Deadline:
July 12, 2026
Location(s)
Online United States of America
Overview
Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. Highlighting the most compelling imagery – illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, hate, compassion, human rights failures or victories in ways small and large – the images will serve to inspire people to personally get involved and to take a stand for human rights.
Details
ABOUT
The United Nations supported project — Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. Highlighting the most compelling imagery — illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, compassion, human rights failures or victories in ways small and large, the images will serve to inspire people to personally get involved and take a stand for human rights.Photography 4 Humanity is a unique call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for a global competition where, each year, photos from the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient and the Top 10 finalists will be exhibited at the General Assembly Gallery at the United Nations Headquarters and at Fotografiska New York.
Photos that Make a Difference
Your photos will have a direct, positive impact on human rights issues by inspiring and mobilizing our viewers to take action. One image will be selected monthly for our Call to Action Spotlight page. Call to Action links will encourage and enable our viewers to get directly involved in practical solutions via UN Human Rights and leading NGOs working in the field on relief efforts for those directly impacted by the crisis depicted. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in this case, it will also inspire thousands of helping hands.
The Need
A picture is worth a thousand words, but what happens when there are limited outlets to see them? In the shrinking world of print media, Photography 4 Humanity will provide essential assistance by creating a new digital platform where these important images can be seen and shared – inspiring people to action.
2026 GLOBAL PRIZE
Photography 4 Humanity and Fotografiska Launch Global Open Call: HOME
Photography 4 Humanity, in partnership with the world-renowned photography museum Fotografiska, has launched HOME, a global open call inviting photographers everywhere to explore one of the most universal—and most fragile—ideas of our time. In a world shaped by climate disruption, conflict, migration, and displacement, HOME asks emerging artists to capture what home means today: a place of safety, belonging, identity, memory, or loss. Presented with global partner United Natons Human Rights, submissions are open March 12 through July 12, 2026.
Selected photographs will be exhibited at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2026, in Gallery A—one of the UN’s most prominent public spaces—where diplomats, global leaders, and international visitors will encounter the work. The exhibition, guest curated by legendary documentary photographer James Nachtwey, will also be shared globally through UN.org, bringing the meaning of home into the heart of the international human rights conversation.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
We’re looking for images that reflect on safety, belonging, dignity, identity, and place. In a time shaped by climate disruption, displacement, and migration, the meaning of home carries new urgency. We welcome photographs that explore this theme through personal, documentary, or conceptual perspectives.
Dates
Deadline: July 12, 2026
Cost/funding for participants
United Nations Gallery NYC
The winner of the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize will be announced on UN Human Rights Day in conjunction with the opening reception for the Photography 4 Humanity Exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters. The winning photographer, who will be selected by an eminent jury of photo editors, journalists and human rights champions, will receive a $5,000 USD cash prize and will have their photo promoted in all relevant media worldwide.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
