- Days Remaining 66
Event History
This will be the 12th edition!
What Makes this event different?
Rotterdam Photo is an international photography festival and platform for contemporary image-making. Since 2016, we have brought together emerging and established artists from around the world, presenting photography in all its diversity in the public space of Rotterdam. Each year, for several days, we transform the city into an open festival dedicated to photography – where exhibitions, encounters, and public programming come together in one shared space. We believe photography should be experienced outside the walls of traditional galleries – in the city, among people, and as part of everyday life. The 2027 edition takes place from 17-21 March during Rotterdam Art Week 2027, and open calls are now open for submissions. We invite photographers worldwide to take part in shaping the upcoming edition.
Copyright Policy
3. Copyright & Intellectual Property • The artist retains full copyright and ownership of all submitted images. • By submitting your work, you warrant that you are the sole creator and rightsholder of the images, and that the work does not infringe upon the rights of any third party. • Selected artists grant the organization a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the submitted images strictly for promotional purposes related to the exhibition, including but not limited to social media, websites, press releases, and exhibition catalogs.
Image Usage Rights
3. Copyright & Intellectual Property • The artist retains full copyright and ownership of all submitted images. • By submitting your work, you warrant that you are the sole creator and rightsholder of the images, and that the work does not infringe upon the rights of any third party. • Selected artists grant the organization a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the submitted images strictly for promotional purposes related to the exhibition, including but not limited to social media, websites, press releases, and exhibition catalogs.
Rotterdam Photo is an international photography festival and platform dedicated to contemporary photography, emerging talent and new visual perspectives. Based in Rotterdam, the festival brings together photographers, curators, professionals and a broad public through exhibitions, talks, screenings, artist encounters and special events. Its distinctive presentation in and around shipping containers creates an accessible, urban setting where photography becomes part of the city.
For 2027, Rotterdam Photo invites photographers worldwide to take part in the Open Call: The World Through Your Lens. The competition is open to both emerging and established photographers and offers the opportunity to present work to an international audience. Photographers can submit work across eight categories, including travel, portraiture, nature, wildlife, underwater photography, sports, documentary and street photography.
The 2027 theme, Living Together – How We Share Our Planet, explores the ways people, animals and nature coexist within shared spaces and changing environments. The theme is intentionally broad, welcoming documentary, socially engaged, poetic, humorous and visually powerful photography.
Selected photographers can gain international exposure, professional recognition, media visibility and the opportunity to exhibit their work as part of the festival. Cash prizes and category awards are also available. Entries are reviewed by an international selection committee based on creativity, photographic quality and the strength with which the work expresses the competition theme.
