Street photography has long asserted itself as one of the most immediate and demanding visual languages of our time. Rooted in observation, intuition, and timing, it challenges photographers to read public space with precision, transforming ordinary life into layered narratives. In its best expressions, the genre captures fleeting, unrepeatable moments that reveal the contradictions, tensions, and quiet poetry of contemporary society.

Now entering its fifth edition, the Exibart Street Photography Contest continues to chart the evolution of this discipline. Over the years, the competition has seen a remarkable rise in both technical sophistication and artistic awareness among submissions—an evolution that mirrors the growing maturity of individual photographic voices, as well as photography’s expanding role in shaping our collective visual culture.

Developed by the contemporary art magazine exibart, exibart street approaches street photography not merely as a genre, but as a field of artistic research—where instinct meets authorship, and critical vision intersects with everyday life. The platform actively explores the ethical and aesthetic boundaries of the practice, fostering dialogue between street photography and contemporary art.

In collaboration with Leica Camera, the fifth edition reaffirms its commitment to discovering, supporting, and amplifying outstanding photographic talent from around the world. The contest welcomes diverse perspectives and highly personal approaches to the street, celebrating both immediacy and long-form visual storytelling.

Two Categories, Two Ways of Seeing 

The competition is structured around two complementary categories:

• Best Series, dedicated to cohesive bodies of work composed of 3 to 9 images, emphasizing consistency, visual language, and authorial style.
  Entry fee: €49 per submission (unlimited entries allowed).
• Best Single Photo, recognizing the strength and immediacy of a single image and its capacity to synthesize meaning in one frame.
  Entry fee: €10 per submission (unlimited entries allowed).

The contest is officially open, with submissions accepted until October 15th, 2026.

The Best Series Winner will receive a Leica Q3, alongside editorial visibility across the entire exibart contemporary network—including interviews on exibart street, features in the printed exibart magazine, and promotion across digital platforms—plus a First Prize Certificate signed by the jury president.

The Best Single Photo Winner will be awarded a Xiaomi 17 Ultra, accompanied by an interview on exibart street, network-wide visibility, and a First Prize Certificate.

In addition, the Top 10 photographers in each category will receive dedicated interviews on exibart street and curated exposure of their work across exibart’s print, web, and social channels.

An International Jury Led by Alan Schaller

Presiding over the jury is Alan Schaller, widely regarded as one of the leading voices in contemporary street photography. Known for his high-contrast black-and-white imagery and graphic urban compositions, Schaller has exhibited internationally and co-founded Street Photography International, actively supporting emerging photographers worldwide.

He is joined by an international panel of professionals spanning photography, curatorship, communication, and publishing:

• Andrea Pacella, Director of Global Marketing & Communication at Leica Camera AG, with a long career bridging advertising, festivals, and photographic education.
• Biba Giacchetti, curator and communication strategist whose career was shaped by Elliott Erwitt and who has collaborated with photographers including Steve McCurry, James Nachtwey, Mary Ellen Mark, Eugene Richards, and Eolo Perfido; founder of Sudest57 and Orion57.
• Eolo Perfido, creative director, photographer, Leica Certified Photographer and Akademie instructor, as well as editorial director of exibart street and artistic director of the Molichrom photography festival.
• Barbara Di Maio, photographer and researcher focused on anthropological and social themes, co-founder of Women in Street Italy, with extensive experience in education and international exhibitions.
• Francesca Tiboni, photographer and educator exploring identity and place, co-founder of Women in Street Italy, widely published by Leica Fotografie International and active in international festivals and workshops.
• Uros Gorgone, General Manager of Exibart, bringing decades of experience in communication and contemporary art publishing.

With its fifth edition, the Exibart Street Photography Contest continues to position street photography as a living, evolving visual language—one capable of translating the pulse of cities and the subtleties of human presence into images that resonate far beyond the moment they are made. Open to photographers worldwide, the contest stands as both a platform for emerging talent and a space for critical engagement with one of today’s most vital photographic practices.

Join the contest!