International Photography Awards IPA 2027 Opens Worldwide: $10,000 and $5,000 Top Awards
The International Photography Awards (IPA), founded in 2003, has announced on its official homepage that its 2027 competition is now open for entries. It welcomes professional, non-professional and student photographers based anywhere in the world, provided they are 18 or older. IPA recognises a broad spectrum of photographic practice, including fine art, advertising, architecture, editorial, nature, people, events and photography books. Its published award structure includes two high-profile overall honours: US$10,000 for International Photographer of the Year and US$5,000 for Discovery of the Year.
Important: do not confuse 2026 and 2027 deadlines
The IPA homepage specifically states that the 2027 edition is open. However, as checked on 24 October 2026, parts of the How to Enter page still display 2026 deadlines (31 January, 30 April and 30 June 2026). These are not reliable closing dates for the 2027 edition. The current 2027 submission portal should be used to confirm its actual deadline before planning or paying. We deliberately do not provide an invented 2027 cutoff.
Eligibility and category selection
Entrants of all nationalities may apply, but must be at least 18 years old. IPA separates professionals from non-professionals, with a student class for current part-time and full-time students of any subject. Published work, professional income or membership of a photographic association can affect the professional classification; applicants should read the live rules before selecting their division. A photo can be entered in multiple subject categories, but extra entries and category changes involve fees.
Cash awards and opportunities
International Photographer of the Year: US$10,000 top prize, selected from professional category winners.
Discovery of the Year: US$5,000 top prize, selected from non-professional category winners.
Professional category winners: US$1,000 each; non-professional category winners: US$500 each under the published awards structure.
Selected photographs may be featured in Best of Show exhibitions, the IPA annual publication and related showcases. These are selective benefits, not guarantees for every entrant.
Image files and publication rights
The posted rules request JPG images in sRGB, no larger than 4 MB, with the longest side between 1,000 and 4,000 pixels. Submissions are online rather than physical prints; photographs should generally be no more than five years old. Entries must not carry visible identifying marks or signatures. Photographers retain copyright, while the organiser requests permissions for IPA-related promotion and exhibitions; review this carefully if you have existing licensing agreements.
Fees: a guide, not a confirmed 2027 invoice
IPA's current general fee table shows single-image entry at US$40 for professionals, US$30 for non-professionals and US$20 for students. Series of two to nine images are shown at US$65, US$55 and US$35 respectively, with additional-category discounts. Because the publicly accessible fee/deadline page still includes 2026 copy, entrants should treat these figures as indicative until their 2027 form confirms the exact payable amount. The official terms say paid entries are not normally refundable.
The organiser and its track record
IPA has organised worldwide photography awards since 2003 and is associated with the Lucie Foundation and Lucie photography community. Its official website maintains searchable winners, juror explanations, awards descriptions and category rules. This long, public history is useful when assessing the prestige and obligations of the opportunity.
Official entry sources
IPA 2027 official announcement and entry: https://www.photoawards.com/
IPA eligibility and file rules: https://www.photoawards.com/rules/
Published awards and prize amounts: https://www.photoawards.com/awards/
How to Enter: fee guide and older date caution: https://www.photoawards.com/how-to-enter/
Checked 24 October 2026. Open internationally; 2027 entry confirmed on the organiser's homepage. Deadline for the 2027 edition not independently stated on the checked fee guide, which still contains 2026 dates.