The CEWE Photo Award 2027 is a free international photography competition organised by German photography company CEWE. Open for submissions under the theme Our world is beautiful, the contest welcomes photographs of everyday life, people, wildlife, architecture and the natural world. The 2027 edition runs from 6 May 2026 to 31 May 2027.
Photographers can enter work across ten categories: Architecture, Close-Up & Macro Photography, Landscapes, People, Nature & Wildlife, Travel & Culture, Sport & Action, Street Photography, Animals and The World in Abstract. The abstract category is new for 2027, inviting photographers to explore patterns, shapes, light, colour and movement through images created with a camera. Each participant can submit up to 100 photographs across the available categories.
An international jury chaired by British photographer Christie Goodwin will select the winners. During the submission period, three photographs from the main competition and one from the Young Talent Award are selected each month, with the selected images progressing to the final judging. The competition also supports UNICEF's Skills4Girls programme in Liberia, with CEWE donating €0.10 for every photograph submitted to help improve education and employment opportunities for girls and young women.
Entry fee: Free to enter. Each participant may submit up to 100 photographs across the competition categories, including the Young Talent Award.
Eligibility
Open to amateur and professional photographers worldwide aged 18 or over, with a separate Young Talent Award for photographers aged 16–25; participants under 18 require parental or guardian consent, and entries must be original camera-made photographs rather than AI-generated images, collages or digitally fabricated compositions.
Prize
The CEWE Photo Award 2027 offers 1,000 main competition prizes with a combined value of approximately €250,000. The overall winner receives a photography trip worth €10,000, including a private workshop with photographer Christie Goodwin, a €5,000 photography equipment voucher, a €2,500 CEWE photo products voucher and the competition trophy. Winners placing second to tenth each receive €5,000 in photography equipment vouchers and €2,500 in CEWE product vouchers. Those placing 11th to 30th receive equipment vouchers worth €2,500 and CEWE vouchers worth €1,000, while places 31st to 1,000th each receive a €100 CEWE voucher. The Young Talent Award winner receives a photography trip worth €5,000 with individual coaching from Ulla Lohmann, along with €2,500 in photography equipment vouchers and €1,000 in CEWE products. Three monthly winners from the main competition also receive a €100 CEWE voucher each.