HIPA 2026 Water Our Shared Story Photography Competition

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has opened applications for its 2026 international photography competition, themed Water: Our Shared Story. The competition invites photographers from around the world to use photography to explore the importance of water and its relationship with people, communities, the planet, innovation and the challenges faced by societies.

Organised in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, the competition aims to contribute to a wider global conversation about water. Through visual storytelling, participants can document how water shapes everyday life, communities, economies and ecosystems while highlighting challenges and solutions connected to water.

The 2026 United Nations Water Conference will be co hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, 2026. The conference seeks to bring together governments and stakeholders to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

About the Competition

HIPA is using photography to create a visual record of the many ways water affects human life and the natural environment. The 2026 theme encourages photographers to look beyond conventional images of water and present meaningful stories about people, communities, environmental systems, innovation and water related challenges.

Applicants are expected to create a portfolio that communicates a clear story through 5 to 10 photographs. Each portfolio must include a title and description explaining the story being presented.

The competition is particularly connected to the global discussion surrounding sustainable water management. Photographers can therefore explore subjects ranging from access to water and community livelihoods to environmental protection, technological solutions and the consequences of water related challenges.

Opportunity Benefits

• First prize of US$10,000

• Second prize of US$8,000

• Third prize of US$5,000

• Opportunity to have photography considered by an international judging panel

• Opportunity to contribute visual perspectives to the global conversation on water

• International exposure through HIPA and its associated platforms

• Opportunity for selected photography to be used in HIPA promotional and competition related materials, subject to the competition rules

The prize money is subject to any applicable taxes, fees or surcharges that may apply to the winner. HIPA states that prizes are delivered within two months following the announcement of the competition results.

Programme Areas

Participants should develop a photographic story connected to one or more of the following areas:

• Water and People

• Water and Communities

• Water and Planet

• Water and Innovation

• Water and Challenges

These areas allow participants to explore water from social, environmental, technological and human perspectives.

Eligibility Criteria

• The competition is open to individual photographers from around the world.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.

• Participants must submit between 5 and 10 photographs.

• The photographs must form a coherent story related to the competition theme.

• Participants must provide a title and description for their portfolio.

• Mobile phone photography is accepted.

• Drone photography is accepted.

• Submitted photographs must be original work created or taken by the participant.

• Photographs must not infringe the copyright, privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights of another person or organisation.

• Participants must comply with HIPA's rules concerning identifiable people, private property and copyrighted materials appearing in submitted photographs.

Required Application Materials

• A portfolio containing 5 to 10 photographs

• A title for the photographic portfolio

• A description of the portfolio

• Original JPEG files of the submitted photographs

• Each submitted photograph should be at least 5 MB

• The longest edge of each photograph should be at least 2,000 pixels

• Image quality should be no less than 300 dpi

• Original RAW files or unedited versions may be requested as part of the submission process

How to Apply

1. Review the official HIPA competition rules and the theme Water: Our Shared Story.
2. Develop a coherent photographic story connected to water, people, communities, the planet, innovation or water related challenges.
3. Select between 5 and 10 original photographs that work together as a visual story.
4. Prepare a suitable title and description for the portfolio.
5. Check that each photograph meets the required JPEG, file size, resolution and image quality requirements.
6. Remove signatures, logos, borders, frames and other added marks from the submitted photographs.
7. Ensure that any identifiable people, copyrighted materials or private property appearing in the photographs can be supported by the required permissions if HIPA requests them.
8. Submit the photographs online through the HIPA members submission platform.
9. Complete the submission before October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM UAE Standard Time, GMT plus 4.
10. Keep original and unedited versions of your photographs available in case HIPA requests them during the judging process.