RULES FOR THE APELDOORN PHOTO AWARD 2026
The Apeldoorn Photo Award is a new biennial photography competition that invites photographers from the Netherlands and abroad to share their perspective on the world. The theme of the first edition is “Traces”: what people, time and nature leave behind. Whether visible or hidden.
Nature breathes in an eternal rhythm: seasons change, light plays and the wind shifts. Amidst all this, people build their temporary monuments, constructing and dismantling. But there is more. A weathered stone, an abandoned bench or a fox in the woods carry their own silent stories. They whisper histories that have nothing to do with us, yet touch us deeply. The world goes on, with or without us.
By entering the award, the entrant declares that they have read and agree to the terms and conditions set out in these rules.
ABOUT The award enter nowArticle 1 – About the award
The Apeldoorn Photo Award is a new biennial photography competition that invites photographers from the Netherlands and abroad to share their vision of the world. The award is organised by Apeldoorn Photo in collaboration with the Municipality of Apeldoorn.
The award aligns with the Culture and Heritage Memorandum 2025–2030 of the Municipality of Apeldoorn, in which photography is designated as one of the three focus disciplines.
Article 2 – Participation criteria
Participation is open to photographers worldwide, both amateurs and professionals, who are at least 18 years old. Participation is strictly on an individual basis. Submissions on behalf of a collective, group, or organisation will not be accepted. The following parties are excluded from participation:
- Employees and board members of Apeldoorn Photo
- Employees of the Municipality of Apeldoorn who are directly involved with the award
- All members of the professional jury
Article 3 – Registration and platform
Registration takes place exclusively via the online platform Pixeroo. Hard copy or email submissions will not be accepted. Upon registration, the participant must provide the following details. A biography and artist statement will be requested at a later stage, once the submission advances further in the selection process.
- Name and contact details
- Choice of category
- The submitted photos including titles
- Year of creation per photo
- A brief motivation per photo (max. 100 words)
- Retail price (optional). If the work is for sale, the photographer can specify a price upon registration.
Submissions can be edited up until the closing date. No changes can be made after the closing date.
- Registration period: from 25 May 2026
- Closing date: 31 July 2026
Article 4 – Costs
Participation in the award involves two types of costs:
- Entry fee: an entry fee is always due upon registration. The entry fee is €15.00 and is non-refundable.
- Participation fee: the participation fee is €150.00 and is due at the moment the photographer is nominated. This fee includes an individual print, entry to the Award night, and a copy of the catalogue.
The purpose of the participation fee is to contribute to all production and exhibition costs of the award, and specifically to the production of a fine-art print for the exhibition. The nominated participant will receive their print after the award night. The entry fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason for cancellation or disqualification.
Article 5 – Selection procedure
After the closing date, the selection process proceeds in four steps:
- Step 1 – Pre-selection by Apeldoorn Photo
Apeldoorn Photo assesses all submissions for completeness and compliance with the regulations. Incomplete or non-compliant submissions will not be presented to the jury. The participant will receive a notification regarding whether their submission has been forwarded.
- Step 2 – Jury evaluation
The professional jury assesses a maximum of 30 submissions per category. Three photographers will be nominated per category. The nominees will be announced via social media and the Apeldoorn Photo Gallery.
- Step 3 – Exhibition & public choice award
All nominated submissions (a maximum of 90: 3 categories × 30) will be exhibited at De Ateliers in the Oranjerie in Apeldoorn. Within each category, 3 photographers will be nominated to win the prize, and they will receive extra highlights during the exhibition. During the exhibition, visitors can vote for their favourite photo for the public choice award, both physically at the venue and online via the Apeldoorn Photo Gallery.
- Step 4 – Award night
The winners will be announced and the prizes will be awarded during the festive award night.
- Date of the award night: 25 November 2026
- Location: GIGANT Apeldoorn
Article 6 – Jury
The award is judged by an independent professional jury, assembled by Apeldoorn Photo. The jury consists of 5 members. A secretary from Apeldoorn Photo guides the process without voting rights.
The composition of the jury will be announced before the start of the open call. Jury decisions are final and will not be explained. No individual feedback will be provided.
Article 7 – Prizes
There are 4 winners:
| Prize | What does the winner win? |
|---|---|
| Winner of Nature in motion | € 500,00 |
| Winner of The human trace | € 500,00 |
| Winner of Silent witnesses | € 500,00 |
| Public choice award | € 500 + a solo exhibition during the Photo Festival 2027 |
Article 8 – Sale of images
Apeldoorn Photo facilitates the opportunity for interested parties to purchase work, but does not handle the sales directly. Interested buyers will be referred to the photographer. The photographer determines whether their work is for sale and at what price. Apeldoorn Photo is not liable for transactions, agreements, or disputes between the buyer and the photographer.
