2026 National Competition

Soho Photo Gallery is pleased to announce the 31st National Competition. SPG is New York City's longest running cooperative photo gallery. All selected photographs will be exhibited from June 24 to July 12, 2026 in the gallery and permanently on the SPG website. 

Our Juror: Joanna Lehan is a seasoned photography curator, currently serving as Manager of Curatorial Projects at the Museum of the City of New York. She has curated exhibitions at the International Center of Photography, edited many photographic monographs, and written about photography for publications such as Photograph, Time, and Aperture.

Prizes: Juror Lehan will choose approximately 60 photographs for the exhibition. Cash prizes for first ($400) and second ($200) place will be awarded. Third place and up to 4 Honorable Mentions will also be recognized and will receive gifts from our sponsor, Archival Methods. The photographers chosen, as well as the award winners, will be notified by email on or about June 6, 2025.

Important Dates:
Deadline for submission: May 9, 2026
Notification: No later than June 6, 2026
Accepted Work Due at the Gallery: June 18, 2026
Exhibition: June 24, – July 12, 2026
Opening Reception: June 25, 2026
Pick Up Work: Monday, July 13, 2026

Winning photographs must be suitably prepared for gallery presentation or will not be accepted. Maximum width (including frame) of exhibited work should not exceed 48 inches. Packing and delivery instructions will be emailed to participants. Printing, mounting and framing of each piece must be gallery quality. All accepted works must wired, or otherwise ready for hanging. Soho Photo Gallery reserves the right to publish the winning photographs on our website and social media. Copyright retained by the photographer.

The Competition is open to all photographers, 18 years old or older, who are residents of the United States, excluding members of Soho Photo Gallery. All photo-based works are eligible, with no limitation as to subject matter or technique. But no A.I. generated work will be accepted. Also, no piece that has been accepted in a previous National Competition can be submitted again.