Terms and Conditions for Participation in the Lisbon Street Photo Fest - Open Call 2026

1. Organiser Information

The Lisbon Street Photo Fest (LSPF) is organised by Associação 351 Foto, located at Estrada da Cruz 19, 1400-422 Lisboa, Portugal. For further information and other questions, please contact submissions@lisbonstreet.photo

2. Competition Duration

The open call for submissions begins on April 2, 2026, and ends at 23:59 GMT+1 (Lisbon Time) on May 31, 2026.

3. Eligibility Criteria

Participation is open to anyone aged 18 years or older, anywhere in the world, regardless of level of experience. Enthusiasts, amateurs, and professional photographers are all welcome to submit their work.

Previously Awarded Work

Entries that have received a major award, such as a monetary prize or placement in the top three, at another street photography festival or photography competition prior to submission to the Lisbon Street Photo Fest Open Call are not eligible to be selected as finalists. This includes awards from competitions such as LensCulture, Life Framer, Sony World Photography, and similar contests.

This is to help ensure that the awards highlight new or under-recognised work and provide opportunities to a broader range of photographers.

Finalist status, shortlists, or inclusion in group exhibitions do not affect eligibility.

Previous Lisbon Street Photo Fest Finalists

Images that have previously been selected as finalists in past editions of the Lisbon Street Photo Fest Open Call are not eligible for resubmission. Photographers may participate again in future editions but must submit different images or bodies of work.

Please note:

• Entries that have been previously shortlisted, exhibited, or received honourable mentions without a monetary prize or top-3 placement remain eligible.

• If a submitted work receives a top award in another competition after submitting to our open call, the photographer must inform LSPF as soon as possible. In such cases, the work may still be withdrawn from consideration for a finalist or winner position. If the withdrawal occurs for this reason, the submission fee for the affected entry will be refunded.

• This applies to both Singles and Series categories.

• If a submitted work is later found to have received such an award, it will be disqualified from receiving a top prize, even if selected as a finalist.

Exclusions:

Members of the organising committee, jury members, employees, as well as their immediate family members (spouses, children, parents, siblings) are not eligible to participate in the competition.

Additionally, sponsors, partners, and any individuals or organisations directly involved in funding or supporting the festival, along with their immediate family members, are also ineligible. This is to ensure impartiality in the selection and judging process.

LSPF reserves the right to exclude any submission that could present a conflict of interest, including but not limited to entries from individuals directly involved in other photography festivals where reciprocal judging, curation, sponsorships, or promotion may occur.

4. Submission Guidelines

Open Call Theme

Submissions must be recognised within the genre of street photography, which could be defined as candid photography (not staged and spontaneous) taken in publicly accessible spaces. This includes images that document or interpret urban environments, human interactions, and the rhythms of daily life.

Entry Rules

Images can be captured using digital cameras, analogue cameras, or smartphones. Analogue images must be digitised for submission.

Photographs may have been taken anywhere in the world.

Photographs submitted that solely fall under the categories of landscape, portrait, editorial, architecture, fashion, or any other genres outside the scope of street photography will not be considered if the Jury decides they are not relevant to the open call's theme.

By submitting, participants declare that they are the sole authors and copyright holders of the images, and that all works are original and not reproductions or copies.

File Requirements

• Files must be submitted in JPEG/JPG format.

• Images should be at least 1500 pixels on the longest side.

• Images must be available at a resolution of 300 dpi to ensure suitability for high-quality printing and exhibition purposes.

• If a photograph is selected as a finalist, LSPF reserves the right to request the original file (RAW or equivalent) as proof that it has not been subject to excessive manipulation. Failure to provide such file may result in disqualification from the competition.

4.1. Sending of High-Resolution Files (Finalists Only)

If a photograph is selected as a finalist and included in the exhibition, the Organiser will contact the selected Entrant and request the high-resolution file in TIFF format, to ensure optimal quality for exhibition printing.

All prints will be prepared by the Organiser and Curator, maintaining the original format and proportions of the submitted work. Finalists will have 7 days to provide the requested files. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Restrictions

• Single Images: Must have been taken on or after January 1, 2024.

• Series: Ongoing or completed after January 1, 2024 (older photos are allowed within the set).

• Minor edits, such as adjustments to exposure, contrast, colour balance and temperature, conversion to black and white, or cropping, are permitted, provided they do not alter the integrity of the original scene.

• Images created using generative AI tools are not permitted under any circumstances. Any entry found to breach this condition will be automatically disqualified.

• No watermarks or identifying marks may appear on the images.

• No illustrations or manipulated composite images are accepted.

LSPF reserves the right to refuse or exclude an entry at its own discretion.

Categories and Number of Entries

The Open Call accepts submissions in two categories: Singles and Series.

• Singles: A single entry consists of one standalone photograph.

• Series: A series entry should be a cohesive body of work made up of 10 to 15 photographs, that together tell a story or explore a concept. Please note that while the entire series will be reviewed, not all photographs from the series may be selected for the exhibition.

Participants may submit the same images to both categories, as entries will be judged separately.

Submission Platform

All entries must be submitted via the official online submission form in the Picter platform.

5. Entry Fees

Singles Competition

• €10 per individual entry.

• For every 5 paid entries, participants will receive 1 additional entry free of charge.

• 6 entries for the price of 5 (€50)

• 12 entries for the price of 10 (€100)

• 18 entries for the price of 15 (€150)

• 24 entries for the price of 20 (€200)

Please note: Picter limits each submission to a maximum of 25 images. Therefore, the maximum number of entries under this offer is 24 (for the price of 20).

