Nominations open for CitiesToBe Photo Award

The CitiesToBe Photo Award is accepting purposes from photographers and artist collectives worldwide for photographic initiatives exploring the theme of “third places”—casual social areas past dwelling and work that form city life. The competitors gives a €1,500 acquisitive prize for one profitable undertaking and €500 every for 5 finalist initiatives, with no entry payment and full copyright retained by taking part artists.

CitiesToBe Photo Award 2026

The CitiesToBe Photo Award is a images competitors targeted on the complexity, variety, and lived expertise of latest cities.

Held each three years, the award helps photographers whose work examines city environments by means of considerate, documentary, conceptual, or crucial views.

For its third version, the award focuses particularly on “third places.”

Unlike conventional images competitions that consider particular person images, this version requires candidates to submit a coherent photographic undertaking consisting of 10 to twenty photographs.

What Are “Third Places”?

“Third places” are social environments that exist exterior the 2 main settings of on a regular basis life: dwelling and work.

They can present alternatives for folks to satisfy, work together, construct relationships, alternate concepts, and take part in neighborhood life.

Examples could embody:

• Cafés and casual assembly areas
• Parks and public squares
• Libraries
• Community centres
• Markets
• Streets and neighbourhood gathering areas
• Cultural venues
• Religious or neighborhood areas
• Informal social environments
• Other shared city areas

The CitiesToBe Photo Award encourages photographers to discover how these areas contribute to the social material, identification, belonging, and on a regular basis expertise of cities.

Why the CitiesToBe Photo Award Matters

The award goals to maneuver past standard or superficial photographs of cities.

Instead, it encourages initiatives that reveal:

• Everyday city experiences.
• Social relationships.
• Community interplay.
• Public and semi-public areas.
• Cultural variety.
• Urban identification.
• Inclusion and exclusion.
• Informal social networks.
• Conflicts and contradictions inside cities.
• The altering function of shared areas.

The competitors combines monetary recognition, art work acquisition, publication, and worldwide visibility.

What Can Photographers Submit?

Applicants should submit a photographic undertaking reasonably than a single standalone {photograph}.

Each undertaking should comprise:

10 to twenty photographs

The submitted work ought to kind a sustained visible narrative related to the theme of third locations.

Eligible approaches could embody:

• Documentary images
• Conceptual images
• Critical images
• Urban images
• Social images
• Contemporary photographic apply
• Other lens-based approaches

The vital requirement is that the undertaking meaningfully explores third locations and their function inside city environments.

Prize and Recognition

The award offers monetary prizes in addition to alternatives for publication and art work acquisition.

Main Winner – €1,500

One profitable undertaking will obtain an acquisitive prize of €1,500.

Under the acquisition association:

• CitiesToBe acquires the printing rights for one {photograph} from the profitable collection.
• The group produces a print of the chosen {photograph}.
• The print turns into a part of the CitiesToBe non-public city images assortment.
• The profitable undertaking is printed as a photograph essay.
• The undertaking is promoted by means of CitiesToBe’s digital communication channels.

Five Finalists – €500 Each

Five finalist initiatives will every obtain €500.

Finalists can even obtain:

• Acquisition of 1 {photograph} beneath the award’s acquisitive situations.
• Publication as a photograph essay.
• Promotion by means of CitiesToBe communication channels.
• Coverage of printing and manufacturing prices by the group.

Copyright and Artist Rights

Artists retain full copyright possession of their work.

The acquisitive association doesn’t switch the artist’s copyright to CitiesToBe.

The group covers the printing and manufacturing prices related to the images it acquires.

This permits photographers to obtain recognition and visibility whereas retaining possession of their mental property.

Who Is Eligible?

The CitiesToBe Photo Award is open internationally.

Eligible candidates embody:

• Individual artists.
• Professional photographers.
• Emerging photographers.
• Artist collectives.
• Artists of any nationality.
• Applicants aged 18 or older.

There isn’t any requirement for candidates to be from a selected nation.

Eligibility Requirements

Submitted initiatives should meet the competitors’s technical and artistic necessities.

Applicants ought to be sure that:

• They are no less than 18 years previous.
• They are an artist or eligible collective.
• Their work is lens-based.
• The photographs have been created after January 1, 2024.
• The undertaking incorporates 10–20 photographs.
• The undertaking addresses the theme of third locations.
• The submitted work shouldn’t be AI-generated or artificial.
• Only one undertaking is submitted per participant.
• The submission is made in accordance with the competitors necessities.

Are AI-Generated Images Allowed?

No.

The competitors particularly excludes AI-generated or artificial photographs.

Applicants ought to due to this fact submit genuine lens-based photographic work created by means of eligible photographic processes.

Is There an Entry Fee?

No.

