F/262 Photography Awards
From image to impact. From vision to recognition.
About the Awards
The F/262 Photography Awards are the official awards program of the F/262 International Photography Festival.
They celebrate contemporary photography as a tool for storytelling, authorship, and cultural reflection, across different practices, generations, and themes.
Open to photographers worldwide, the awards recognise work that stands out for its visual strength, originality, and relevance today.
Selected finalists have their work printed and exhibited during the F/262 Festival in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos, Portugal.
The awards reflect the festival’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and the belief that photography belongs everywhere, from the street to the gallery.


Award Categories
The F/262 Photography Awards currently include the following categories:
— F/262 Photography Award
Gold, Silver, and Bronze distinctions for outstanding photography— ZÉ Award
Creative Award celebrating originality, authorship, and symbolic strength— NextGen Award
Supporting emerging photographers and early-career voices— Thematic Award – “Moldar as Margens \ Shaping Shores.”
Highlighting work engaging with the festival’s 2026 theme of water and the environment.
*Additional categories and sponsor-supported awards may be introduced in future editions.
About the Award: The ZÉ Award
The ZÉ Award is a creative distinction within the F/262 Photography Awards, focused on the expressive and symbolic power of the single image.
Open to photographers worldwide, it recognises images that stand out for their originality, narrative clarity, and contemporary relevance. Selected finalists have their work printed and exhibited during the F/262 International Photography Festival in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos.
The award’s trophy is inspired by the cultural figure of Zé Povinho, reimagined as a symbol of creative independence, resilience, and critical observation.
The ZÉ Award reflects the festival’s commitment to accessibility and the belief that strong photographic voices can emerge anywhere, from the street to the gallery.
Why the ZÉ Award?
The ZÉ Award reflects the spirit of place and the idea of photography as a voice shaped by everyday experience.
Rooted in the figure of Zé Povinho and reimagined through photography, ZÉ represents resilience, humour, and the courage to create.
Camera in hand, ZÉ is the artist who observes, questions, and tells stories.
The trophy is designed to feel local, tactile, and symbolic, a reminder that recognition can be held, shared, and connected to lived experience.
More than a prize, the ZÉ Award is a link between image, community, and the ongoing story of the festival.

Key Facts
📅 Submissions open: Soon
⏳ Deadline: February 25, 2026
📣 Finalists announced: April 2026
🖼️ Exhibition: Summer 2026
📦 Print collection: October 2026
💶 Entry fee: €15 per image (no limit of images)
Finalist Benefits
All selected finalists receive professional exhibition support and public visibility as part of the F/262 International Photography Festival.
Selected finalists receive:
Full exhibition printing by F/262 using archival materials
Outdoor display in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos during the festival
Public visibility through the festival, press coverage, catalogue, and online platforms
Eligibility for all ZÉ Award prize categories



image By Jorge Bacelar
Prizes & Recognition
All winners of the F/262 Photography Awards receive exhibition, production, and professional support as part of the F/262 International Photography Festival.
All selected winners are exhibited during the festival in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos, and benefit from public visibility through the festival’s exhibitions, press, catalogue, and online platforms.
Prizes are cumulative and may include fine art printing, professional equipment, software tools, and exhibition support.
Additional prizes and partners will be announced progressively.
F/262 Photography Award
Gold · Silver · Bronze
Exhibition & Visibility (All Winners)
All Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners receive:
Exhibition during the F/262 International Photography Festival
Inclusion in the winners’ gallery and festival programme
Public visibility through press, catalogue, and digital platforms
🥇 Gold Winner
The Gold Winner receives the following prize package:
Fine art print
One 50 × 70 cm print of the winning image, produced using archival materials and Fujifilm papersPrinting support
500 € printing voucher provided by KOYLABProfessional camera strap
BlackRapid Sport XEnvironmental camera protection
Outex Camera Pro KitSoftware & workflow support
One-year SmartAlbums All-Apps Bundle subscription
🥈 Silver Winner
The Silver Winner receives the following prize package:
Fine art print
One 50 × 70 cm print of the winning image, produced using archival materials and Fujifilm papersPrinting support
400 € printing voucher provided by KOYLABProfessional camera strap
BlackRapid Blackline ISoftware & workflow support
One-year SmartAlbums Plus subscription
🥉 Bronze Winner
The Bronze Winner receives the following prize package:
Fine art print
One 50 × 70 cm print of the winning image, produced using archival materials and Fujifilm papersPrinting support
300 € printing voucher provided by KOYLABProfessional camera strap
BlackRapid Classic Retro RS-4Software & workflow support
One-year SmartAlbums Plus subscription
ZÉ AWARD CREATIVE AWARD
The ZÉ Award recognises originality, authorship, and symbolic strength in photography.
ZÉ Award Winner receives:
Exhibition during the F/262 International Photography Festival
Fine art exhibition print produced by the festival
One-year SmartAlbums All-Apps Bundle subscription
Public visibility through festival exhibitions, press, catalogue, and online platforms


