Entries are now open for the 2026 Head On Photo Awards, inviting photographers from Australia and around the world to put their work on the international stage as part of the Head On Photo Festival from 6 – 29 November.
Open to photographers of every level, from emerging image-makers and phone photographers to established professionals, the 2026 Awards span three categories: Portrait, Landscape and Exposure. Every entry is assessed online and on creative merit alone. The three category winners will share a prize pool exceeding AUD$80,000.
Head On Photo Festival has grown into one of the world’s leading photography events, transforming public spaces across Sydney into accessible galleries and sharing diverse stories of human experience with nearly half a million people each November. For finalists, that scale means genuine visibility and a chance to be seen by the public, curators, gallerists and photography leaders from around the world.
Since 2004, Head On Foundation has awarded more than AUD$1 million in cash and prizes, helping photographers create, exhibit and connect with new audiences. Previous Awards exhibitions have toured throughout Australia and internationally to China, the USA, New Zealand and Europe.
Head On Photo Festival Founder and Creative Director Moshe Rosenzveig OAM said the Awards were created to hold the world’s most compelling photography to a single, uncompromising standard: the image itself.
“Great photography is not about the camera you own, the country you come from or the name on your résumé. It is about the image and its ability to make us stop, feel and see the world differently,” said Rosenzveig.
“Over the last 20 years, Head On has grown into one of the world’s leading photo festivals and become a huge platform for photographers. Finalists in the Photo Awards have their work exhibited, published and toured internationally, seen by hundreds of thousands of people who might otherwise never encounter their photography.”
A total of 110 finalists will have their work presented in fully produced, curated print and online exhibitions during Head On Photo Festival 2026, with each image also published in the Awards’ limited-edition hardcover catalogue. A further 200 semi-finalists will feature in a digital exhibition at a major Festival venue.
Finalists receive opportunities extending beyond the prize itself. Head On produces the exhibitions, publishes the catalogue and continues seeking touring opportunities, giving photographers the chance to connect with audiences, curators and peers from around the world.
Entries for the 2026 Head On Photo Awards are now open and close Sunday 16 August 2026. For more information and entry guidelines, visit: www.headon.org.au for details.
Images: Ignacio Palacios – courtesy of Head On Photo Festival 2025 | Pamela Pauline – courtesy of Head On Photo Festival 2025