The CitiesToBe Photo Award doesn’t cost an entry payment.

This makes the competitors accessible to photographers and artists no matter their monetary circumstances.

How to Apply

Applicants ought to put together a whole photographic undertaking earlier than submitting their entry.

Step 1: Develop a Project About “Third Places”

Choose an city setting or social context that lets you discover the that means of third locations.

The undertaking ought to transcend merely photographing enticing city areas.

Consider documenting:

• How folks use shared areas.
• Who feels welcome or excluded.
• How relationships develop in these environments.
• How areas change all through the day.
• How communities create casual gathering locations.
• How city growth impacts social interplay.

Step 2: Select 10–20 Images

Choose between 10 and 20 images that work collectively as a coherent visible story.

The photographs ought to collectively talk the undertaking’s idea reasonably than functioning as unrelated images.

Step 3: Confirm Image Eligibility

Before submitting, confirm that:

• The images have been created after January 1, 2024.
• The work is lens-based.
• No AI-generated or artificial photographs are included.
• The photographs meet the required submission specs.

Step 4: Prepare the Project Narrative

Explain the concept behind the undertaking and the way the images examine third locations.

A powerful undertaking description ought to clearly talk:

• What the undertaking paperwork or explores.
• Where it takes place.
• Why the chosen areas matter.
• How folks work together with these areas.
• What the undertaking reveals about modern city life.

Step 5: Submit One Project

Each participant could submit just one undertaking.

Applicants ought to rigorously evaluation the official competitors directions earlier than finishing their submission.

Tips for a Strong Application

Build a Coherent Visual Narrative

Do not choose images just because they’re individually enticing.

The full collection ought to inform a related story.

Interpret the Theme Creatively

A 3rd place doesn’t must be a standard café or park.

Think about much less apparent areas the place folks develop social connections exterior dwelling and work.

Show Human Experience

The strongest initiatives are prone to talk how folks truly expertise and use city areas.

Consider together with interactions, routines, relationships, absence, battle, or altering patterns of use.

Avoid Generic City Photography

Skylines, well-known buildings, and architectural photographs alone could not sufficiently deal with the theme.

The undertaking ought to exhibit a significant connection between city area and social life.

Make the Series Consistent

Pay consideration to:

• Sequencing.
• Visual rhythm.
• Composition.
• Perspective.
• Lighting.
• Subject matter.
• Conceptual consistency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants ought to keep away from:

• Submitting fewer than 10 or greater than 20 photographs.
• Submitting a number of initiatives.
• Including photographs created earlier than January 1, 2024.
• Using AI-generated or artificial imagery.
• Submitting unrelated images.
• Treating the undertaking as a set of particular person photographs reasonably than a story.
• Failing to attach the work clearly to “third places.”
• Assuming copyright is transferred to the group.
• Forgetting that the competitors is meant for lens-based photographic work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CitiesToBe Photo Award?

It is a global images award held each three years that helps artists exploring city environments and modern metropolis life by means of photographic initiatives.

What is the theme of the present version?

The present version focuses on “third places”, that means social areas exterior dwelling and work the place folks meet, work together, and kind neighborhood connections.

How many images should be submitted?

Each undertaking should comprise 10 to twenty photographs.

What is the principle prize?

One profitable undertaking receives an acquisitive prize of €1,500. One {photograph} from the profitable collection is acquired for the CitiesToBe non-public assortment.

How many finalists obtain prizes?

Five finalist initiatives will every obtain €500, together with acquisition, publication, and promotional alternatives.

Can artists hold copyright?

Yes. Authors retain full copyright of their work. The group covers printing and manufacturing prices for acquired images.

Are AI-generated photographs eligible?

No. Submitted photographs should be lens-based, and AI-generated or artificial photographs will not be permitted.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Award: CitiesToBe Photo Award
• Theme: Third locations
• Format: Photographic undertaking
• Images required: 10–20
• Main prize: €1,500
• Finalist prizes: €500 every for 5 finalists
• Eligibility: Artists and collectives worldwide
• Minimum age: 18
• Image date: After January 1, 2024
• AI-generated photographs: Not permitted
• Entry payment: None
• Copyright: Retained by artists
• Publication: Winning and finalist initiatives printed as photograph essays
• Production prices: Covered by CitiesToBe for acquired photographs

Conclusion

The CitiesToBe Photo Award gives photographers and artist collectives a chance to look at how shared city areas form modern social life. By specializing in third locations, the competitors encourages sustained photographic storytelling that explores neighborhood, belonging, interplay, identification, and the lived realities of cities.

With a €1,500 important prize, 5 €500 finalist awards, publication alternatives, art work acquisition, and no entry payment, the award offers each monetary recognition and elevated visibility whereas permitting artists to retain their copyright.