The KLPA 2026 Portrait Photography Prize is a leading international portrait photography competition that spotlights the art of travel portraiture through its theme “A Stranger’s Face.” It invites photographers to document compelling human stories encountered on their journeys, emphasizing authentic visual storytelling, cultural encounters, and meaningful connections between photographer and subject. Framed within the long-running Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards, the prize positions itself as a global platform for contemporary portrait photography.
The competition focuses on portraits created in travel contexts, encouraging images that reveal personality, environment, and narrative depth. It highlights documentary portrait photography, environmental portraiture, and candid travel portraits that capture the diversity of people and places around the world. Through this theme, the prize promotes cross-cultural understanding and celebrates the power of photography to connect viewers with unfamiliar faces and lived experiences.
By attracting submissions from emerging and established photographers worldwide, the KLPA 2026 Portrait Photography Prize reinforces its reputation in the global photography community. It supports creative excellence, visual journalism, and fine art portraiture while offering international exposure through exhibitions and partnerships. The award is widely recognized among travel photographers and portrait specialists as an opportunity to gain visibility, professional recognition, and career advancement in the field of portrait photography.
Entry fee: Submit up to 10 images per entry with tiered fees of €15 for 1 image, €30 for 2, €45 for 3–6 and €65 for 7–10 images; concessionary free entries are available for some photographers from countries without credit/debit card access.
Eligibility
Open to international photographers at all levels; no restrictions on nationality or professional status.
Prize
The main awards include €2,000 for 1st Prize, €1,000 for 2nd Prize and €500 for 3rd Prize, and the top 40 entries will be exhibited in Malaysia in September 2026 and shown at partner festivals; additionally, a Zontiga prize for Malaysian entrants offers book vouchers, printing vouchers and a reusable camera for top three works.
