Northern Beaches Gallery
National Photographic Exhibition 2026
Entering this competition is more than simply submitting a photograph — it is an opportunity to professionally present your work in a curated gallery exhibition while receiving exceptional value in return.
Your $350 entry fee includes a professionally produced 60 x 40 cm exhibition print, expertly framed in a premium white frame with a matte, ready for gallery display. Every accepted work will be exhibited in a professionally presented exhibition, promoted through the gallery and associated marketing channels, with all works available for sale to the public.
In addition to the exposure and presentation opportunity, entrants have the chance to win a First Prize valued at over $1,500, or a Second Prize of a $500 framing voucher.
Most importantly, photographers retain ownership of their professionally printed and framed artwork following the exhibition — giving you a lasting, gallery-quality presentation piece for your portfolio, studio, or future exhibitions.
This is an opportunity to showcase your photography professionally, connect with new audiences, and elevate your work beyond the digital screen into a beautifully presented exhibition environment.
Finalists & JUdging
First prize
1x Godox AD600PRO II TTL flash with Lithium Ion battery
1x Godox UL QR 90cm Octa Bowens Softbox + Grid
Valued at over $1500.
Presented by our Major Sponsor, Kayell Australia Pty Ltd.
Second prize
A $500 framing voucher courtesy of Action Custom Framing.
A People’s Choice Award will also be presented during the exhibition.
Judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
An exhibition opening event will be held on Saturday, 4 July 2026, with finalists invited to attend.
Terms & Conditions Summary
Northern Beaches Gallery National Photographic Exhibition 2026 is a curated national exhibition celebrating contemporary Australian photography across landscape, portraiture, documentary, environmental, abstract, and experimental practice. Entries are welcome from both emerging and established photographers.
Key Dates
Exhibition Dates: 4–18 July 2026
Entries Open: 15 May 2026
Entries Close: 15 June 2026
Entries must be submitted via the official entry form on the Northern Beaches Gallery website.
Eligibility
Open to photographers residing in Australia.
Entries must be original photographic works created by the entrant.
Images substantially generated using artificial intelligence are not permitted. Standard photographic editing and retouching tools remain acceptable.
Submission Requirements
Submitted files must be high-resolution JPEG files, no larger than 10MB.
Files must be cropped to 40cm x 60cm.
Files must be 300ppi using Adobe RGB (1998) colour space.
Files must be flattened 8-bit files with no layers, alpha channels, or paths.
Finalists must provide print-ready digital files at the time of submission.
Entrants must own all rights to submitted images and be able to provide original capture files upon request.
Printing & Framing
Photographers will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of $350 per artwork to contribute toward professional printing and framing costs.
All submitted/accepted works will be professionally printed and framed by Action Custom Framing to ensure a high standard and consistency of presentation throughout the exhibition.
Framed works remain the property of the artist following the exhibition.
Entry fees and finalist printing/framing fees are non-refundable in the event of artist withdrawal.
Sales
All exhibited works must be available for sale.
All artworks will be listed for sale at $750.00.
Northern Beaches Gallery will retain a 30% commission on all sales.
Payments for sold works will be processed within 21 days of the exhibition's close.
Insurance, Freight & Collection
While all reasonable care will be taken, Northern Beaches Gallery accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to artworks during transport, handling, storage, or exhibition.
Artists are responsible for insurance and all courier, freight, packaging, and collection costs to and from the Gallery.
Unsold works remain the artist's property and must be collected or returned via courier at the artist’s expense.
Copyright & Promotion
Copyright of all images remains with the photographer.
By entering, photographers grant Northern Beaches Gallery permission to reproduce submitted images for exhibition promotion, publicity, the website, media, email campaigns, printed materials, and social media, with artist credit provided wherever reasonably possible.
Finalist works may be promoted across Northern Beaches Gallery marketing channels before and during the exhibition.