Celebrating its twentieth year, the Aperture Portfolio Prize is an annual international competition that spotlights new talent in contemporary photography. When choosing the first-prize winner and short list, our judges look for innovative bodies of work that have not been widely seen in major publications or exhibition venues. The Aperture Portfolio Prize is open exclusively to Aperture magazine print subscribers

First Prize: The first-prize winner will be published in Aperture magazine and receives a $5,000 cash prize and a $1,000 gift card to shop for gear at mpb.com.

Shortlist: The four artists chosen for the shortlist each receive a $1,000 cash prize and an editorial feature on aperture.org.

All Finalists: All five finalists participate in a group exhibition organized by Aperture at AIPAD in New York in April 2026. Finalists receive exposure across Aperture’s email and social channels, which reach a global audience of prominent curators, critics, artists, and members of the photography community. The winner and shortlist may also have the opportunity to participate in the Aperture limited-edition print program.