29 thousand photographic works and 634 films in "Exposure 2026"
Sharjah, November 2, 2018 – WAM / The Xposure International Photography and Film Awards 2025-2026 attracted remarkable global attention, as 29,000 photographic works were submitted for competition from 109 countries, of which 14,359 qualified for the next stage of judging, along with 634 films from more than 60 countries.
This growing interest in the upcoming activities of the tenth edition of the International Photography Festival (Xposure), which will be held from January 29 to February 4, 2026, reflects the status that the festival has gained on the international level as an event that inspires visual creativity and enhances the values of art and innovation.
The festival, organized by the Sharjah Government Media Office, honors the most important works that reflect the standards of artistic excellence and technical creativity in the fields of photography and filmmaking.
Xposure has established itself as a pivotal international platform in the art of visual storytelling, allowing creators to display their productions and share their stories, becoming a source of influence for audiences around the world.
Through organized exhibitions and live performances, in addition to workshops and discussion sessions, the festival succeeded in attracting emerging talents and prominent names in the artistic scene.
The photography awards include ten categories ranging from nature, landscapes, architectural photography, portraits, night photography, street photography, mobile phone photography, visual manipulation, artificial intelligence, sports photography, visual narration, as well as the junior category designated for UAE residents under 18 years of age.
Among the photographic entries, the nature and landscape category topped the list of the most popular categories, accounting for about 22% of the total entries, followed by the street photography category with approximately 20%, then portrait photography with about 17%.
The countries that recorded the highest participation rates included China, Iran, India, the Emirates and Bangladesh, which reflects the global nature of the festival and its notable spread in various creative communities.
His Excellency Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Office, confirmed that the Xposure Awards represent an appreciation for the message and the humanitarian content behind every image or scene, indicating that Sharjah continues through these awards its approach as an incubator city for creativity that celebrates works that carry artistic visions that reflect the essence of human issues.
The works are evaluated in three stages. In the first stage, a jury consisting of 29 members reviews all entries to estimate their visual appeal and artistic impact. The second stage comes when another jury consisting of 23 members evaluates the works included in the short list, taking into account the standards of composition, artistic quality, and their suitability to the theme of the category.
The awards follow-up committee supervises the final stage of judging, which includes an elite group of specialists and experts, including Pulitzer Prize winners Esdras M. Suarez and Mohamed Muheisen, along with photojournalist Giles Clarke, visual journalism expert Lars Boringo, creative media professional Ricardo Lopez, and international art curator Wiktoria Michalkiewicz. This committee evaluates the best eight works in each category to choose the winners and second places.
Cinematic works will compete in four categories, including the “Best Cinematic Arts” award, the “Best Visual Effects” award, the “Best Documentary Film” award, and the “Best Short Film” award.
The names of the nominated winners in the photography and film categories will be announced during the “Xposure” festival activities, while all shortlisted works will be displayed at the “Xposure” exhibition.
The International Photography Festival “Xposure”, which celebrates a decade full of artistic achievements, is one of the most anticipated events in the Middle East and North Africa region, offering a rich experience to explore human experiences and learn about renewed creative visions.
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