Series Competition

• €40 per series submission.

Early Bird

A limited Early Bird offer will be available via a voucher distributed through the Lisbon Street Photo Fest newsletter, valid from April 2nd to April 9th.

During this time:

• Each Single entry will have a special price of €5

• Early Bird Singles: 50% off

• Each Series entry will have a special price of €35.

Note: All payments are non-refundable.

Fee Waivers

A limited number of fee waivers will be available for photographers who are unable to complete payment due to international payment restrictions. Requests must be submitted by email to submissions@lisbonstreet.photo before completing the submission. Fee waivers are granted at the discretion of the organisers.

Prize payments will be made by bank transfer. In cases where international transfers are not possible due to banking restrictions or sanctions, the organisers will work with the recipient to find an alternative solution where feasible.

6. Judging Process

The selection of winners in both the Singles and Series competitions will take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Selection of Finalists

• The first jury will evaluate entries and select the finalists between June 1 and July 21, 2026 whose work will be showcased in the exhibition.

• Judging will be blind; the jury will not have access to the photographers' names or details.

• In the Singles competition, each photograph will be judged as an independent entry.

• In the Series competition, the photographs will be judged as a cohesive body of work.

Stage 2: Selection of Winners

• From the pool of finalists, a second jury will select the top 3 entries as winners, who will then be awarded for the competition's top awards.

• The winners' work will be highlighted in festival materials, such as website or social media platforms.

• The decision of the jury is final, and LSPF cannot provide feedback on non-selected entries.

Limitation on Multiple Finalist Selections

To ensure a diverse and balanced finalist exhibition, each photographer may have at most one image selected as a finalist in the Singles category and one series in the Series category.

If multiple submissions by the same author within a single category (e.g. two Singles entries) are ranked among the top-rated, a second round of judging will be conducted to select just one to move forward.

This approach helps us highlight a broader range of photographers, while also accommodating the space and production constraints of the exhibition.

Jury

The selection process will involve two separate juries. The first-round jury, responsible for selecting the finalists, consists of Daniel Postaer, Josh Edgoose, Nazile Bolat, Polly Rusyn, and Rui Palha.

A second-round jury, responsible for selecting the winners from the pool of finalists, will be announced at a later date.

7. Prizes

Prizes for the competition will include cash awards, features on media platforms, and other sponsor contributions.

• Singles:

• 1st Prize: €1250

• 2nd Prize: €750

• 3rd Prize: €500

• Series:

• Winner: €1500

Additional Recognition

One (1) photographer – selected from the Open Call submissions and identified as a Portugal-based photographer, regardless of nationality – will receive a special award presented by our partner MPB (details to be announced), be featured at the festival venue during the weekend, and be featured on the Lisbon Street Photo Fest channels. The award may be granted to a submission from either the Singles or Series category.

The recipient will be selected from the pool of submissions reviewed by the jury, with the final selection made by an external reviewer to be announced. Portugal-based photographers who are selected as finalists remain eligible for this award; however, the MPB Award cannot be granted to a photographer who receives a main prize in the corresponding category.

In addition, one or more finalists may be invited to take part in an activity during the 2026 edition of Lisbon Street Photo Fest, scheduled for September 25-27, 2026. Participation will be coordinated directly with the selected photographers at a later stage.

8. Notification of Results

All participants will be informed of the results via the email address used for submission. Finalists will be officially announced during the first week of July 2026.

The winners will be announced during the award ceremony set for Saturday, 26 of September 2026.

9. Copyright and Usage Rights

• Copyright: Photographers retain full copyright of their images.

• Usage Rights: By entering, participants grant LSPF the right to use submitted images for:

• Promotional purposes for the festival, such as reposting the image on the festival's social media channels.

• Exhibitions and associated marketing materials.

• These rights are granted on a non-exclusive basis.

Each participant guarantees that they are the sole author and copyright holder of the submitted work and that the images are original creations, not reproductions or copies.

The organiser assumes no liability for copyright infringements or claims related to subjects appearing in the images. These responsibilities rest solely with the participant.

10. Privacy and Data Processing

Your personal data (name, place of residence, email) will be collected and processed by LSPF solely for the purposes of:

• Managing competition entries and results.

• Communicating exhibition dates and competition updates.

• Informing participants about future editions of the festival.

Selected participants' names and locations may be published for promotional purposes related to the competition. Personal data will be stored for up to one year, except for finalists' details, which may be stored for five years for reporting and communication purposes. Data will not be shared with third parties without consent.

11. Exhibition Costs

All costs associated with the selection and exhibition of finalists will be covered by LSPF. Winners of the competition are not required to be present to receive their awards.

12. Legal and Miscellaneous

By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless the Lisbon Street Photo Fest (LSPF), its organisers, partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, and their employees, agents, officers, and directors from any claims, damages, losses, or injuries arising from participation in the competition or festival.

Entrants further agree to indemnify the LSPF against any liabilities, fees, or costs arising from disputes related to royalties or third-party claims over submitted works.

LSPF assumes no responsibility for technical errors, malfunctions, or interruptions, including issues with internet connectivity, unauthorised access, data corruption, or any problems affecting entry submissions or forms. Additionally, LSPF is not liable for damage to entrants' equipment or data caused during participation in the competition or submission process.

LSPF reserves the right to amend or cancel the competition if necessary.

LSPF cannot be held responsible for delays, changes, or cancellations caused by force majeure events, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond the organiser's control.

Any changes will be promptly communicated to participants.

By submitting their work, participants agree to these Terms and Conditions.