Fotosommer Stuttgart — photo competition and 5 grants of €1,000 for an exhibition in Germany
The Fotosommer Stuttgart 2026 festival invites professional photographers to explore the theme of “Disorder” and present a series of works as part of an international exhibition in Stuttgart. The competition combines financial support with a real exhibition — the project immediately enters the public space.
This is an opportunity not just to receive a scholarship, but to enter the European festival context and present your work in dialogue with the city and institutions.
Exhibition format
The exhibition will run from 17 to 26 July 2026 in collaboration with galleries and cultural venues in Stuttgart.
Installation is scheduled to begin on 6 July 2026. Transport and installation details will be agreed individually with the selected artists.
The project must be presented as a series of 3–7 photographs. It is not only the individual image that is important, but also the integrity of the statement.
The organisers pay attention to the parameters of the exhibition space (ceiling height of approximately 2.45 m, varying wall lengths), so it is important to consider the scale and logical sequence of the works.
The theme of the competition
“Disorder”, is viewed not as chaos, but as a state of transition. A disruption in structure may signify a crisis, but it may also mark the beginning of a new system. Social changes, climatic processes, cultural shifts, personal transformations — all of these are points of instability that photography can make visible.
The organisers pose an important question:
How can the breakdown of structure be shown visually?
Can photography capture the moment between “no longer” and “not yet”?
The theme involves working with a series and developing a visual narrative.
Who it is suitable for
This competition is suitable for professional photographers working with series and exploring transitional states, social or environmental issues.
If you want to enter the European festival context, test a series in an exhibition format and receive support for production, this competition could be your step into the international arena.
What participants receive
Five artists will be selected. Each will receive a €1,000 artist fee and up to €1,000 in compensation for production and transport costs (upon submission of supporting documents).
In addition to the financial aspect, authors will receive an institutional exhibition platform: the project will be included in the programme of an international photo festival and presented in collaboration with galleries and cultural institutions in Stuttgart.
This format combines financial support with professional visibility and inclusion in the programme of an international photo festival.
The deadline for submitting applications is 13 April 2026.