Article 9 – Publication and follow-up
Winners will be published in the Apeldoorn Photo Gallery and via the social channels of Apeldoorn Photo. After the award night, each participant will receive the print of their submission. Apeldoorn Photo retains the right to publish a report afterwards, including selected images with credit to the photographer.
Article 10 – Categories and theme
The overarching theme of the Apeldoorn Photo Award 2026 is “Trace”. This theme covers what people, time, and nature leave behind. The three categories are an elaboration of this theme. The description per category serves as inspiration, not as a literal assignment. Photographers from all over the world can participate with images from their own surroundings.
| # | Categorie | Concept |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nature in motion | Seasons, light, and weather influences. Nature as a continuously changing whole. |
| 2 | The human trace | What people make, leave behind, build, or tear down. |
| 3 | Silent witnesses | Objects, places, or animals that carry a story without human presence. |
Article 11 – Number of photos and submission rules
The following rules apply per participant:
- A maximum of 3 photos per participant.
- All photos must fall within one and the same category.
- Participation in multiple categories is not permitted.
- Each photo must have a mandatory title.
- Each photo must be accompanied by a motivation (max. 100 words).
Article 12 – Permitted photographic techniques
| ✓ Permitted | ✗ Not permitted |
|---|---|
|
|
In case of doubt regarding the admissibility of an edit, Apeldoorn Photo will make the final decision. The participant can submit a question in advance via the Pixeroo platform.
Files must be named as follows:[name]_category_1, [name]_category_2 and [name]_category_3
For example: janssen_category_1. This applies to all submitted files, including the source file.
Artikel 13 – Technische bestandseisen
| Eis | Vereiste |
|---|---|
| File format | JPEG (.jpg) or TIFF (.tif) |
| Minimum resolution | At least 3,000 pixels on the longest side |
| Print resolution | 300 dpi |
| Colour profile | sRGB of Adobe RGB |
| Max. file size | See the submission platform |
| Watermarks | Not permitted. Always submit photos without logos or watermarks. |
Article 14 – RAW file and verification
Upon selection for the exhibition, the participant is required to supply the original source file for verification purposes. This serves as a check on permitted basic editing and to verify authenticity:
- A RAW file for digital photography (e.g.,
.CR2,.NEF,.ARW), or if no RAW is available, the original JPEG file with intact EXIF metadata (not edited after export). - A scanned negative or original scan for analogue photography (min. 600 dpi, TIFF).
The source file must demonstrate that the submitted image is the result of permitted basic editing. Apeldoorn Photo retains the right to disqualify a submission if the source file does not match or if manipulation is detected. The source file will not be published or provided to third parties.
Article 15 – Copyright and usage rights
The photographer retains full copyright of the submitted work at all times. By participating, the photographer grants Apeldoorn Photo a non-exclusive, royalty-free right of use for:
- Publication on the website and social media channels of Apeldoorn Photo
- Promotional use in the context of the award (press releases, posters, catalogues)
- Exhibition during the award and the photo festival
Commercial use by Apeldoorn Photo outside of the award is not permitted without written consent from the photographer. The name of the photographer will always be credited upon publication.
Article 16 – Guarantees by the participant
The participant guarantees that:
- The submitted work is original and has been created by themselves.
- The work is free from third-party rights.
- Consent has been obtained for recognisable individuals in the image (portrait rights). This consent must be available in writing and can be presented at the request of Apeldoorn Photo.
- At the time of submission, the work is not simultaneously entered into another photography competition or open call.
- The work is not older than 12 months at the time of submission.
In the event of a breach of these guarantees, the participant is liable for any damages and the submission may be disqualified.
Article 17 – Miscellaneous provisions
- Apeldoorn Photo retains the right to refuse submissions that do not comply with these regulations.
- Apeldoorn Photo may adjust the regulations. Changes will be communicated in a timely manner.
- Dutch law applies to these regulations.
- For questions, the participant can get in touch via the Pixeroo platform or the website of Apeldoorn Photo.
Article 18 – About Apeldoorn Photo
Apeldoorn Photo is the platform for photography activities in Apeldoorn and the surrounding area. With initiatives such as the Photo Café, the City Photographer, an online Gallery, and the well-known biennial Photo Festival, Apeldoorn Photo brings photography together in all its forms.
By uniting projects and events under a single name, Apeldoorn Photo enables collaboration and a stronger cultural offering. As a non-profit organisation, the platform facilitates collaborations and offers a stage for photography enthusiasts to be surprised and to develop themselves. The platform is always open to new ideas, collaborations, and participants who want to build a photographic future together.
Contact and more information
- Website: www.apeldoorn.photo
- Instagram: @apeldoornphoto
- For questions about the award and the regulations: via the Pixeroo platform or via email: award@apeldoorn.photo.
Apeldoorn Photo Award – Competition Regulations Edition 2026
ABOUT The award enter now
