OPEN CALL

Chester Photo Festival, 2nd Ed.

16-29 October 2026

Making Voices Heard

Let's explore photography through myths, feelings, memories and personal stories.

Open call open on 1st December 2026!

FREE ENTRIES up to 5 works per participant.
First-come, first-served!

I. Early entries deadline: 15th May or when 200 works have been selected.

Only if your work is selected, we will ask for an early entry participation fee of £45 per work.

II. Late entries deadline: 15th June or when 300 works have been selected.

Only if your work is selected, we will ask for a late entry participation fee of £60 per work.

Step 1: Prepare up to 5 JPEG files with the shortest side at least 6 inches at 300 dpi.
Step 2: Fill out the Early Entries Form, see below.
Include a Word document with the title, year, size, and a 100-word personal statement for each work.
Alternatively, especially for non-standard or large file entries, email us directly at events@chesterphotofestival.com, with your submission via Maildrop, Google Docs, OneDrive or WeTransfer.com
Step 3: If your work is selected, you will be notified by 30th June 2026 for early entries and by 30 August 2026 for late entries
See complete details below.

Early Entries Form

Name *
E-mail *
Phone number
Bio. No more than 200 words *
Up to 5 JPEG images, Surname_01, ..Surname_05 *	Max file size (Mb): 20
Word document, Title, Date and Statement 100 words for each image *	Max file size (Mb): 3 Max number of files: 1
Message. (Please feel free to provide additional details.)
	I have read, understood and agreed to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. *
	I understand that I will be notified only if my work is selected and that I will receive an invoice for my participation fee. *
	By submitting to the festival, I confirm that I hold full copyright ownership of my submitted work. *

Timeline

1 December 2025 Open Call for Entries
15 May 2026 Early Entries Deadline
15 June 2026 Late Entries Deadline
By 30 June 2026, notifications will be sent for early entries
By 30 August 2026, notifications will be sent for late entries.
15 September 2026, Festival Programme to be announced.
16 October 2026 Preview (time, location TBC)
16 - 18 October 2026 Main event
16 - 29 October 2026, the Chester Photo Festival will be open in various venues

Share your story through photography and make your voice heard at the 2026 Festival!

Chester Photo Festival seeks to celebrate the democratisation of photography as an art, enabling photographers at all levels of experience to innovate through networking and create with exhibition spaces in Chester.
Imagine a photography practice that empowers you to re-imagine your memories, myths, personal experiences and childhood through exploring photography.
Imagine why a photography practice can shape the narrative of your story and your message.
Moving beyond aesthetics and techniques, let's focus on your own voice through your photography practice.

(More details about photography topics and photo-entanglement can be found on our website, especially in the ‘Courses and Workshops’ and ‘About’ sections.)

If your work is selected, you will be invited to participate in our upcoming events:

The main event is expected from 16 to 18 October 2026, Friday to Sunday (programme TBC).
On-site exhibitions, participants' festival book published, talks and workshops: Starting from 16th October 2026.
Hangout place for meeting the artists, 16-18 October 2026. (Location TBC)

Exhibitions will take place at various locations across Chester City Centre.
The curatorial team will select the works and allocate spaces depending on both the participants' work and the organisational process.
Possible locations: Castlefield Gallery New Art Spaces Chester, University of Chester, St Werburgh's Church, St John's Church, Chester Picturehouse, Grosvenor Museum (locations TBC).
Other locations within Chester City Centre will also be considered, depending on the curatorial and selection process.
All the participants' works will be included in the Exhibition Book, Chester Photo Festival 2026 2nd Ed and published in the UK. (see previous book of the 1st edition, May 2025)

We aim to include one or two works per participant.
We aim to include a variety of non-standard entries, such as installations, videos, projections, objects on display, larger works, or focused small-group projects. We would strongly encourage you to contact us to talk about the curatorial details and participation fee directly with our team.
Every participant will receive a participation certificate.

We are learning from the previous exhibitions, potential participants, locations, and the organisational challenges involved.
We are grateful to our Chester Photo Festival 1st Edition participants, partners, sponsors, and team—without whom this learning process would not be possible.

How to

Submit Your Work?

I. Send your work for free

Submissions are OPEN from 1st December 2025.
FREE ENTRIES of up to 5 works.

Early entries deadline: by 15 May 2026.
Late entries deadline: by 15 June 2026.
We strongly recommend submitting your work as early entries to increase your chances of securing your place and to avoid delays or any additional fees.
We aim to include non-standard submissions, suitable for those intending to bring their work, video or installations.
We'll do our best to fit in extra work, but it depends on space, curatorial plans, and logistics.
Suitable for everyone at all levels of experience.

II. Double-check if your submission includes:

Up to 5 JPEG images at 300dpi, with the shortest side measuring at least 6 inches.
Each JPEG file is named with your surname, e.g., Surname 1.jpeg, etc.

A separate Word document with title, year, size if applicable, and no more than 100 words for each work, with your story, feelings or personal experience: What does the picture mean to you?
Submit your files via our Early Entries Form, see above.
Alternatively, especially for non-standard entries, including large files, we accept entries via Maildrop, Google Docs, OneDrive, or WeTransfer.com. Please email events@chesterphotofestival.com to discuss your submission, curatorial details and the participation fee.

By submitting to the festival, you confirm that you hold full copyright ownership of your submitted work.
Finally, state whether AI was used or not in creating the photographs.

III. Your work is with us for selection and the curatorial process:

The selection process may include a curatorial process. If necessary, we will discuss it and agree on specific details about how your work will be displayed, including location, printing, size, medium, or other aspects.

For standard entries, the participation fee per work, up to £45 for early entries or £60 for late entries, includes printing and installing your work in our standard frames, which are approximately 50x40 cm, 50x50 cm, 40x30 cm or 30x30 cm.
This is ideal for international submissions or those who prefer to avoid bringing their work, thereby avoiding transport and other costs.

For non-standard entries, including those invited to bring works in, please be aware that additional charges may apply for larger projects or specific installations. We will discuss these during the selection and curation process.

Participants' works may be publicly shown and referenced to promote the Chester Photo Festival's exhibitions and events, including on the festival book, our website and social media channels.

Yours,

Chester Photo Festival

We will always contact you only from our telephone number 07949 066 406 or via our email: events@chesterphotofestival.com
We aim to respond as soon as possible, usually within 1 hour. However, during busy periods or outside of working hours, it may take up to 24 hours for a response.

Chester photo festival

It was founded in September 2023 and is available to the public from 1st May 2024.

The 2nd edition of the annual Chester Photo Festival is expected to take place in October 2026.