Hamdan International Photography Awards (HIPA) 2026
HIPA : The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) is an international photography award established in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in order to encourage and spread the culture of photography across the world.
‘FAMILY’ is the main theme of the Fifteenth Season of competition.
Other categories in the Fifteenth Season are: General, Portfolio, Sport photography and Dreams Through AI category.
We encourage all individuals aged 18 and above from anywhere in the world to participate.
There are no fees whatsoever, and the competition is completely free of cost.
Registration is available on the HIPA website at https://hipa.ae/members/login/. Please ensure you read and accept all the rules before registering.
You can participate with pictures taken with digital or analogue cameras, but submission must be done digitally online, so film photographs would have to be scanned by the participant before submission.
Mobil Photo: Yes you can as long as it follows the rules and regulation.
The Competition is open for online submissions only (the Submissions), through the Competition online registration page available on hipa.ae/members.
Submissions will be accepted from 00:01 on 10th January 2026 until 23:59 on 31st May 2026, UAE local time, (i.e. GMT +4). No Submissions made after the deadline will not be accepted.
Participants must be individuals aged eighteen (18) years or over at the time of the Submission(s).
You hereby certify that you are eighteen (18) years old or older at the date of submitting your Photo(s) to the Competition. You further understand and agree that HIPA will automatically and without further notice discard any Photo(s) / that are found to be submitted by a participant that is below eighteen (18) years old at the time of the Submission.
PRIZE MONEY
FAMILY
Dreams Through AI
Sports Photography
Portfolio (Story-Telling)
GENERAL (Black & White And Colour)
Colour
Black & White
HIPA Photographer of The Year $ 80,000
Photography Content Creator Award $ 50,000
Photography Appreciation Award $ 100,000
GrandTotal $ 1,000,000
CATAGORIES
FAMILY
Family is the foundation of society and a true measure of stability, prosperity and quality of life. A healthy and balanced family environment supports growth of communities and influences every aspect of development – from education and health to culture, media and the economy. Through photography, this category aims to deepen awareness of the family’s vital role in shaping life and strengthening human values.
Beyond its human meaning, family represents belonging in its widest sense. It is a quiet language of connection found wherever elements come together, coexist and rely on one another. Photographers are invited to explore a family as a shared system that may include plant families, mineral formations, or materials shaped by time and purpose – capturing the essence of unity, continuity and belonging in all its forms.
Dreams Through AI
In step with technological advancement, the Dreams Through AI category opens new creative horizons for photographers. Participants are invited to capture a photograph with distinct compositional intent, then transform it into a harmonious AI-generated image that reflects an imagined dream.
The competitive edge lies in the strength of the original concept, composition, vision and execution. This category offers a creative space dedicated to poetic fusion of reality and imagination – where innovation, artistry and technology come together to create a truly dreamlike imagery.
Sports Photography
Freeze the action, capture the intensity and embody the spirit of competition; that is what Sports Photography category celebrates – the dynamic and powerful world of athletic performance.
From moments of triumph to scenes of determination and defeat, this category invites photographers to showcase the emotion, energy and physical excellence of athletes in their element.
Portfolio (Story-Telling)
A strong photographic story explores the heart of its subject and reflects the photographer’s unique perspective.
The Portfolio (Story-Telling) category returns to challenge photographers to showcase their storytelling abilities through one cohesive series of images. This category invites you to go beyond a single moment and immerse the viewer in a complete visual narrative.
GENERAL (Black & White And Colour)
The General category remains a favourite among photographers with a keen eye for compelling visual composition that transcends specific themes. It is a space for creative freedom, where striking imagery and artistic expression take centre stage.
Year after year, this category continues to grow in both quality and depth, consistently attracting more than a third of all competition entries. Participants are invited to submit work in two subcategories: Black & White, honouring the timeless power of this classic art form, and Colour, offering the opportunity to impress the jury and audiences with bold, vibrant compositions.
FOR DETAILED INFORMATION AND PARTICIPATION, PLEASE VISIT THE COMPETITION WEBSITE – PLEASE CLICK HERE –