Huawei Launches 10th Edition of XMAGE Awards Mobile Photography Competition

Huawei has officially opened submissions for the 2026 XMAGE Awards, marking the tenth edition of this global mobile photography contest. The competition, which began on March 23, 2026, will accept entries until August 16, 2026. Originally established in 2017 under the name Next-Image, the annual event has grown into one of the world's largest mobile photography competitions, having received nearly six million submissions from participants in over 170 countries and regions. This year's theme, 'Now is Your Shot,' encourages photographers to capture unique perspectives and decisive moments. The competition continues its evolution from a technology-focused event into a global cultural movement centered on imagery. A new category called 'Active Moments' has been introduced for 2026, dedicated to sports, outdoor activities, and travel. This addition brings the total number of categories to nine, joining existing sections like 'A Heartwarming World' and 'Experimental Lab.' The selection process will follow the XMAGE 100 format, where a jury will choose 100 winning works. Each selected photographer will receive $1,500, with three photographers earning the title of Photographer of the Year and a prize of $10,000 each. Award-winning photographs are expected to be exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris by the end of the year. The judging panel comprises seven notable figures: Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Liu Heung Shing; Chen Xiaobo, a senior editor at Xinhua News Agency and imaging researcher; Florence Bourgeois, director of Paris Photo; Cao Ting, dean of the School of Visual Media and Communication at the Beijing Film Academy; Fabrice Laroche, editor-in-chief of Fisheye magazine; documentary photographer and filmmaker Dai Xianjing; and Li Changzhu, brand director of HUAWEI XMAGE. Participants can submit entries through multiple platforms, including the official competition website, the My HUAWEI app, VMALL, the HUAWEI community, Instagram, Tuchong, and 500px. Huawei smartphone users have access to a new one-click submission feature via their gallery through the My HUAWEI application.