International Photography Competition of the Photographic Collection/SK Foundation for Culture
The August Sander Prize 2026 in the field of portrait photography
Submissions for the photography competition are possible until February 27, 2026 - www.photographie-sk-kultur.de (DEUTSCH)
Cologne - Photography Competition. For the fifth time in 2026, the August Sander Prize for portrait photography, endowed by Ulla Bartenbach and Prof. Dr. Kurt Bartenbach, will be awarded in cooperation with the Photographic Collection/SK Foundation for Culture, Cologne. The prize aims to promote young, contemporary artistic approaches in photography. Participants born after January 1, 1986, can submit their completed photo series now. In the spirit of August Sander's renowned portrait photography, applicants should submit images of the human portrait. The submission deadline is February 27, 2026.
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The August Sander Prize for Portrait Photography is awarded every two years to national and international artists.
Anyone born after January 1, 1986, whose artistic work focuses on photography should submit portrait photographs that capture the spirit of our time.
The August Sander Prize for Portrait Photography is endowed with €5,000.
Depending on individual arrangements, the Photographic Collection/SK Foundation for Culture will organize an exhibition of the winner's work.
Application details and materials can be found on the organizer's website
- photographie-sk-kultur.de/aktuell/detail/august-sander-preis-2026
- Submissions may consist of a series of up to 20 photographic prints.
- Only works that visualize a thematic group or sequence of images will be considered for evaluation.
- No single images!
- Submitted works must not have previously participated in or received an award in any competition.
The jury for the 2026 August Sander Prize for Portrait Photography comprises:
- Dr. Anja Bartenbach, Founder Family, Cologne;
- Dr. Franziska Brons, Art Historian, Berlin;
- Gabriele Conrath-Scholl, Director of the Photographic Collection/SK Foundation for Culture, Cologne;
- Jean-Paul Deridder, Curator, Brussels;
- Andreas Mader, Photographer, Winterthur.
The jury will publish a shortlist in May 2026, from which the winners will be announced in June 2026.
The award ceremony will take place in Cologne in September 2026 at the Photographic Collection/SK Foundation for Culture.
August Sander Prize for Portrait Photography 2026
Application details and documents are available on the organizer's website:
- photographie-sk-kultur.de
- under Program
- august-sander-preis-2026
Source of information:
Photographic Collection / SK Foundation for Culture, Cologne
Im Mediapark 7, 50670 Cologne
