The eight annual Unpublished Photo 2025 contest (UP25) has opened for entries. Photographers born between 1995 and 2007 may submit their portfolios of 10 unpublished photos until March 7. Entry is free.
The contest is promoted by the Fondazione culture e musei of Lugano (FCM) with MUSEC-Lugano; organised in collaboration with the 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS Gallery in Milan and the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere e Arti in Venice and it is in partnership with the Fondazione Ada Ceschin e Rosanna Pilone in Zurich.
Applicants must submit an unpublished photographic project of 10 unpublished images. The projects must have a thematic and stylistic unity. The Unpublished Photo 2025 contest aims to uncover and help promote the works of new young photographers. Finalists must be able to provide the appropriate digital files (TIFF file min. 300 dpi and Adobe rgb 1998 color profile). The winning prints will be produced by FCM and will become part of the MUSEC photographic collections.
A technical jury of international experts from the world of photography and communication will chose the four finalist portfolios.
The four chosen finalists will exhibit their works at the end of 2025 at Villa Malpensata, Lugano. Prizes include: 1st Prize: CHF 3,500 and Runners-up: CHF 500 each, plus a catalogue and exhibition (total cost CHF 50,000)
Find everything you need to enter here.
Key Details:
- Who: Photographers aged 18–30.
- What: Submit 10 previously unpublished images with captions, a project description, and a short bio.
- When: Deadline is March 3, 2025 (12:00 am local time).
- Entry Fee: None.
- Theme: Open, focusing on thematic and stylistic unity.
- APPLICATIONS: here and rules here.
This year’s winners, chosen from entries received from 35 countries are currently being exhibited at MUSEC until March 9, 2025:
Amirhosein Esparham (Iran): Together, Alone – Portraits exploring loneliness
Gabriele D’Agostino (Italy): Cuore Nero-Metrò – Milan metro life through mobile photography.
Claudy Woods (England): Every Saint Has a Past – Gender and spirituality through saint reimaginings
Navonil Dutta (India): Nature’s Drama – Predator-prey dynamics in nature
Images courtesy of the artist and MUSEC – Unpublished Photo 2024
