Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition 2026–2027 is now open for entries!
The Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition 2026–2027 invites photographers worldwide to explore architecture through original photographic series, celebrating creativity, visual storytelling and contemporary perspectives on architectural spaces.
Short description
The Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition 2026–2027, also known as the LFA Award, invites photographers from around the world to explore architecture through original and compelling photographic narratives.
Held biennially, the competition celebrates the legacy of renowned Portuguese architectural photographer Luis Ferreira Alves, whose work captured the relationship between architecture, light, space and human experience.
Under the theme "A Contemporary Look at Architecture", participants are encouraged to develop a coherent photographic series that offers a distinctive interpretation of an architectural work, a group of buildings or a broader architectural context.
Projects may explore relationships between architecture, urban environments, landscape, materials, light and the experience of space. Both analogue and digital photographic approaches are welcome, with an emphasis on artistic quality, originality and visual storytelling.
The competition is promoted by Porto City Council and Cityscopio – Associação Cultural, with the participation of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto and Casa da Arquitectura in its Organising Committee.
Finalists will be announced between February and March 2027, with prize winners revealed on 25 April 2027. An exhibition and awards ceremony will follow in July 2027 in Portugal.
Submission requirements
➜ Submit a coherent series of 9 to 11 photographs exploring an architectural work, group of works or architectural context.
➜ Include a project statement of no more than 2,000 characters.
➜ Provide a short biography of up to 1,500 characters, together with the required personal and contact information.
➜ Specify the project title, year and place of creation, as well as the title, year and location of each photograph.
➜ Both analogue and digital photography are accepted, but all images must be submitted digitally, without watermarks, signatures or logos.
➜ Standard photographic post-production is permitted. AI-generated images and generative AI alterations are not allowed.
➜ Submitted images must not have previously won an award in another competition.
➜ Submit your project exclusively through the Picter platform by 1 January 2027, at 23:59 (mainland Portugal time).
Eligibility
Open to photographers of all nationalities, participating individually or collectively. Each participant or group may submit one project.
The Portuguese Emerging Photography Award is reserved for eligible Portuguese participants.
Benefits
➜ 1st Prize: €10,000, sponsored by Robbialac.
➜ 2nd Prize: €4,000, sponsored by Fundação "la Caixa" / BPI.
➜ 3rd Prize: A €1,500 voucher for photographic equipment.
➜ Portuguese Emerging Photography Award: A €1,500 voucher for photographic equipment.
➜ Winning projects, finalists and selected distinctions will be featured in the official exhibition and publication.
➜ Distinguished participants will receive certificates, and the three main prize winners will each receive three copies of the official exhibition catalogue.
Entry fees
The competition is free to enter.
