PHOTO Australia has announced the official Open Call for artists and photographers to take part in the PHOTO 2026 International Festival of Photography, with submissions now open to creatives from around the world.
Set to transform the streets, laneways and parks of Melbourne into a vibrant outdoor gallery, PHOTO 2026 invites emerging, mid-career and established image-makers to respond to the festival’s central theme: Show Me Love. Selected applicants will have their work featured as large-scale public artworks – exhibited on building façades or freestanding frames – as part of the festival’s official program.
The theme Show Me Love encourages artists to explore the many facets of love – and its absence – as a lens for examining personal, social, and political realities. From stories of compassion, passion and intimacy, to meditations on longing, inequity and division, the theme seeks to inspire bold and thoughtful artistic responses that resonate deeply with audiences.
“Love, in its many forms, can be a powerful force for connection, healing, and transformation,” PHOTO Australia says. “Conversely, the absence of love can highlight the gaps, inequalities, and divisions that exist within our societies.”
PHOTO 2026 continues the tradition of the biennial PHOTO International Festival of Photography – a world-leading platform that showcases the best of contemporary photography in Naarm/Melbourne and across Victoria. Past festivals have featured a dynamic mix of local and international talent, with PHOTO 2024 exhibiting works by 18 artists selected through the Open Call, including Fiona Amundsen (NZ), Jo Duck (AU), Adam Ferguson (AU), and Karabo Mooki (ZA). Their work was shown alongside photography icons such as Nan Goldin (US), Ryan McGinley (US), Malick Sidibé (ML) and Carmen Winant (US).
“Having my work recognised and exhibited by PHOTO 2024 was a huge honour,” said PHOTO 2024 Open Call artist Adam Ferguson. “It helped my project expand into other worlds and audiences. It’s also helped me connect with other artists and participate in a broader photographic community, both in Australia and abroad.”
Artists selected through the PHOTO 2026 Open Call will receive an artist fee and the opportunity to have their work showcased as part of the festival’s celebrated outdoor program.
The Open Call will be assessed by an esteemed panel of jurors, featuring some of the most influential voices in contemporary photography:
Jurors for PHOTO 2026
- Lucy Gallun, Curator, Department of Photography, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
A long-time curator at MoMA, Lucy has led major exhibitions including Life Dances On: Robert Frank in Dialogue and co-edited the definitive Photography at MoMA series. - Clare Grafik, Head of Exhibitions, The Photographers’ Gallery, London
Clare has curated landmark exhibitions at TPG, including works by Taryn Simon, Zineb Sedira, and Keith Arnatt, and lectures widely on contemporary photography. - Varun Gupta, Director, Chennai Photo Biennale
A co-founder of the CPB Foundation, Varun is known for his dedication to analogue photography and plays an active role in global photography festivals, including Photo Australia and Belfast Photo Festival. - Shaune Lakin, Senior Curator, Photography, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
An authority on feminist photography in Australia, Shaune has led curatorial projects on Olive Cotton, Carol Jerrems and Peter Maloney, and formerly directed the Monash Gallery of Art. - Brendan McCleary, Curator, PHOTO Australia
Brendan has curated PHOTO 2024 and Queer PHOTO, bringing works by Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, and Zanele Muholi to Melbourne’s streets and galleries. - Clothilde Morette, Artistic Director, MEP (Maison Européenne de la Photographie), Paris
Clothilde has helmed major retrospectives at MEP, including those of Samuel Fosso and Viviane Sassen, and is the founding editor of LEONORA, a new magazine connecting literature and contemporary art. - Sophia Sambono, Associate Curator, Indigenous Australian Art, QAGOMA, Brisbane
A Jingili woman, Sophia has curated significant exhibitions across QAGOMA and the State Library of Queensland, with a focus on Indigenous sovereignty and cultural storytelling. - Dr Mark Sealy, Executive Director, Autograph, and Professor, Photography, Rights and Representation, University of the Arts London
Dr Sealy is internationally renowned for his work on photography, identity, race, and human rights. He is also Artistic Director for the Hamburg Photography Triennial 2026.
The festival has garnered high praise from participants, with Richmond Kobla Dido (Ghana), a PHOTO 2022 Open Call artist, calling it “by far the greatest experience I’ve had with any photo festival globally.”
PHOTO Australia, the not-for-profit organisation behind the festival, is dedicated to championing Australian photographic arts and presenting ambitious visual storytelling on the world stage. By commissioning new work, supporting artists, and creating international partnerships, PHOTO Australia plays a crucial role in shaping the future of photography and contemporary art.
Submissions for the PHOTO 2026 Open Call are now open. Applications will be assessed based on artistic excellence, alignment with the theme Show Me Love, and PHOTO Australia’s curatorial policy.
For full details and to apply, visit photo.org.au.
