The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) 2026 is a globally recognised international photography competition based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, created to celebrate outstanding visual storytelling and elevate the global culture of photography. The award attracts photographers from around the world, including professional photographers, emerging talents, photojournalists, and creative image-makers working across a broad range of genres. Through its international reach and high-profile reputation, HIPA has become one of the most significant photography awards worldwide, known for encouraging artistic excellence, technical mastery, and impactful narrative-driven imagery.
HIPA 2026 highlights “Family” as its main theme, inviting photographers to capture meaningful moments, human connections, and emotionally resonant stories that reflect relationships, identity, belonging, and shared experience. Alongside the main theme, the competition includes additional categories designed to showcase diverse photographic approaches, from contemporary documentary photography and conceptual creativity to cutting-edge innovations in AI-generated imagery. This wide category range makes HIPA especially appealing for creators exploring everything from classical photography aesthetics to modern experimental visuals and digital imaging techniques.
With its strong emphasis on creativity, cultural exchange, and global participation, HIPA 2026 offers photographers a prominent platform to gain international exposure, industry recognition, and professional credibility. The competition is positioned as more than an award—it is a major global photography initiative that supports talent development, celebrates artistic vision, and encourages photographers to produce compelling work with lasting relevance. By combining an internationally accessible submission process with a strong theme-driven structure, HIPA continues to draw attention as a premier photography contest for those seeking global visibility and meaningful achievement in the photography world.
There is no entry fee.
Eligibility
Open worldwide to individuals aged 18+ at the time of submission.
Prize
The competition offers major cash awards, including a Grand Prize of USD $200,000, with substantial category prizes (for example, USD $40,000 / $30,000 / $20,000 for top placements in categories listed such as Family and Dreams Through AI), and is widely described as having an overall prize fund reaching around USD $1,000,000.
