The CitiesToBe Photo Award 2026 is inviting photographers and artist collectives to submit photographic projects exploring the role of “third places” in the contemporary city.
The competition welcomes photographic projects that move beyond conventional representations of cities, offering documentary, conceptual or critical perspectives on urban life and complexity.
Funding
The winning project will receive an acquisitive prize of €1,500 and the finalist projects will each receive €500.
The winning and finalist projects will also be published as photo essays and shared through CitiesToBe's digital channels. Artists retain full copyright of their work, while printing and production costs are covered by the organisation.
The theme: Third places
The 2026 edition focuses on the idea of the third place: shared social environments that exist outside the two primary spaces of everyday life, home and work.
Through this theme, photographers are encouraged to explore how shared urban spaces contribute to identity, belonging and the social fabric of contemporary cities.
These might include parks, libraries, cafés, markets, public squares, community centres, cultural spaces, streets and other environments where people gather, interact and build a sense of belonging.
Eligibility
The competition is open to artists and collectives of any nationality, aged 18 and over, regardless of where they are based.
Each participant may submit one project, either individually or as part of a collective.
Selection criteria
Projects will be assessed according to their artistic quality, conceptual strength, coherence as a photographic series, relevance to the theme and engagement with questions of urban complexity.
Applicants must submit one photographic project consisting of 10 to 20 images.
Application information
Deadline: 30 September 2026
For more information and to apply, click here
Download and read through the official guidelines carefully before submitting.
Your funding experts
InterArts Funding offers its expertise to assist you in applying for grant opportunities (including this one), leveraging our extensive experience to enhance your chances of securing the grant. It is important to clarify that InterArts Funding is an independent entity and is not affiliated with any specific funding organisation. While we have a commendable track record of success, we cannot guarantee the approval of your application. Grant outcomes depend on various factors beyond our control.