About Call

One of the most popular photography genres is travel photography, and as rewarding as seeing far-flung places, exotic lands, and tasting new cuisines can be, the people you meet are often the most memorable part of any journey, near or far. For our 18th edition, KLPA seeks portraits taken during your recent travels. Simple as it may sound, creating enigmatic and engaging portraits of strangers requires more than chance encounters, good fortune and quick snapshots.

An acknowledged nod or smile can lead to a friendly conversation and offer new insights and opportunities to gain trust, make new friends and capture memorable photographic moments. New perspectives allow for you to see the world and its people within it in a whole new light.

We are looking for portraits that speak to the viewer on many levels, open conversations, and present an element of intrigue and uniqueness. Portraits may be posed or spontaneous, and can be photographed indoors or outdoors in any of the typical photography genres. Portraits that connect the viewer and the subject at a deeper level. Quite often, the photographer's approach and methodology is more evident than the camera and lens used. Suitable captions also assist the jurors to place meaning and context to your portraits.

PRIZES

• 1st Prize Euro €2,000.00
• 2nd Prize Euro €1,000.00
• 3rd Prize Euro €500.00

An additional award sponsored by Zontiga in Kuala Lumpur will present the following to the best 3 entries from Malaysian photographers.

1st Prize RM300 book purchase value + RM100 printing vouchers + Lomo Reusable Film Camera & film

2nd Prize RM150 book purchase value + RM100 printing vouchers

3rd Prize RM100 book purchase value + RM50 printing vouchers ​​​​​​ The best 40 entries will have their printed and portraits exhibited in September, 2026 in Malaysia. Finalists will also be screened at international partner festivals.

Entry

ENTRY FEES​

• 1 image Euro €15.00
• 2 images Euro €30.00
• 3 - 6 images Euro €45.00
• 7 - 10 images Euro €65.00

CONCESSIONS FOR ENTRY This year, KLPA is providing 5 concessionary (free) entries to photographers based in countries where credit and debit cards are unavailable. Please complete this online form with your details by 28 February 2026, and 5 photographers will be selected at random and notified. They will be given a check-out code to submit their entry to the Picter site. Only 1 image is allowed per concession per person.

About KLPA

The Kuala Lumpur Photoawards [KLPA] is an independent annual global portrait photography prize seeking the very best and fresh entries from international photographers of all levels. Initiated in 2009 by Steven Lee, its director, KLPA is recognised as an important and vital award in the photography calendar, supporting and rewarding contemporary portraiture practice, especially in the South East Asian region.