The LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards 2026 is an international photography competition celebrating the expressive possibilities of monochrome imagery. Organized by LensCulture, the award invites photographers to submit compelling black-and-white work ranging from classic photographic approaches and darkroom processes to digital and experimental practices.
Photographers may enter either individual images or a cohesive series, with series submissions allowing up to 10 photographs presented as a unified thematic or aesthetic body of work. Eligible photographs should have been created within the last 10 years, giving entrants broad scope to present recent personal, documentary, conceptual, fine-art, or experimental approaches to monochrome photography.
The 2026 competition will recognize 33 photographers across prize winners, Jurors’ Picks and finalists. Selected work will be presented through LensCulture’s international platform, while the six top prize winners are scheduled to participate in a group exhibition in London during Photo London 2027.
Entry fee: One single image can be entered free per person; additional single images cost $10 each, five single images cost $35, and a series of up to 10 images costs $45; enrolled students receive 30% off paid entry fees, and an optional written review for qualifying submissions costs an additional $25.
Eligibility
Open to professional and amateur photographers worldwide aged 18 or older, submitting monochrome photographs personally created by them within the last 10 years, with previously awarded LensCulture winning work excluded from winning another LensCulture award.
Prize
Six prize winners share $10,000 in cash awards: Series 1st Place receives $3,500, 2nd Place $2,000 and 3rd Place $1,000, while Single Image 1st Place receives $2,000, 2nd Place $1,000 and 3rd Place $500. Seven Jurors’ Picks receive special distinction, and 20 finalists are also recognized. The six winners are scheduled for a group exhibition in London during Photo London 2027, Series winners receive a solo feature on LensCulture, and winners, Jurors’ Picks and finalists are presented in LensCulture’s permanent online competition gallery.