On View: June 18 – August 2, 2026
The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) is proud to present the 2026 International Photography Competition exhibition, on view June 18 through August 2, 2026 at its Ybor City galleries.
Now in its latest edition, the International Photography Competition (IPC) continues to serve as a global platform for both emerging and established photographers. This year’s competition drew an extraordinary 2,700+ submissions from 61 countries, underscoring the expansive reach and universal language of photography.
Through the IPC, FMoPA remains committed to elevating diverse perspectives and fostering cross-cultural dialogue through the photographic medium. The selected artists represent a dynamic spectrum of voices, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with powerful imagery from around the world in a museum setting. The 2026 exhibition reflects FMoPA’s ongoing mission to connect communities through photography and provide meaningful opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers.
Judges include: Jessica Jarl, global director of exhibitions at Fotografiska International; Hiromi Nakamura, curator at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography; Elena Paraskeva, international conceptual photographer and art director; Bärbel Reinhard, photographer, curator and educator; Luçjan Bedeni, director of the National Museum of Photography “Marubi” in Albania; Chris Leventis, photographic artist and educator; Zoraida Díaz, photographer; Jodie Katzeff, arts professional and art historian; and Oleksandra Osadcha, curator at the Museum of the Kharkiv School of Photography.
The Winners
Best in Competition: Ebrahim Alipoor, Bullets Have No Borders
Abstract
1st Place: William Prevett, United States, Cellular Edge
2nd Place: Amelia Lancaster, United Kingdom, Reconstruction (National Theatre)
3rd Place: Eric Rugers, Netherlands, Held for No One
Conceptual
1st Place: Katia Motylova-Babinska, Ukraine, Decay of Matter
2nd Place: Camille Brasselet, France, Alter n°1
3rd Place: Vlada de Nooij, Netherlands , Fracture
Documentary
1st Place: Maya Meshel, United States and Israel. The new families in Maoz Esther
2nd Place: Nancy Borowick, United States and Virgin Islands, Marise, Mom of Stokely and Ellison
3rd Place: Mohammad Shahriar Foisal, Bangladesh
Nature
A Lappet-faced vulture flew into a kill zone where a black-backed jackal was feeding on scraps from a nearby carcass. I had been there for hours, along with the jackal and other smaller predators, waiting in line for the hyenas to depart. The sudden arrival of the lappet-faced vulture was unwelcome and met with fierce resistance. However, the jackal was no match for the largest of all vulture species. Image taken from a doors-off safari vehicle for a low angle in the Mara North Conservancy, Kenya. OR A Lappet-faced vulture flew into a kill zone where a black-backed jackal was feeding on scraps from a nearby carcass. I had been there for hours, along with the jackal and other smaller predators, waiting in line for the hyenas to depart. The sudden arrival of the lappet-faced vulture was unwelcome and met with fierce resistance. However, the jackal was no match for the largest of all vulture species. I can remember my heart racing when the lappet-faced vulture swooped into the scene and began to fight for scavenging rights against the jackal. I felt like, after watching several jackals, for such a long time that they deserved to get their share of the carcass once the larger predators, the hyenas, had their fill. Instead, they were chased off with this particular gutsy jackal taking a stand. I hope the viewer takes away a deeper level of respect for both species in the image and what smaller-sized predators have to go through to earn a meal. My biggest technical challenge in capturing the image was to make sure I was acquiring focus on the main subjects who were both moving rapidly, sometimes in different directions. I also had to make sure my shutter speed was fast enough for the subjects to be sharp but also blur the vulture’s wings, I converted the image to black and white in post processing to add to the drama of the scene. Image taken from a doors-off safari vehicle for a low angle
1st Place: Vicki Santello, United States, The Argument
2nd Place: Arturo Bermúdez, Mexico, San Gregorio Birds
3rd Place: Rachel Reisert, Pulse 09
People
1st Place: Ebrahim Alipoor, Bullets Have No Borders
2nd Place: Olivia de Villaine, Untitled
3rd Place: Olesja Brandt, Fragmented Self
Still Life
1st Place: Liz Obert, American Bodegónes Fried Chicken Sandwich
2nd Place: Daniel Santolo Franco, Altar of Gratitude
3rd Place: Nicola Muirhead, Descendants of Summer
Places
1st Place: Yuchen Peng, Ground Without Ground: Where the Land Slowly Disappears (Mining Subsidence)
2nd Place: Aya Okawa, Historical Salts, Cloudy Day
3rd Place: Frank Marshal, The World
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Winning artists will receive awards made possible through the generous support of the competition’s sponsor, Visit Tampa Bay.
The 2027 Call for Entries will open in early February 2027.
For more information about the exhibition and upcoming programming, visit fmopa.org.
About the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, located at 1630 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, is dedicated to exhibiting important photographic art as central to contemporary life and culture. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays. Admission is free for children and members; general admission is $12.
In addition to sharing exhibits, the museum is home to programs such as adult photography classes, and workshops. FMoPA is one of seven museums in the United States dedicated exclusively to photography. More information is available at www.FMoPA.org and by calling (813) 221-2222.
