Event venue and dates: Milan, September 25-26-27, 2026
The deadline for submitting applications is set for August 15, 2026 (11:59 PM CET). Registrations will not be accepted after this date.
Please note: the open call runs from October 10, 2025, to August 15, 2026, but spaces are limited. The call may close early upon reaching maximum capacity. Register now to secure your spot.
1. INSPIRING PRINCIPLE
The Open Contest of the Milano Photo Awards was created as an inclusive, direct, and accessible format, open to professional photographers, emerging photographers, and enthusiasts, with no limits on genre, style, or photographic language.
The contest is designed to enhance the value of the single image, regardless of technical approach, narrative context, or category.
2. HOW TO PARTICIPATE
The Open Contest is open to participants of any age and nationality.
Entry fee: € 20.
Each participant may register only once.
Registration with real first and last name is mandatory.
Pseudonyms or anonymous entries are not permitted.
3. MATERIAL TO SUBMIT
Each participant must submit:
All photographic categories are accepted.
The Open Contest is completely free of thematic constraints.
The use, even partial, of artificial intelligence is prohibited.
If verified, the participant will be disqualified with no refund.
4. DIGITAL EXHIBITION
All images correctly entered in the Open Contest will be projected during the MILANO PHOTO AWARDS within the official digital exhibition, on a 4×4 meter LED maxi-screen, in a continuous loop.
The digital projection is an integral part of the event’s exhibition experience.
5. JURY
The images will be evaluated by a jury composed of:
The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
6. PRIZES
🥇 1ST PLACE
🥈 2ND PLACE
🥉 3RD PLACE
Honorary mention + Central physical exhibition during the MILANO PHOTO AWARDS event
7. SELECTION AND EVALUATION
The Open Contest entry fee includes participation in the selection for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes.
Participation in the Open Contest does not automatically guarantee access to the physical exhibition of the works, but guarantees only inclusion in the official digital exhibition, projected during the MILANO PHOTO AWARDS.
Any selection for the physical exhibition is reserved exclusively for participants ranked in the top three positions, according to the jury’s final decision.
8. PRIZE PAYMENTS, PRINTS, AND FRAMES
Cash prizes and any material prizes (e.g., equipment, accessories) are official prizes of the Open Contest and will be awarded by TheStreetSoup.
Cash prizes will be paid by bank transfer within 90 days of the conclusion of the MILANO PHOTO AWARDS event.
Material prizes will be delivered during the event or, if the winner is not present, will subsequently be shipped by the organization.
The prints and frames of the photographs physically exhibited (for participants ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd) do not constitute a prize of monetary value, but are part of the event’s exhibition setup.
At the end of the Milano Photo Awards:
the selected photographers may collect their prints and frames free of charge during the event, if they wish;
alternatively, they may request subsequent shipping, which will be arranged by TheStreetSoup, with packaging and shipping costs borne by the photographer.
Collection or shipment of prints and frames is not mandatory.
If no request is made, the works will remain in the organization’s possession, without entitling the participant to refunds or future claims.
9. WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
The winners of the Open Contest will be announced:
The announcement will take place by August 25, 2026 and/or during the event itself.
10. COPYRIGHT
All rights to the submitted works remain the exclusive property of the authors.
By registering for the Open Contest, the participant grants TheStreetSoup and the Milano Photo Awards a non-exclusive license for a term of 3 years, limited exclusively to the purposes of:
All participants understand and accept that any submitted image may be used by the Milano Photo Awards and the Event Partners exclusively for marketing and promotional purposes of the author and the event itself, for a maximum period of three years from the registration date.
11. LIABILITY
The participant guarantees that they hold all rights to the submitted works and have obtained all necessary consents, including those relating to depicted subjects.
TheStreetSoup declines any responsibility for any violations of third-party rights.
Any complaints or legal actions, civil or criminal, shall be the sole responsibility of the participant, who declares that they assume full legal responsibility for the submitted works.
12. CANCELLATION CLAUSE
In the event of cancellation of the event (excluding wars, natural disasters, or force majeure), participants will be entitled to a refund of the entry fee.
Travel, accommodation, or other ancillary expenses will not be refunded.
13. PRIZE LIABILITY AND PARTNERS’ ROLE
Nikon Italia and Fondazione Mazzoleni are external partners of the event and are not part of the Milano Photo Awards organization.
TheStreetSoup is the sole entity that owns and is legally responsible for the concept.
Despite the official support of the event partners, it is specified that the awarding of cash prizes and material prizes is entirely the responsibility of TheStreetSoup, as the creator and organizer of the Milano Photo Awards.
The event partners are not responsible for the management or distribution of prizes.
14. PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By registering for the Open Contest and paying the participation fee, the participant declares that they have read, understood, and fully accepted these rules/agreement, acknowledging TheStreetSoup as the sole organizing entity.
In case of exclusion due to irregularities, failure to submit materials, or violation of the rules, the participant will not be entitled to any refund.
