EXHIBITION Room 2

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MILANO PHOTO AWARDS – Exhibition Room 2

A GROUNDBREAKING FORMAT THAT VALUES EVERY PARTICIPANT

The Milano Photo Awards stand apart from any other contest for one fundamental principle: not only are the winners celebrated, all registered photographers are recognized.

Every registered author will have their photos exhibited in the official digital exhibition, which will be projected in a continuous loop for the entire duration of the event on large-format LED walls and interactive totems.

Furthermore, only the 1st place winner of each category will see their project or series entirely printed on professional photographic paper and exhibited.

The PRO section is dedicated to professional and semi-professional photographers who work consistently in the field.

Objective: to highlight advanced artistic and conceptual research, giving space to coherent photographic series with strong authorial impact.

📍 Event location and dates:

Milan, September 25-26-27, 2026

1. DEADLINE

The deadline for submitting entries is August 15, 2026 (11:59 PM CET). No entries will be accepted after this date.

⚠️ Attention: the open call is open from October 10 to August 15, but places are limited. The call may close early once the maximum number is reached. Register now so you don’t miss your spot.

2. HOW TO ENTER

The contest is open to professional photographers with proven activity.

Each photographer may submit their work to only one of the 9 categories of the Milano Photo Awards. This choice is made to ensure fairness and consistency in the selection: limiting participation to one category per author allows each artist’s research to be best valued, avoiding that a single photographer occupies multiple spaces and thus offering a wider community of talents the opportunity to emerge. 

Entry fee: €80 per category.

3. PHOTO FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS

Each participant must submit:

  • A project or photographic series consisting of 8–10 coherent shots;
  • A Word file including: project title, brief description (max 1,500 characters), date and location of each image;
  • A personal half-length portrait (not full body) to be used for the personal poster.

 

Technical requirements:

  • JPEG format
  • File size: between 3–10 MB
  • Resolution: 300 dpi
  • Color profile: sRGB
  • Watermarks, logos, or signatures are not allowed

 

🔴 The use of artificial intelligence, even partially, in the creation of photographs is prohibited.

📌 Important note:

  • If the use of AI is detected later, the participant will be disqualified even if already selected or awarded.
  • If participants cannot provide compliant files (3–10 MB, 300 dpi), the registration may be canceled.
  • Materials must be uploaded through the official website: www.milanophotoawards.com.
  • After payment of the fee, the user can immediately upload the required materials.
  • Alternatively, they can request a maximum extension of 7 days.
  • If after 7 days the material has not been uploaded, the participant will be excluded and will not be entitled to a refund of the fee paid.

4. JURY

The selection will be entrusted to a jury composed of:

  • Curators and artistic directors of TheStreetSoup

  • Photo editors and directors of specialized magazines

  • Official representatives of NIKON Italy

  • Cultural delegates of the Fondazione Mazzoleni

  • 15 internationally renowned photographers and critics

⚠️ The identity of the jurors will be announced a few days before the selection phase to prevent any form of favoritism and ensure maximum impartiality.

5. EXHIBITION AND DISPLAY

All registered participants will be exhibited during the event through a digital setup with monitors and immersive multimedia installations.

The winner of each photography category will also have all 8/10 photographs of their submitted project or series printed in 40×60 cm (or 60×40 cm) format on professional photographic paper, framed, and exhibited in a dedicated room.

At the end of the exhibition, each winner can collect their framed prints free of charge.

Shipments are available upon request, but entirely at the requesting photographer’s expense

6. PRIZES

For each category (Pro):

🥇 1st Place Winner
 • €1,500 cash prize
 • Printing of the entire submitted photographic project or series + digital exhibition
 • Free access to the official gala dinner at the Hotel dei Cavalieri

🥈 2nd Place Winner
 • Honorable Mention + digital exhibition during the Milano Photo Awards 2026

🥉 3rd Place Winner
 • Honorable Mention + digital exhibition during the Milano Photo Awards 2026

 

👑 OVERALL WINNER – Pro Section

Announced during the gala evening at the Hotel dei Cavalieri and awarded to the photographer who stands out for:

  • best use of light
  • emotional strength of the image
  • originality of the idea
  • aesthetic care of the shot

 

Overall Winner Prizes:

  • €2,000 in cash
  • Nikon Z50II camera
  • Solo exhibition in Milan in 2026, curated by TheStreetSoup
  • Official recognition and promotion on the social media channels of TheStreetSoup and partners (Nikon – Fondazione Mazzoleni)

7. PAYMENT OF PRIZES

Cash prizes will be paid via bank transfer within 90 days of the conclusion of the event.

Material prizes will be presented during the gala evening or, alternatively, shipped (in the case of the Overall Winner) by TheStreetSoup.

8. WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT

The winners of each category will be announced by August 25, 2026, via email and on the official Milano Photo Awards website.
The Overall Winner will be revealed during the gala night at the Hotel dei Cavalieri.

9. COPYRIGHT AND USE OF WORKS

All rights remain the property of the participating photographers.

Each author grants TheStreetSoup the non-exclusive right to use the images for:

  • Promotion of the event

  • Publication in the official catalog

  • Editorial and informational activities related to the Milano Photo Awards 2026

All participants understand that any image submitted to the Contest may be used by Milano Photo Awards and its Event Partners exclusively for marketing and promotional purposes for the author and the event itself, for a maximum of three years from the date of submission.

10. LEGAL LIABILITY

The participant guarantees that they possess the necessary rights and consents for the submitted works.

TheStreetSoup disclaims all responsibility for any rights infringements.

Any legal claims shall be the sole responsibility of the participant.

11. LEGAL LIABILITY FOR PRIZES

The disbursement and management of the prizes are the sole responsibility of TheStreetSoup.
The official partners (Nikon Italia – Fondazione Mazzoleni) are not responsible for the direct distribution of the prizes.

12. CANCELLATION CLAUSE

In the event that the competition is canceled for any reason, except for war or natural disasters, participants will be entitled solely to a refund of the registration fee paid.
Travel, accommodation, or other incidental expenses will not be reimbursed.