A New Landmark for Irish Photography 

The Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize is a major new annual award established to champion the excellence, vitality, and diversity of contemporary photography in Ireland. This prestigious prize, presented in partnership with international law firm Taylor Wessing, Business to Arts, and Photo Museum Ireland, creates a definitive national platform to showcase and celebrate new work by photographers and lens-based artists at all stages of their careers.  

This initiative builds on Taylor Wessing's longstanding support of photography through its sponsorship of the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize since 2008 at the National Portrait Gallery in the UK.  

The Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize aims to: 

• Celebrate photographic excellence and originality in portraiture and beyond. 

• Create inclusive opportunities for artists from underrepresented backgrounds. 

• Promote and support photographic talent and development in Ireland. 

• Deliver a dynamic, high-profile exhibition and engagement programme. 

The Prize is the largest combined award fund dedicated to contemporary photography in Ireland. 

The Prize intends to recognise one overall winner who will receive a €10,000 cash prize, and two runners-up who will each receive €2,500. Their winning images will join the Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize collection and will hang in their Irish headquarters in Dublin.  

An additional €10,000 bursary will be awarded to encourage inclusivity:  

The Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Bursary 2026 is a €10,000 award established to support an artist working in photography or lens-based media who identifies as being from an underrepresented community. The bursary aims to facilitate time and space through financial resources to enable the recipient to further develop their practice. 

All shortlisted and winning entries will feature in a free public exhibition and engagement programme facilitated by Photo Museum Ireland. 

The 2026 Theme: Community | Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine 

For its inaugural edition in 2026, the prize invites artists to explore the powerful and timely theme of "Community." 

An old Irish proverb teaches us that "Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine" -- it is in each other's shadow that we live. This speaks to a fundamental truth of Irish life: our identities are shaped by connection, interdependence, and shared experience. 

In a time of profound global change, shaped by digital connectivity and a search for belonging, the concept of community is more essential than ever. The Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize 2026 asks artists to share their unique visual reflections on what it means to live together in Ireland today. We seek work that investigates the bonds – both visible and invisible – that tie us together.  

We welcome submissions across all photographic genres, including portraiture, documentary, conceptual, and experimental practices. We are particularly interested in projects that: 

• Tell compelling stories about communal life and shared spaces. 

• Explore the socio-political issues shaping modern Irish communities. 

• Illuminate diverse, marginalised, or underrepresented perspectives. 

• Articulate how we see ourselves and one another, revealing connection in an age of isolation.

• Utilise photography's unique power to document, question, and celebrate our collective existence. 

Why Enter? 

Winning the Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize is a significant career milestone. It offers a unique opportunity to: 

• Exhibit at a national institution: Feature your work in a major showcase at Photo Museum Ireland.

• Gain national & international exposure: Benefit from extensive press, digital, and marketing campaigns.

• Receive significant financial swards: Opportunity to win from a total prize fund of €25,000.

• Connect with key figures: Position your work before a national and international jury of curators, critics, and collectors.

• Develop your practice: Have your work professionally produced to museum standards.

Awards 

• 1st prize: €10,000.  

• 2 runners-up: €2,500 each. 

• The overall winner and both runners up will also have their work acquired for the Taylor Wessing collection subject to their consent and approval. 

• Up to 30 shortlisted artists: €100 honorarium each for exhibiting in the Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize showcase in April - May 2026.

About Taylor Wessing 

Taylor Wessing is a leading international law firm that advises the world's most innovative and high-growth businesses.  

Founded and led by Adam Griffiths, Taylor Wessing Ireland has grown rapidly, attracting first-class legal talent. In response to increasing client demand across all practice areas, the firm has built a broad offering including corporate, banking, real estate, technology, IP, data privacy, disputes, patents, tax and now employment.

Taylor Wessing has a long history of supporting the Arts. Creative thinking is at the heart of its culture, and they see art as an important instrument of change. The firm's partnerships with art galleries and charities, such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Roundhouse in the UK, play a central role in broadening the firm's horizons by encouraging analytical thinking and understanding of different perspectives. The firm's partnership with the National Portrait Gallery for the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize is now in its 18th year. The prize showcases the work of talented young photographers, gifted amateurs and established professionals in the very best of contemporary photography. The competition celebrates a diverse range of images and tells the fascinating stories behind the creation of works, from formal commissioned portraits to more spontaneous and intimate moments capturing friends and family. Find out more here. 

About Business to Arts 

Business to Arts is a 37-year-old registered charity that connects the corporate and cultural sectors through purposeful partnerships. Our mission is to encourage investment in the arts for the benefit of wider society. 

For more than three decades, Business to Arts has served as a vital link between the business community and the arts world in Ireland, making us a trusted and indispensable partner to countless organisations and individuals. We provide exceptional opportunities to engage with creativity, innovation, and cultural diversity, driving positive social impact by supporting the growth and sustainability of the arts sector. We also work with artists and arts organisations providing a range of training opportunities and coaching to help diversify income streams, grow audiences, and improve strategic planning.  

About Photo Museum Ireland 

Photo Museum Ireland is the national centre for contemporary photography.  Established in 1978, we lead the development of photography in all forms.  We play a vital role in Ireland's arts infrastructure, recognised by the Arts Council of Ireland as the national strategic organisation for photography. Our award-winning exhibitions, publications, and engagement programmes showcase the best Irish and international photography. We curate thought-provoking, innovative, and inspirational exhibitions that reflect the changing role of photography and broader social and political shifts, engaging diverse audiences and communities nationally and internationally. We also support the artists of today and tomorrow through our comprehensive programme of artist residencies, commissions, mentoring, training, and unique serviced production and archiving facilities. The Photo Museum Ireland Collection works with artists to secure contemporary Irish practices for the future. Our in-depth education, community outreach programmes and accessibility services promote diversity, inclusion, and sustainability, connecting diverse communities with great art.

Access Support for the Submission Process

An information webinar will be held on Dec 1st at 12pm. Register for this webinar here.
We are committed to ensuring equitable access to the Prize for all artists. All photography competition submissions must be made through Picter. However, if you experience accessibility barriers when using Picter due to a disability, assistive technology incompatibility, or digital access issues — please contact us at access@photomuseumireland.ie

We can provide assistance, including:

• Step-by-step guidance or screen-sharing support
• Staff submission on your behalf with consent
• Alternative formats of this information (large print, audio, easy read)
• Deadline flexibility, where necessary