Nikon has announced the opening of submissions for the 10th edition of the prestigious Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award – celebrating a decade of “amplifying female documentary photographers whose work shapes our understanding of the world”.
Facilitated by FotoDocument and supported by Nikon, the international award “empowers female photographers to produce documentary photo essays that explore significant social, environmental, economic and cultural issues, both locally and globally”, Nikon said.
The competition offers a £4,000 prize to support projects surfacing untold and under-reported stories, inspiring meaningful change.
The award honours the legacy of pioneering photographer Marilyn Stafford (1925–2023), recognising women whose work continues her vision of socially engaged, thoughtful photography.
Submissions will be reviewed by a distinguished international panel of experts, including acclaimed photojournalists Andrea Bruce (co-owner of NOOR Photo Agency, Nikon ambassador), Donna De Cesare (associate professor, University of Texas at Austin), Nina Emett (director of FotoDocument/POST, documentary photographer, curator), Neo Ntsoma (founder of Neo Ntsoma Productions), and Isabella Franceschini, winner of the 2024 Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award.
Submissions will close on 18 May 2026, with the winner announced on 30 June 2026.
To commemorate a decade of the award, a special celebration will take place from 17–20 September at POST, Brighton & Hove’s new centre for photography.
The programme will feature the 2026 Winner exhibition and Artist Talk, a retrospective, honouring the past 10 years of winners including a talk by 2022 winner Natalya Saprunova, the inaugural screening of the Marilyn Stafford film trailer by Ellie Emptage of Tara Films, as well as workshops and a panel discussion on women in documentary photography, led by the award’s international jurors.
To also mark this special year, Albumen Gallery will be exhibiting a display of works by Marilyn Stafford at Art Rotterdam from 27-29 March.
Ruby Nicholson, marketing director, Nikon Northern Europe, “At Nikon, we see ourselves as enablers of the world’s storytellers through our equipment. We are constantly in awe of the standard of work submitted to this award, and we’re truly proud to play a role in investing in the photographers who use their lens to illuminate vital issues and spark meaningful conversation.
“To all entrants, finalists and winners from the award’s conception in 2017 to this present 10th anniversary year: Thank you for sharing your impactful and inspiring work with the world – for moving us and inviting us to reconsider our perspectives through thoughtful storytelling – it’s a real testament to the power of documentary photography.
“Marilyn herself once said: ‘Talent is irrepressible and glass ceilings are there to be smashed.’ This award continues to smash them.”
The competition is free to enter and open to female photographers of any nationality, at any stage of their career – emerging, mid-career, or established.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have completed at least one documentary photo essay to demonstrate their experience.
Entrants should have already begun the project for which they are seeking funding and be able to show meaningful progress.
Submissions are open on the FotoDocument website.
