The Global Peace Photo Award 2026, a renowned Global Harmony Lens Challenge, hosted by Edition Lammerhuber and Photographische Gesellschaft (PHG), calls on visionary photographers worldwide to submit evocative images celebrating humanity’s pursuit of peace and the essence of compassion. Launched in 2013 as the Alfred Fried Photography Award, this international photography contest has showcased 20,000+ images from 135+ countries, amassing 1.2 million+ social media impressions. Partnered with UNESCO, Austrian Parliament, World Press Photo Foundation, and Lens Culture, it supports UN SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), amplifying visual narratives of global unity and hopeful coexistence.

The contest revolves around three core themes: Compassionate Connections, capturing empathy and solidarity; Resilient Communities, showcasing environmental advocacy and social harmony; and Innovative Serenity, highlighting creative peace expressions. The edition featured 50+ curated exhibitions, with 88% of shortlisted works sparking global conversations on peace. Judged by a distinguished international jury, including Lois Lammerhuber and Pablo Corral Vega, entries are assessed for artistic brilliance, originality, and thematic resonance, leveraging AI-curated platforms for modern storytelling. Inclusive categories engage professional photographers, amateurs, and youth.

The contest offers two categories: the main Global Peace Photo Award, accepting single images (up to 99) or photo essays (5–12 images), and the Children’s Peace Image of the Year, for photographers aged 14 and under, fostering youthful perspectives on peaceful futures. Participants access online masterclasses, refining visual storytelling and narrative impact under UNESCO’s mentorship. Showcase events, including exhibitions at Vienna’s Palais Niederösterreich and Bratislava’s galleries, align with Austria’s 11 million+ annual visitors. Social campaigns generate 900,000+ impressions.

Since 2013, the Global Peace Photo Award has celebrated visual humanitarians whose work reached 600,000+ viewers. Conducted in English, it promotes global inclusivity, with submissions from Brazil, India, and Kenya. Backed by Vienna Insurance Group and UNICEF Austria, the contest highlights uplifting stories, from refugee aid to climate resilience, countering conflict narratives. The cycle targets 21,000+ entries, fostering peace advocacy, cultural empathy, and global solidarity. Participants exhibit at Vienna’s historic venues, shaping a harmonious world vision.

Join global visual narrators to capture compassionate coexistence, inspire worldwide hope, and drive transformative impact at Global Peace Photo Award 2026!

Global Peace Photo Award | Up to €11,000 Cash Prizes:

Host Organization:

•Edition Lammerhuber in partnership with other groups and organizations

Program Mode:

•Online submission

Benefits of Global Peace Photo Award:

•Photographers from all over the world can participate.
•A total of €11,000 cash prizes will be distributed among winners of 6 categories.
•The Peace Image of the Year will be awarded with a cash price of € 7,000.

•It will be displayed in the Austrian Parliament for one year and will also be included in the permanent art collection of the Austrian Parliament.
•3 winners in the Stories category will each receive €1,000.
•1 winner in the single picture category will receive €1,000.

•1 Children’s Peace Image of the Year will receive €1,000.
•All wining works will receive the Alfred Fried Peace Medal and be invited to the award ceremony in Vienna in September, with travel and accommodation covered. Selected images may also be featured in international exhibitions.
•In children’s award category, the winner and his or her parents will also attend the ceremony in Vienna.

Eligibility Criteria for Global Peace Photo Award:

1. The competition is open to all photographers worldwide, regardless of nationality.

2. Applicants under 15 years old must apply for the Children’s Peace Image of the Year category.

3. Applicants aged 15 and above must apply for the main Global Peace Photo Award category.

4. Photos submitted for the Story category must not be older than three years.

5. A caption in English (up to 2000 characters) must be submitted with each image or story.

6. Images must be uploaded as .jpg files with at least 3000 pixels on the longer side.

7. Images must not contain watermarks, logos, names, or borders.

8. Applicants can submit:
•Up to 99 images in the Single Image category.
•5 to 12 images in the Story category based on a single theme.

9. In the Children’s Peace Image of the Year, multiple images can be submitted, but they are treated under one category.

Program Deadline:

• Registration deadline for 2025 has passed.

• Registration for 2026 is now open with a tentative deadline in May 2026!

Note:
We initiate the application process for current year as well as in advance for the next academic year to maximize your chances of success.