HIPA Concludes Judging for Landmark 15th Season Celebrating Family Through Photography
The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award has completed its evaluation process for the 15th edition, with an awards ceremony scheduled for November at the Museum of the Future.
The Board of Trustees of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has announced the completion of judging for its 15th season, themed ‘Family’. The milestone was marked during a Board meeting held at HIPA’s Dubai headquarters on 30th September 2026.
This year’s competition encompassed five distinct categories: Family, Portfolio (Story-Telling), Sports Photography, General and Dreams Through AI. The judging process represents the culmination of months of rigorous evaluation, undertaken with the award’s signature commitment to transparency and impartiality.
During the Board gathering, trustees reviewed comprehensive annual performance reports, strategic indicators and development plans, reflecting HIPA’s continued advancement as a global platform for visual storytelling. The Board also confirmed arrangements for the 15th season awards ceremony, scheduled for 10th November 2026 at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.
Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of HIPA’s Board of Trustees, underscored the transformative impact of the award under the vision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Patron of HIPA. He noted that the initiative has positioned Dubai as a preeminent international centre for visual culture whilst creating meaningful opportunities for photographers worldwide to document humanitarian, environmental and social narratives.
The award’s collection has grown into an extraordinary resource, according to Hala Badri, Director-General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The archive now comprises more than one million photographs sourced from 209 countries, constituting a comprehensive visual record of global human, environmental and social transformation during the twenty-first century.
Beyond competition recognition, HIPA’s educational impact proves substantial. The organisation has delivered over 230 specialised training programmes benefiting more than 10,000 photographers. Additionally, the award has conducted 50 courses for Dubai Government employees, 54 courses serving people of determination, and six programmes within correctional institutions, collectively reaching 2,118 participants.
Ali Bin Thalith, Secretary-General of HIPA, emphasised that reaching half a million photographers and receiving over one million submissions positions the award amongst humanity’s most influential photography initiatives. The international recognition extends to acknowledgement of HIPA’s transparent judging methodology, intellectual property protections and blind evaluation system.
Source: WAM