International Photography Competition for Photographers Worldwide
Water: Our Shared Story 2026, an international photography competition organized by HIPA, is now calling for entries, inviting photographers from around the world to submit powerful visual stories exploring the relationship between water, people, communities and our planet.
Short description
The Water: Our Shared Story 2026 international photography competition, organized by the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), is now accepting submissions from photographers around the world, inviting them to tell powerful visual stories about water and its essential role in our lives, communities and planet.
Organized in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, the competition aims to highlight the shared global importance of water through compelling and meaningful photographic storytelling. The UN Water Conference will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 8–10 December 2026 and is focused on accelerating progress towards sustainable water management and UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).
Through this initiative, HIPA aims to bring together diverse perspectives and use the power of visual storytelling to raise awareness of water as a shared global resource and the challenges and opportunities surrounding it.
Photographers are invited to submit a cohesive photo story consisting of 5 to 10 images exploring the relationship between water, people and the planet. Each submission should work as a unified visual story and be accompanied by a title and description.
Entries may explore five key thematic areas:
➜ Water & People – personal stories and the relationship between people and water
➜ Water & Communities – the role of water in communities and society
➜ Water & Planet – water, nature, ecosystems and the environment
➜ Water & Innovation – creative solutions, technology and new approaches to water
➜ Water & Challenges – the global challenges surrounding water and its availability
The Water: Our Shared Story 2026 photography competition is open to photographers worldwide aged 18 years and over. Entries may be created using professional cameras, smartphones or drones, giving photographers working with different techniques and approaches the opportunity to participate.
Basic technical editing and image adjustments are permitted; however, submissions should maintain the authenticity and integrity of the original photographs, while advanced manipulation that significantly alters the reality of an image is not permitted. Images must not contain signatures, watermarks, logos, borders or other identifying marks.
The competition is conducted entirely online, making it accessible to photographers worldwide and offering an international platform to use photography as a powerful tool for raising awareness about one of the world's most important shared resources.
Submission requirements
➜ Participants must submit a cohesive photo story of 5 to 10 images, accompanied by a title and description.
➜ Photographs may be taken with professional cameras, smartphones or drones. Images must be submitted in high-quality JPEG format, with a minimum file size of 5 MB, a minimum long dimension of 2,000 pixels and a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Original RAW or unedited files must also be provided as required by HIPA.
➜ Basic technical editing is permitted, but significant manipulation that alters the reality of the photograph is not allowed. Submitted images must not contain signatures, watermarks, logos, borders or other identifying marks.
Eligibility
The competition is open to photographers worldwide aged 18 years and over.
Benefits
A total of US $23,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners:
➜ 1st Prize: US $10,000
➜ 2nd Prize: US $8,000
➜ 3rd Prize: US $5,000
Entry fees
The competition is free to enter.
