MENA Panorama is PhotoVogue’s regional initiative to highlight the many voices from the Middle East and North Africa. It moves beyond one-sided stories to show the region’s complexity, resilience, and diverse visual styles.
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Mous Lambrabat
When
May 21, 2026 to September 24, 2026 (11:59 PM CET)
Where
Online via Picter
Who
Open to all artists aged 18 and above from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as those from the diaspora who have a meaningful connection to the region.
What
We welcome photography, video, and multimedia projects in all genres, including fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, and experimental work.
We are looking for work that shows a clear point of view—whether through personal or shared stories, reflections on identity and belonging, or the strength of its visual language.
Why
At a time of deep change across the region, this open call aims to give artists space to represent themselves and their communities on their own terms. It encourages visibility, nuance, and connection through image-making.
Grants & Opportunities
– $8,000 in total grants awarded to three artists
– Presentation at the 2027 PhotoVogue Festival
– Potential publication across Condé Nast titles in the region
– Participation in PhotoVogue Virtual Portfolio Reviews
Read more about the Open Call
Myriam Boulos
At PhotoVogue, we believe representation matters. Images don’t just reflect reality—they shape how we see the world and each other. They build stories, define who is seen, and influence how we connect. That’s why creating space for many voices and perspectives has always been central to our mission.
Following the Italian Panorama, Latin American Panorama, and East and Southeast Asian Panorama, PhotoVogue is launching a new regional open call focused on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
At a time when many parts of the MENA region face conflict, instability, and major social change, it feels especially important to create space for artists. Not to ignore or simplify these realities, but to recognize that image-making and storytelling are still essential. They allow for nuance, complexity, and forms of connection that can bring people together across distance, difference, and difficulty.
Rehab Eldalil
This open call invites photographers and video makers to submit work in all genres, including fashion, documentary, conceptual, and experimental practices. Rather than offering a single story, it aims to embrace the many visual languages and lived experiences across the region.
MENA is not a single, uniform space. It is shaped by a wide range of cultures, histories, and social realities, as well as ongoing changes and forms of resilience. That’s why this open call doesn’t try to define the region. Instead, it creates a platform where artists can represent themselves, their communities, and their surroundings on their own terms.
Ismail Zaidy
Myriam Boulos
We are especially interested in work that reflects the diversity of lived experience—whether through intimate storytelling, explorations of identity and belonging, engagement with fashion and visual culture, or reflections on social, political, and environmental realities. At the same time, we welcome practices that go beyond representation, embracing experimentation, abstraction, and new visual forms.
Khashayar Javanmardi
How to Submit
Who We’re Looking For
We invite photographers and video makers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as those from the diaspora who maintain a meaningful connection to the region.
Across all genres—from fashion to documentary, portraiture, fine art, and beyond—we are looking for work that reflects the richness, complexity, and variety of experiences across the region, as well as practices that push visual language in new and unexpected directions.
Eligibility & Submission Period
Submissions are free and open on Picter from May 21, 2026 to September 24, 2026 (closing at 11:59 PM CET).
The open call is open to all artists aged 18 and above from the MENA region and its diaspora.Open to all artists aged 18 and over.
If you’ve applied to a PhotoVogue Open Call before, we encourage you to submit a new project.
What to Submit
– A series of up to 15 images, or a mix of images and video for multimedia projects
– And/or a 60-second video trailer
Grants & Opportunities
A total of $8,000 in grants will be awarded to three artists whose work shows a powerful and necessary engagement with image-making today:
– $4,500 – Outstanding Vision Grant
For an artist whose work pushes creative boundaries and opens up new visual possibilities
– $2,000 – Vision Grant
For an artist with a unique perspective and a strong visual voice
– $1,500 – Rising Voice Grant
For an emerging artist whose work shows originality and potential
Recognition & Exposure
Selected artists will:
– Be featured at the 2027 PhotoVogue Festival, gaining an international platform for visibility, exchange, and dialogue
– Have the chance to be published across Condé Nast titles in the region, including Vogue, GQ, Architectural Digest, and Condé Nast Traveler
– Be invited to take part in the next PhotoVogue Virtual Portfolio Reviews
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The international jury will be announced later, along with additional opportunities tied to the open call.
About PhotoVogue
PhotoVogue is a global Condé Nast initiative that supports artists and helps shape a more conscious visual culture. Through its network of 32 markets and partners, it offers opportunities for publication, commissions, exhibitions, and public programming.
Its mission is to champion talent, encourage diversity, and promote visual literacy, contributing to a fairer, more ethical, and more inclusive image-making landscape. Through both global and regional open calls, PhotoVogue continues to discover and amplify voices from different geographies and communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about MENA Panorama An Open Call for the Region from PhotoVogue written in a natural conversational tone with clear answers
General Eligibility Questions
1 What exactly is MENA Panorama
Its a special open call from PhotoVogue looking for photographers from the Middle East and North Africa The goal is to showcase the diverse and rich visual stories from the region
2 Who can apply Is it only for professional photographers
No its open to everyonehobbyists students and professionals alike The main requirement is that you are from or based in the MENA region
3 What countries are considered MENA
It generally includes countries like Algeria Bahrain Egypt Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Morocco Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria Tunisia UAE and Yemen If youre unsure its best to check the official call details but its a broad definition
4 Do I need to speak English or Italian to apply
No but the submission form and guidelines are in English You can submit your work even if youre not fluent but youll need to understand the instructions
Submission Technical Details
5 What kind of photos are they looking for
They want authentic personal and documentarystyle images that tell a story about the region This could be everyday life culture social issues landscapes or portraits Avoid overly staged or commercial shots
6 How many photos can I submit
Usually you can submit a single image or a small series Check the specific call guidelines for the exact number
7 Is there a theme or specific topic I must follow
Yes the call usually has a broad theme like Identity Home or Resilience Read the prompt carefully Your photos should clearly connect to that theme
8 Is there a fee to enter
No its completely free to submit PhotoVogue does not charge for open calls
9 What file format and size should my photos be
They typically accept highresolution JPEGs around 25 MB each