Retoucher of the Year 2026 Invites Photographers to Submit Images
The competition for Retoucher of the Year has begun inviting photographers to provide source images for the 2026 event. The chosen photographs will act as official source material, enabling retouchers to work from a unified creative brief. There are five categories in the competition: Rising Star – Beauty, Supernova – Product, Luminist – Colour Grading, Alchemist – Composite, and Halo – Editorial Fashion. Each photographer selected will serve as a guest judge for their own image set, awarding an extra point to the retoucher whose edit aligns best with their vision. The submission period will end on September 6, 2026, and photographers can find briefs and submit their work on the competition's website.
Key facts
- Retoucher of the Year 2026 is holding an open call for photographers.
- Selected photos become official source images for the 2026 competition.
- All competitors in a category work from the same source image and creative brief.
- There are five categories: Rising Star – Beauty, Supernova – Product, Luminist – Colour Grading, Alchemist – Composite, and Halo – Editorial Fashion.
- Selected photographers are invited to serve as guest judges for their own image sets.
- The guest judge's chosen retoucher receives an extra point toward the final score.
- The open call closes on September 6, 2026.
- The Retouch League is the organization behind the competition.
Entities
Institutions
- The Retouch League