38 Sydney Street
LONDON,

P: 07769922824
W: https://opendoors.gallery/od-photo-prize
E: tom@opendoors.gallery