Xposure Awards 2026 attracted 29,000 photography and 634 film entries from over 100 countries, marking a record-breaking 10th edition.
SHARJAH: The Xposure International Photography and Film Awards 2026 have achieved a remarkable milestone, drawing over 29,000 photography entries and 634 film submissions from creatives across more than 100 countries. The awards are part of the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB).
This year, 14,359 photography submissions from 109 countries advanced past the first round of curation, making this edition the most competitive in the festival’s history. The event continues to celebrate innovation, creativity, and visual storytelling, offering a powerful global platform for both emerging and established artists to showcase their perspectives through photography and film.
Photography entries span 10 diverse categories, including 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. The Nature & Landscape category proved the most popular, followed by Street Photography and Portraiture.
The festival’s international reach was further underscored by strong participation from China, Iran, India, the UAE, and Bangladesh—countries leading in submissions and highlighting the event’s growing global resonance.
The rigorous three-stage judging process involves 29 first-round judges, 23 second-round technical reviewers, and a final panel led by Pulitzer Prize winners Essdras M. Suarez and Muhammed Muheisen, as well as visual journalism experts and international curators. The top eight entries in each category will be reviewed in-depth to determine the winners and runners-up.
Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, said, “The Xposure Photography and Film Awards are a celebration of purpose. Behind every image and frame is a story that challenges, inspires, or enlightens.”
Film submissions are judged across four key categories: Best Cinematic Arts, Best Visual Effects, Best Documentary, and Best Short Film. Winners and shortlisted works will be announced during the festival and displayed as part of the main Xposure exhibition.
Celebrating a decade of artistic excellence, the festival stands as one of the MENA region’s premier cultural events, offering workshops, live screenings, and thought-provoking exhibitions. With every frame and photograph, Xposure continues to uphold Sharjah’s vision of empowering voices that bring global issues and human experiences into focus.
