About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
📸 Vincent van Gogh Photo Award 2027
💡 Theme: “Spirit of Light” — In the Eyes of Van Gogh
Are you a passionate amateur or professional photographer with a powerful perspective on light, emotion, and the world around you?
The Vincent van Gogh Photo Award 2027, organized by the Rotary Club Nuenen, invites photographers from around the world to submit their most inspiring and innovative images under the theme “Spirit of Light.”
The competition offers photographers an opportunity to gain international exposure, compete for monetary prizes, and have their work exhibited publicly in Nuenen, the Netherlands.
📅 Key Details at a Glance
Competition: Vincent van Gogh Photo Award 2027
Theme: Spirit of Light
Deadline: 30 March 2027
Results Announcement: 3 September 2027
Eligibility: Amateur & professional photographers worldwide
Exhibition: 3–24 September 2027
Exhibition Location: Public park in the center of Nuenen, Netherlands
Categories: Vincent van Gogh Photo Award & Student Award
Entry Fee: From €10
Early Bird Discount: 20%
Early Bird Period: 1 March–30 September 2026
🌟 About the Theme: “Spirit of Light”
Photography begins with light.
The word photography itself originates from Greek words associated with light and writing—essentially, writing with light.
For this year's competition, photographers are invited to explore light not simply as a technical element, but as something that carries emotion, character, atmosphere, and presence.
Light can transform an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.
It can be:
☀️ The softness of dawn
🌅 The warmth of evening
☁️ The diffused glow of an overcast sky
❄️ The long shadows of winter
⚡ The energy of artificial or flash lighting
💡 Carefully shaped studio illumination
Photographers are encouraged to explore how light influences the way we see, feel, and understand an image.
📸 Who Can Participate?
The Vincent van Gogh Photo Award welcomes:
👨🎨 Professional photographers
📷 Amateur photographers
🎓 Student photographers
The competition is open to photographers from every corner of the globe.
You are encouraged to submit your most inspiring, innovative, and visually compelling photographs.
🏆 Competition Categories
The competition features two award categories:
🥇 Vincent van Gogh Photo Award
The main competition category for photographers seeking recognition for their photographic work.
🎓 Student Award
A dedicated category providing student photographers with an opportunity to showcase their creativity and compete for recognition.
The best three works in each category will receive monetary prizes.
🖼️ International Exhibition
Selected and nominated photographs will be presented to the public in Nuenen, Netherlands.
📅 Exhibition: 3 September – 24 September 2027
📍 Venue: Public park in the center of Nuenen
This gives selected photographers the opportunity to have their work seen by an international audience of:
📸 Fellow photographers
🖼️ Collectors
🎨 Art enthusiasts
🌍 Photography lovers
👥 Members of the public
🌍 International Recognition
The Vincent van Gogh Photo Award provides a platform for photographers to gain visibility beyond their local creative communities.
The competition brings together photographers from around the world and offers an opportunity for serious photography to be discovered and appreciated by an international audience.
The 2025 edition attracted more than 1,000 photographers from over 80 countries, demonstrating the competition's international reach.
💰 Submission Fees
Vincent van Gogh Photo Award
1 photo: €18
2 photos: €30
3 photos: €42
Student Award
1 photo: €10
2 photos: €15
3 photos: €20
🔥 Early Bird Discount
A 20% early-bird discount applies from:
📅 1 March 2026 – 30 September 2026
This can significantly reduce the cost of entering early.
🌟 Why Participate?
By entering the Vincent van Gogh Photo Award 2027, you have an opportunity to:
📸 Showcase your photography internationally
🏆 Compete for monetary prizes
🖼️ Have selected work exhibited publicly in Nuenen
🌍 Reach an international audience
👥 Connect with photographers and art enthusiasts
💡 Explore the creative possibilities of light
🚀 Gain recognition for your photographic vision
🎨 Inspired by Vincent van Gogh
The competition takes place in Nuenen, a location closely associated with Vincent van Gogh.
The theme encourages photographers to look at light with fresh eyes—exploring how illumination, shadow, atmosphere, and emotion can transform the way a story is communicated through photography.
⏰ Don't Miss the Deadline!
📌 Deadline: 30 March 2027
📢 Results: 3 September 2027
🖼️ Exhibition: 3–24 September 2027
🌍 Eligibility: Amateur & professional photographers worldwide
💰 Entry Fees: From €10
🔥 Early Bird: 20% discount until 30 September 2026
🚀 Ready to Capture the Spirit of Light?
Look at your surroundings differently. Explore the relationship between light, emotion, atmosphere, and storytelling, and submit your strongest photographs to the Vincent van Gogh Photo Award 2027.
Visit the official competition website for the complete theme description, rules, submission requirements, and further information.
How to apply