PARADAJS PHOTO FEST 2026
— OPEN CALL
Theme: Welcome to Paradise
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Registration: February 18 - March 15, 2026
Where: Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
Apply here: Apply here — Apply here — Apply here
WELCOME TO PARADISE!
What does your paradise look like? Endless beaches, palm trees, and sunshine... or the real world, where beauty hides smog, noise, and dust?
Paradise can be dark, ironic, ecological, critical, poetic, surreal, and playful.
We are looking for photographic projects that deal with the theme of paradise in an original way. The genre doesn't matter; what counts is the power of visual language and the courage to look beneath the surface of familiar clichés. Define paradise through your own lens.
Competition categories
1️⃣ Single photograph – max. 5 photographs (judged individually)
2️⃣ Series – 5 to 10 photographs (complete set)
🏆 WHAT YOU CAN WIN
Winner: GRAND PRIX worth €2,000
- One-month residency in Banská Štiavnica (fall 2026)
- Production support
- Solo exhibition in 2027
- Participation in a site-specific exhibition during Paradajs Photo Fest 2026
Finalists: 10 authors – group exhibition of 10 exhibited photographs at the Paradajs Photo Fest 2026 festival + online presentation.
Important dates
- Registration opens: February 18, 2026
- Application deadline: March 15, 2026
- Announcement of results: within 3 weeks of the deadline
Registration fee
- Single photograph: €10
- Series: €15
- Payment by bank transfer (details can be found in the application form).
How to apply
Fill out the online form (link below).
- Short bio (max. 800 characters).
- Annotation of the photograph/series (max. 800 characters) or project (max. 1,800 characters).
- Year of creation.
- Photographs (according to the selected category).
Name the file in the following format: surname_first name_01.jpg
Attach confirmation of payment of the participation fee (must be paid before submission, payment instructions can be found in the registration form.)
- File format: JPEG
- Minimum resolution: 3000 px on the longer side
- Maximum file size: 10 MB per photo
- File name format: last name_first name_01.jpg
- Both individuals and photography groups can apply.
APPLY HERE — APPLY HERE — APPLY HERE
Expert jury
Jano Viazo – CEO PARADAJS PHOTO
Zuzana Pustaiová – photographer and editor
Branislav Štěpánek – curator
Vanda Mesiariková – photographer
Organizers
PARADAJS PHOTO MAG & HÁJOVŇA KTC
paradajsphoto@gmail.com
www.paradajsphoto.sk
PARADAJS OPEN CALL 2026 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Eligibility
The Open Call is open to all artists (individuals and collectives) regardless of age, education, or nationality. Submitted works must be original works by the participant.
2. Scope and format of the application
Each participant may submit:
- Photographs / Visual works: Maximum 10 works (individual works or a complete series/project).
- Format: JPEG
- File size: min 1MB, max. 10 MB per file
- Minimum resolution: 3000 px on the longer side
- File name format: last name_first name_01.jpg
3. How to apply
Please send your application via the online application form:
APPLY HERE — APPLY HERE — APPLY HERE
The application must include:
- Visual documentation: Files named in the format: last name_first name_01.jpg
- Author's text (Abstract): A short description of the project or work (max. 300 words).
- CV: A short BIO of the author
4. Deadline
All applications must be received by March 15, 2026, at the latest.
General Terms and Conditions
Copyright: The participant declares that they are the sole author of the submitted works and that their publication will not infringe on the rights of third parties. Copyright remains the property of the author in its entirety.
Consent to display: In the case of photographs depicting identifiable persons, the author confirms that he/she has their consent to use the work for exhibition and promotional purposes (so-called model release).
License for festival purposes: By submitting an application, the author grants the organizers (Paradajs Photo) a non-exclusive, free-of-charge, and time-limited license (for 2 years) to use the works for the purposes of promoting the Open Call and the festival (social networks, website, press releases, catalog).
Selection process: The selection of works will be decided by a professional jury appointed by the organizer. The jury's decision is final and cannot be appealed. Production costs: The organizer will arrange for the exhibition, including the printing of photographs, in agreement with the author.
Personal data protection (GDPR): Participants' personal data will be used exclusively for the purposes of organizing the Open Call and will not be disclosed to third parties. Agreement to the terms and conditions: By submitting an application, the participant confirms that they have read and fully agree to these terms and conditions.