RPS International Photography Exhibition 168 (IPE 168) Open Call

About this call

The Royal Photographic Society's International Photography Exhibition, held almost every year since 1854, is open to photographers and image-makers worldwide for its 168th edition, with no predefined categories and no restriction on genre, process or technique. Selection is anonymous: images are submitted online, a guest selection panel shortlists them, and shortlisted entrants send prints for the final selection of about 100 works for a touring exhibition at RPS partnering venues, opening at one and touring to at least one other. The RPS mounts and frames the selected prints at no extra cost. Awards include the IPE Award and the Under 30s Award, a two-week solo exhibition, RPS Journal features, a Selectors Spotlight for five photographers, and promotion of shortlisted work on the RPS website and social channels. The Society is based in Bristol, United Kingdom.

Who can apply

• The official call states no eligibility restriction
• Medium: Photography
• Free entry
• Open to anyone of any age or level of practice, worldwide; RPS membership is not required. One free single image entry is available to everyone; further entries (a series of 4 images from one project, or 4 single images) cost GBP 35 standard, GBP 27 for RPS members, GBP 20 for under 30s, with reduced entry for groups of 10 or more; multiple paid entries are permitted and payment is by card online. Images must be JPEG, sRGB, no more than 10MB, and anonymous (no name in title, description, statement or watermark). Work that includes generative AI in whole or in part is not eligible, nor are images previously selected and exhibited in RPS exhibitions; the same image cannot be entered twice. Images must be the entrant's own work but may include found photographs. Film, digital, experimental and traditional processes and manipulation are allowed (in genres such as documentary, photojournalism, travel or natural history, say in the submission text if the authenticity of the subject has been altered); collaborations are allowed with all parties credited; there is no limit on when photographs were taken. Every image needs a title. Work must be made ethically, with appropriate explicit consent from the people depicted. Past IPE award recipients cannot win awards with different images from the same body of work. Entries may be shared on RPS social media during the call unless you ask not to be considered. The IPE would not normally exhibit works larger than 50cm x 60cm. Shortlisted entrants must supply prints (framed work is not accepted) from high resolution files; prints below the required quality may be withdrawn. Selected photographers must respond within 14 days of notification or the place may go to another shortlisted entrant, and selected work cannot be changed. Shortlisted prints are not returned except by arrangement with return shipping paid; exhibited prints are returned after the tour at the exhibitor's expense. Entrants license the RPS to reproduce their images without payment for publicity and promotion for up to four years. No new entries after 15 December 2026; entries can be edited until 23:59 GMT on 16 December 2026. Early-bird prize draw deadline: 19 October 2026.