Xposure Awards 2026 Attracts Global Attention With 29,000 Photography And 634 Film Entries

The Xposure International Photography Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The 2025-2026 Xposure International Photography and Film Awards have attracted significant global interest. Out of an initial 29,000 photography entries, 14,359 submissions from 109 countries moved past the first curation round. Additionally, there were 634 film entries from over 60 nations. This event is organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) to honour creativity and technical skill in photography and film.

Over time, Xposure has become a key platform for visual storytellers to present their work and inspire audiences worldwide. It features curated exhibitions, live screenings, workshops, and panel discussions. Both emerging talents and established industry names are drawn to this festival. The awards include ten photography categories: Nature & Landscape, Street Photography, Portraiture, Mobile Photography, Architectural Photography, Night Photography, Photomanipulation and AI, Sports Photography, Visual Storytelling, and a Junior category for UAE residents under 18.

Nature & Landscape emerged as the most popular category among photography submissions. It accounted for about 22% of total entries. Street Photography followed closely with nearly 20%, while Portraiture made up approximately 17%. Countries like China, Iran, India, the UAE, and Bangladesh had the highest participation rates. This reflects the festival's international appeal and growing influence across diverse creative communities.

The judging process for these awards involves three stages. Initially, 29 judges assess all submissions based on visual appeal and artistic impact. In the second stage, 23 judges evaluate shortlisted entries on composition, technical quality, and relevance to the category theme.

The final round is managed by the Awards Oversight Committee. This committee includes Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalists Essdras M. Suarez and Muhammed Muheisen. Other members are photojournalist Giles Clarke, visual journalism expert Lars Boering, creative media professional Ricardo Lopez, and international curator Wiktoria Michalkiewicz. They review the top eight entries in each category to determine winners and runners-up.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB stated: "The Xposure Photography and Film Awards are a celebration of purpose." He emphasised that each image or frame tells a story that challenges or enlightens viewers. Through these awards, Sharjah aims to nurture creativity while highlighting voices that bring global issues into focus.

Film Award Categories

Film entries compete in four award categories: "Best Cinematic Arts" Award, "Best Visual Effects" Award, "Best Documentary" Award, and "Best Short Film" Award. Winners and nominees for both photography and film will be announced during the event. All shortlisted works will be showcased in the Xposure exhibition.

The Xposure International Photography Festival marks a decade of artistic achievement as one of MENA’s most anticipated events. It offers a compelling glimpse into varied human experiences through creative visions.

With inputs from WAM