Shaping Shores / Moldar as Margens
The Shaping Shores Award highlights work engaging with the festival’s 2026 theme of water.
Shaping Shores Winner receives:
Exhibition during the F/262 International Photography Festival
Fine art exhibition print produced by the festival
Environmental camera protection
Outex Camera Entry KitPublic visibility through festival exhibitions, press, catalogue, and online platforms
Eligibility
Open worldwide to photographers, artists, students, and collectives.
There are no restrictions on nationality, age, theme, or equipment.
All submissions must be original works created by the applicant.
This is a single-image competition. Series are not accepted.
Images submitted must not have previously received a major international award.

Notes
Printing vouchers may be used across multiple orders and cannot be fully redeemed in a single order
Prize packages may evolve as new partners join the festival
Jury
The ZÉ Award Jury is independent and international, composed of photographers, editors, curators, and cultural leaders.
Entries are judged blindly on:
• Narrative strength
• Visual impact
• Originality
• Technical and conceptual coherence
• Relevance to contemporary photography

TIMELINE
| Phase | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open Call | Jan 1 – Mar 15 2026 | Submission via the official form at f262.pt |
| Finalists Announced | April 2026 | Selected photographers notified by email |
| Printing & Preparation | May–June 2026 | F/262 prepares exhibition prints |
| Exhibition Opening | Summer 2026 | Outdoor displays in Caldas da Rainha & Óbidos |
| Print Collection | October 2026 | Finalists may collect their printed works |
How to Apply
All submissions must be made through the official online platform.
Step 1 – Prepare your materials
• 1–20 images
• JPEG, sRGB, max 5MB
• Title + short caption for each image
• Short bio (≤120 words)
• Website or social handle (optional)
• Payment confirmation (€15 per image)
Step 2 – Submit the online form
Upload your images, complete all required fields, and confirm payment.
You will receive an email with your entry number.
Step 3 – If selected as a finalist
F/262 will contact you to request a high-resolution file or RAW for printing.
All printing and exhibition costs are covered by F/262.
Prints are not returned unless collected in person in October 2026.


Terms & Conditions
Entry
• €15 per image,
• Fees are non-refundable
• Submissions must be completed online
Image Requirements
• Original work by the applicant
• JPEG, sRGB, max 5MB
• No offensive, discriminatory, or illegal content
Usage Rights
• Photographers retain full copyright
• By submitting, applicants grant F/262 a
non-exclusive licence to exhibit and promote selected works for up to three (3) years
• Proper credit will always be given
Exhibition & Prints
• Final prints remain part of the festival archive if not collected
• F/262 is not responsible for unclaimed prints after the collection period
Decisions
• Jury decisions are final
• Duplicate submissions will be disqualified
FAQ
Yes. As long as the image does not hold an existing major international award at the time of submission, you may submit it. Participation in other competitions does not affect eligibility.
Yes, as long as each image stands on its own. The ZÉ Award is a single-image competition, so each photograph is evaluated individually. You may submit multiple images from the same series, but they will not be judged as a set.
No. Participation does not require physical attendance. If you are a winner or finalist and cannot attend the exhibition or award ceremony, your work will still be included and promoted. Attendance is encouraged but not mandatory.
No. The award is open to all themes. However, we do have a dedicated “Image of Water” category aligned with the festival’s 2026 sub-theme. If your image relates to water, it will automatically be considered for that special award in addition to the main categories.
Winners receive the ZÉ Award trophy, an official certificate, international visibility, festival-wide promotion, and inclusion in the outdoor exhibition and festival catalogue. You may also be invited for interviews, features, and future collaborations with F/262.
Yes. Students, emerging photographers, established professionals, and collectives are all welcome. Each image must be submitted under a single name, but collective authorship can be credited in the submission form.
No. Once an entry is submitted and confirmed, it cannot be replaced or edited. Please double-check your files before submitting to avoid errors.
No. F/262 will never use your work commercially without a separate written agreement. By entering, you grant the festival a non-exclusive licence to exhibit and promote your image for non-commercial purposes connected to the festival for up to three years. All usage will be properly credited.
May 15 – September 25, 2026 Caldas da Rainha & Óbidos, Portugal · View map
About F/262
F/262 is an international photography festival rooted in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos, Portugal.
Through exhibitions, talks, education, and public installations, the festival engages contemporary photography with place, community, and the world we share.
©2026 F/262 – Festival Internacional de Fotografia
Produced by Associação F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais
