TOTAL PRIZE VALUE

€ 43,363 (updating)

The Art of Victory: Trophies and Medals by Giorgio Celiberti™

Every victory becomes a work of art at the URBAN Photo Awards 2026. All trophies and medals will be crafted by the illustrious Venice Biennale artist, Giorgio Celiberti.
These are not mere awards, but unique pieces of rare beauty, shaped by the vision and talent of a master. Each winner will receive not just a trophy or medal, but a true piece of art history, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity that ensures its unique and irreplaceable artistic value. Prepare to hold in your hands not just a prize, but a piece of eternal art: authentic, unparalleled, ‘Celiberti Originals’.

SECTION #1 » SINGLE PICTURES

URBAN Photo Awards 2026 – Photographer of the Year

The Winner Overall of the Single Pictures section will be selected by the jury commission among the best four contestants of each section (Street / People / Spaces / Creative) during the prize-giving ceremony, Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Trieste Photo Days. The prizes will include:

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
Amazon Gift Card: € 2.000
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
25.000 PhotoPoints worth 250 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
1 Think Tank Airport Advantage Roller. Value: € 281.38
1 Ricoh GR IIIx Urban Edition by FOWA S.p.A. Value: € 1099.99

First ranked in each section

The final ranking will be based on the average of the grades given by the members of the jury. The prizes include:

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
10.000 PhotoPoints worth 100 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

URBAN Photo Awards 2026 – Artistic Sensitivity Award

The Artistic Sensitivity Award honors the photographer who has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to capture the emotional and visual essence in their shots. Selected by the renowned Venice Biennale artist Giorgio Celiberti, the winner will receive this prestigious recognition during the award ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026, as part of Trieste Photo Days.

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
10.000 PhotoPoints worth 100 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

Honorable Mentions

Honourable mentions are assigned by the jury to the most representative photos for each section and thematic area. The prizes include:

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
5.000 PhotoPoints worth 50 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

Remarkable Rewards

Remarkable Rewards are requested by the jury. The prizes include:

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
2.500 PhotoPoints worth 25 €
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

SECTION #2 » PROJECTS PORTFOLIOS

URBAN 2026 Projects & Portfolios Winner

The winner of the Projects & Portfolios section will be selected and awarded during the prize-giving ceremony, Saturday, October 24, during Trieste Photo Days. The prizes include:

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
Amazon Gift Card: 2.000 €
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
Personal exhibition at the international photography festival Trieste Photo Days 2027. Value: € 1.500
25.000 PhotoPoints worth 250 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
1 Think Tank Retrospective 15 Backpack. Value: € 254.98
1 Ricoh Theta SC2 by FOWA S.p.A. Value: € 379.99

Honorable Mentions

Honourable mentions are requested by the jury. The prizes include:

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
10.000 PhotoPoints worth 100 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

**Special Prize “The Patricia D. Richards Legacy Award“**

We are honored to announce that for this 17th edition of the contest, we are introducing a special award in memory of Patricia Richards, an extraordinary photographer and photography teacher whose life and career continue to inspire photographers and art lovers worldwide. All young photographers under 35 participating in the Projects & Portfolios section are automatically eligible for this award.

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
Scholarship for the Creative Photography Program at the Krakow School of Photography. Value: 1.600 €
Collective exhibition at the international photography festival Trieste Photo Days 2026 – Magazzino 26. Value: € 1.000
Publication, both online and in the photographic book URBAN Unveils 12
Publication on the official festival catalog
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
5.000 PhotoPoints worth 50 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
1 SmallRig RC 30B by FOWA S.p.A. Value: € 119.99

SECTION #3 » URBAN BOOK AWARD

URBAN Book Award Winner

The final ranking will be based on the average of the grades given by the members of the jury. The prizes include:

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
Amazon Gift Card: 500 €
Production and publication of the book. Value: € 2.000
10 free copies of the Book (to be collected at Trieste Photo Days)
25.000 PhotoPoints worth 250 €
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Personal exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026. Value: € 1.500
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
1 Think Tank Urban Access 15 Backpack. Value: € 251.46
1 Pentax 17 by FOWA S.p.A. Value: € 549.99

URBAN Book Award Honorable Mentions

The final ranking will be based on the average of the grades given by the members of the jury. The prizes include:

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

SECTION #4 » URBAN PHOTO ARENA

URBAN Photo Arena WinnerU35 Young section

The prizes include:

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
Amazon Gift Card: 600 €
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
25.000 PhotoPoints worth 250 €
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
1 Think Tank Mirrorless Mover Backpack. Value: € 131.78

Second Ranked

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
Amazon Gift Card: 300€
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
10.000 PhotoPoints worth 100 €
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

Semifinalists Third place finishers tied

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
5.000 PhotoPoints worth 50 €
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book

Best voting participant

Amazon Gift Card: 150€
5.000 PhotoPoints worth 50 €
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

URBAN 2026 Press Award

Press Award

A jury composed of representatives from some of the most important publications in the field, and Media Partners of URBAN, will select and award the winner of the fourth URBAN Press Award.

URBAN 2026 Trophy by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 1.500
Amazon Gift Card: 500 €
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
15.000 PhotoPoints worth 150 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Collective exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026 displaying the works of all the winners
Publication, both online and in a photographic book
Publication in famous photography online magazines
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60
1 Think Tank Retrospective 5 Shoulder Bag. Value: € 154.66
1 Cullmann Rondo 480M RW20 by FOWA S.p.A. Value: € 110

* the invitation is valid only on October 23 and 24, 2026, for those who attend the prize-giving ceremony during the festival. Prize cannot be combined or redeemed otherwise.

TPD BEST AUTHOR

Photographers who receive multiple awards in the URBAN Photo Awards 2026 will directly enter the shortlist for the “TPD Best Author 2026” award.

Customized trophy
Amazon Gift Card: 500 €
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
Publication on the official festival catalog

WINNERS' EXHIBITION AND AWARD CEREMONY

The highest placing works will be published on the competition’s website and will be displayed in a collective exhibit on October 2026, in Trieste during Trieste Photo Days 2026 festival. The printing of the photos will be at the expenses of dotART. Some of the submitted photos may in addition be selected for exhibitions in Italy as part of the dotART circuit.

PRIZES OFFERED BY OUR PARTNERS

» Trieste Civic Museum Prize

(€ 2.110 value)

Medal by Giorgio Celiberti. Value: € 300
Personal exhibition at Trieste Photo Days 2026. Value: € 1.500
An invitation as guest of honour to Trieste Photo Days 2026, including a two-night stay for two, in order to attend the award ceremony.
Value: € 250
An invitation to URBAN 2026 gala dinner at Trieste Photo Days
1 Stroppa handcrafted shoulder strap. Value: € 60

Details

For the seventh year in a row, the Civic Museums of History and Art of the Municipality of Trieste are offering a prize exhibition at the Civic Museum Sartorio for the Projects & Portfolios category. The selection, carried out by Claudia Colecchia (Archival Executive Officer, Head of the Photo Library and Library of the Civic Museums of History and Art of the Municipality of Trieste) and Michela Messina (Curator of the Civic Museums of History and Art, Head of the Civic Museum of Oriental Art), will give life to an exhibition that will be held as usual at the end of October as part of the Trieste Photo Days 2026 festival.

» PhotoPoints by Exhibit Around

(€ 2475 value)

Dettagli

Exhibit Around, official partner of URBAN Photo Awards, has launched its brand new loyalty program which gives the possibility to earn points by participating in open calls, purchasing photo books and contributing to projects. The points will then be convertible according to a cashback logic, allowing participants to benefit from fantastic discounts.
On the occasion of the 17th edition of the international URBAN Photo Awards contest, Exhibit Around is offering participants a prize pool of points worth €2,475.00.
Furthermore, photographers who are already Exhibit Around members at the time of signing up to URBAN will be able to spend their points towards the contest registration fee.

Exhibit Around’s PhotoPoints is a loyalty program for URBAN Photo Awards, letting you earn points when you confirm payment for open calls, book purchases, or projects. Points are converted into discounts according to a cashback logic-depending on the competition/category, you may receive up to 25% cashback in PhotoPoints.

Category/Competition	Cashback %
Single	5%
Book Award	25%
Projects & Portfolios	5%

» Stroppa leather straps

(total value € 2400)

Details

Our technical partner Stroppa will offer its handmade camera straps, one for each photographer in the Winners’ Shortlist.

» Think Tank Photo

(€ 1074.26 value)

Dettagli

Think Tank Photo has officially partnered with the URBAN Photo Awards 2026, providing high-quality gear as prizes for winners in several categories. This collaboration supports talented photographers and adds further prestige to the competition, with a total prize value of approximately € 1,074.26

Prizes:

Airport Advantage Roller – for the Overall Winner / Photographer of the Year: €281.38

Retrospective 15 Backpack – for the Projects & Portfolio Winner: €254.98

Urban Access 15 Backpack – for the Book Award Winner: €251.46

Retrospective 5 Shoulder Bag – for the URBAN PRESS Award: €154.66

Mirrorless Mover Backpack – for the Under 35 Winner: €131.78

PUBLICATION

» URBAN website

A large selection of the ranked pictures will be published on the gallery page of this website.

» “URBAN unveils the City and its secrets – Vol. 12” photo book

The highest placing works will be admitted to the selection to realize the 12th edition of Urban unveils the City and its secrets. The photo book, edited in September, will be presented during Trieste Photo Days festival the last weekend of October, and distributed by URBAN/dotART cultural association.

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