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PORTRAITS - Hellerau Photography Award 2027

PORTRAITS - Hellerau Photography Award is an international portraiture competition organised by Portraits Hellerau e.V. in cooperation with HELLERAU, the European Center for the Arts in Dresden. The 2026 cycle, themed 'ESCAPISM', closed on 3 May 2026; 17 finalists from 13 countries were selected and the prizes of EUR 5,000, EUR 2,000 and EUR 1,000 were awarded at the opening of the finalist exhibition in the Motorenhalle Dresden on 6 November 2026. The 2027 edition is expected to open in February, following last year's calendar, with entries closing in early May. Works created using AI are explicitly ineligible, one of the cleaner blanket bans among German-language portraiture awards.

AI banned
Deadline
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Entry fee
EUR 50 for a series of up to 20 images; EUR 30 for a single image; 50% discount for students (2026 terms)
Official siteRead full rules

Authenticity policy

AI policy

Works created using AI (‘Artificial Intelligence’) are not eligible for the competition.

RAW files

Not specified

Editing rules

Entries can be single portraits or series of up to 20 photographs on the annual motto (2026: 'ESCAPISM'; the 2027 motto has not been announced). AI-generated work is fully ineligible (no carve-out for AI-assisted editing surfaces in the rules text). The three cash prizes are awarded at the opening of the finalist exhibition in Dresden in autumn.

Verified on November 7, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does PORTRAITS - Hellerau Photography Award 2027 allow AI-generated images?
No. PORTRAITS - Hellerau Photography Award 2027 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
How much does it cost to enter PORTRAITS - Hellerau Photography Award 2027?
EUR 50 for a series of up to 20 images; EUR 30 for a single image; 50% discount for students (2026 terms)

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