Communication Arts 2027 Photography Competition

The Communication Arts 2027 Photography Competition is one of the most respected annual competitions for commercial and editorial photography. Communication Arts, the US magazine for visual communication, has been running its competitions for 68 years, and acceptance into its Photography Annual is a mark of quality that creative directors, art buyers and photo editors recognise.

There is no cash prize. The reward is selection itself: a place in the printed and digital Photography Annual, a feature on commarts.com and an index that lists the photographer's contact details alongside the work. The international jury of creative directors and photographers is highly selective, so being accepted carries real weight in a portfolio.

The competition covers commissioned work in advertising, editorial, books and institutional publications, work made for sale, self-promotion, motion and cinematography, and personal projects. Students have their own category at reduced fees.

Who Can Enter the Communication Arts 2027 Photography Competition?

Photographers, agencies, publishers and clients from any country, as well as students. Any photograph first published or produced between March 2026 and March 2027 is eligible.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Advertising and editorial photographers
• Photographers with self-initiated projects
• Photo editors and art buyers entering commissioned work
• Cinematographers and directors of motion work
• Photography students

What Can You Enter?

Nine categories, all judged by the photography jury.

Advertising

Commercial work such as advertisements and product packaging.

Books

Book covers, jackets and interior photography.

Editorial

Photography for magazines and newspapers.

For Sale

Posters, prints, greeting cards and stock licensing.

Institutional

Company publications, annual reports and catalogues.

Motion / Cinematography

Film, television, video and web content.

Self-Promotion

Promotional pieces for photographers, agencies and other professionals.

Unpublished

Experimental and personal work.

Student Work

Photography made for school assignments.

A series can include up to five photographs created for the same project. Single photographs are entered as single entries.

Entry Fees

• Single image: $40
• Series: $80
• Single video: $90
• Video series: $180
• Student single image: $20; student series $40
• Student single video: $45; student video series $90
• Late entries (after 12 March): add $10 per entry

What Do Selected Entrants Receive?

• Publication in the Communication Arts Photography Annual, in print and digital editions
• A feature on commarts.com
• A personalised Award of Excellence, milled from solid aluminium
• Printed award certificates for everyone credited on the work
• A listing with contact information in the annual's index

Submission Requirements

Entries are made online only; entries sent by email are not accepted.

File Specifications

• Still images: RGB JPG, up to 2 MB
• Motion: MOV, MP4 or MPG, up to 500 MB

Credits

Basic credit information is needed for judging. If your work is selected, Communication Arts will ask for full credits for publication.

Important Rules

• Work must be first published or produced between March 2026 and March 2027.
• AI text-to-image generated submissions are not accepted.
• Series are limited to five images from the same project.
• Photographers keep all rights to their images but grant Communication Arts the right to reproduce selected work in print, digital and online.
• Jurors cannot vote on work they were directly involved in.

When Will Entrants Be Notified?

An international jury of creative directors and photographers reviews every entry. Only accepted entrants are notified, within two months of the final deadline of 26 March 2027. If you hear nothing by then, your work was not selected this year.

Things to Consider

• Enter the Unpublished category. Personal work often shows a photographer's vision more clearly than commissioned jobs.
• Edit series hard. Up to five images are allowed; choose only those that belong together.
• Get credits right. CA publishes full credits, so check names and roles with clients and agencies.
• Mind the file size. Still images must be no larger than 2 MB.
• Enter by 12 March. Each late entry costs $10 more.
• Students should take part. At half price, the Student Work category is an affordable way to have work seen by leading creative directors.

Enter the Competition

Interested in submitting your work?

Enter the Communication Arts 2027 Photography Competition

For the complete rules, category details and the entry portal, visit the official Communication Arts competition page.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 2, 2026