Photo credit: Xposure International Photography Festival
Dubai, UAE — November 2025 — The Xposure International Photography Festival, a cornerstone of the global visual arts scene, is celebrating its milestone 10th edition with an unprecedented outpouring of creative talent.
The recently concluded first round of curation for the Xposure International Photography and Film Awards 2025-2026 has revealed staggering numbers, underscoring the festival’s soaring international prestige.
From an initial pool of 29,000 submissions, a total of 14,359 exceptional photographs from 109 countries have been selected to advance, alongside 634 film entries originating from over 60 nations, setting a new benchmark for the competition’s global reach, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, the awards are designed to honour the pillars of visual artistry: innovation, creative vision, and technical mastery.
Tariq Saeed Allay, director general of SGMB commented saying: “Behind every image and frame is a story that challenges, inspires, or enlightens. Through these awards, Sharjah continues its mission to be a city that nurtures creativity and honours those voices who bring meaning and global issues into focus.”
This event comes in line with the UAE’s vision for culture which is to balance modern innovation with a deep commitment to preserving its cultural identity, which is rooted in Arab-Islamic heritage and values.
Key initiatives include the UAE Culture Agenda 2031, which aims to strengthen national identity and support cultural industries, and the National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries to boost their contribution to the gross domestic product.
Over the past decade, Xposure has evolved from a regional exhibition into a vital international nexus for photographers and filmmakers. It provides a platform for both emerging talents and established masters to showcase their work, share powerful narratives, and inspire audiences worldwide through a comprehensive programme of curated exhibitions, live screenings, hands-on workshops, and insightful panel discussions.
The photography awards are structured across ten distinct categories, reflecting the diverse and evolving nature of the medium. These include Nature & Landscape, Street Photography, Portraiture, Mobile Photography, Architectural Photography, Night Photography, the contemporary field of Photomanipulation and AI, Sports Photography, Visual Storytelling, and a dedicated Junior category for young UAE residents under the age of 18.
An analysis of submission trends revealed a profound global fascination with the natural world and human spontaneity, with the Nature & Landscape category dominating entries at 22%, closely followed by Street Photography at 20% and Portraiture at 17%.
The significant participation from creative communities in China, Iran, India, the UAE, and Bangladesh highlights the festival’s widespread appeal and its role in fostering a truly global dialogue through imagery. A multi-tiered judging process ensures that only the most compelling works are recognised.
According to WAM, the first round involves a panel of 29 judges who assess every submission for its immediate visual appeal and deeper artistic impact. Entries that pass this initial filter are then scrutinised by a second panel of 23 judges, who score them based on precise criteria: composition, technical quality, and relevance to the chosen category’s theme.
The final and most decisive round is overseen by the Awards Oversight Committee, a body composed of some of the most respected names in visual journalism and curation.
This includes Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalists Essdras M. Suarez and Muhammed Muheisen, acclaimed photojournalist Giles Clarke, visual journalism expert Lars Boering, creative media professional Ricardo Lopez, and international curator Wiktoria Michalkiewicz.
This committee is tasked with the formidable challenge of evaluating the top eight finalists in each category to select the ultimate winners and runners-up.
On the film side, entries are competing for top honours in four award categories: the “Best Cinematic Arts” Award, the “Best Visual Effects” Award, the “Best Documentary” Award, and the “Best Short Film” Award.
The winners and nominees for both photography and film will be announced in a ceremony during the much-anticipated festival event. All shortlisted works will be featured in a grand Xposure exhibition, offering the public a captivating glimpse into the varied human experiences and creative visions that define our time.
