Open Call – Cape Town Photo Festival

2026 Open Call Submissions

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Note to Students: Application fee is R100. Please use the coupon code “student100” and add your student number at checkout.

The Cape Town Photography Festival invites photographers from around the world to submit work for the 2026 edition of the festival, which will take place from 2–26 September 2026 across multiple venues in Cape Town.

The theme for this year is TRUTH.

In a time increasingly shaped by image saturation, digital manipulation, and artificial intelligence, photography’s long-standing relationship with truth has become both unstable and urgent. The festival invites submissions that reflect on how truth is constructed, mediated, challenged, and reimagined through the photographic image.

We are particularly interested in work that engages with the theme through the following lenses:

Personal Truth

Real, raw, and subjective experiences

Social Truth

Marginalised narratives, overlooked histories, and contested realities

Technical Truth

The camera versus AI, and the shifting authority of the photographic image

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Solo Exhibition Proposals

Requirements for a coherent body of work to be considered for a dedicated exhibition:

6–8 images

Project title and year(s) of production

Artist statement (max 300 words)

Short biography (max 150 words)

Optional: proposed exhibition venue or gallery affiliation

Group Exhibition Selection

Requirements for inclusion in the curated Festival Group Exhibitions:

Maximum 4 images

Short biography (max 150 words)

Optional short statement (max 150 words)

IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS

JPEG format

Minimum file size: 1MB

Recommended: 3000px on the longest side

File naming: Surname_Title_01.jpg

Please include an image list with: Title, Year, Medium & Dimension.

ELIGIBILITY

Open to local and international photographers

All career levels are welcome

Student submissions are encouraged

SUBMISSION FEE

R250 – General Entry

R100 – Student Entry (valid student proof required)

Submission fees are non-refundable.

SELECTION PROCESS

All submissions will be reviewed by a curatorial panel. Selection will be based on:

Conceptual strength

Relevance to the theme

Technical and visual quality

Selected artists will be notified directly.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Applicants may also indicate if they wish to be considered for:

The festival’s fundraising photography auction

Participation in talks, workshops, or public programmes

KEY DATES

Open Call Launch:

End of March 2026

Submission Deadline:

Tuesday 28 April 2026

Notification of Results:

Monday 25 May 2026

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions are to be made via a purchase on the capetownphotofest.co.za “Open Call” page

All applicants must complete PAYMENT FIRST to receive the submission form and upload the required materials.

FINAL NOTE

The Cape Town Photography Festival is an international platform committed to presenting diverse photographic practices and fostering critical dialogue through the image.

We look forward to seeing how you engage with TRUTH.