Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards 2026 – AUTOPORTRAIT
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards 2026 – AUTOPORTRAIT is now open for entries!
Competition Details
Brief Overview
The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards 2026 invites photographers worldwide to explore experimental self-portraiture through the theme AUTOPORTRAIT – PLAY, celebrating creativity, identity and photographic expression.
Competition Details
The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards (KLPA) 2026 invites photographers worldwide to participate in its AUTOPORTRAIT – PLAY open call, an international photography competition dedicated to experimental self-portraiture and creative expression.
Organized in collaboration with the FORMAT International Photography Festival 2027, this special edition explores the festival's theme, PLAY, encouraging photographers to experiment with photographic techniques, visual storytelling and unconventional approaches to representing themselves.
The competition celebrates photography as a medium of discovery, inviting participants to challenge traditional ideas of portraiture through imaginative compositions, personal narratives and artistic experimentation.
Established in 2009, the Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards is an internationally recognized photography competition dedicated to contemporary portraiture, supporting both emerging and established photographers worldwide.
Photographs must have been taken between 2024 and 2026. Previously awarded or recognized photographs are eligible, but images generated entirely or partially using artificial intelligence are not permitted.
Participants may submit up to 10 individual photographs per submission, with a maximum of two submissions per photographer. Full-time students under 25 may submit one photograph free of charge, subject to proof of enrollment.
Selected works will be presented internationally through the FORMAT27 photography festival in Derby, United Kingdom, offering participating photographers an opportunity to reach a wider audience.
The shortlist is scheduled for January 2027, with prize winners announced in February 2027.
Submission requirements
➜ Submit original self-portrait photographs created between 2024 and 2026.
➜ Upload JPEG images in sRGB color space, resized to 1,500 pixels on the longest side, approximately 1.5 MB per file.
➜ Name files using the format: surname.firstname.number.jpeg.
➜ Include a title and a short caption or statement for each photograph.
➜ Submit up to 10 images per entry, with a maximum of two entries per photographer.
➜ AI-generated images, whether entirely or partially generated, are not accepted.
➜ Submit entries through the official KLPA website or Picter platform before the deadline.
Eligibility
Open to amateur and professional photographers worldwide, aged 16 and over.
Benefits
The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards 2026 offers three cash prizes and international exposure for selected photographers.
➜ First Prize: €1,000.
➜ Second Prize: €500.
➜ Third Prize: €300.
➜ Top 35 Finalists: Selected photographs will be promoted online and screened during the FORMAT27 International Photography Festival in Derby, United Kingdom, from 11 March to 11 April 2027, with additional exposure through KLPA exhibitions and international promotional channels.
Entry fees
Entry fees range from €12 to €65 depending on the number of images submitted. Full-time students under 25 may submit one image free of charge with proof of enrollment.
