Spirit of the Carnival — Mojgan Arashvand

8th edition

Chelsea International Photography Competition

The Chelsea International Photography Competition provides winning participants an opportunity to exhibit at our New York gallery in the heart of Chelsea.

Mojgan Arashvand, Spirit of the Carnival · 7th edition selected artist

Open for Entries · Closes Nov 3, 2026

Amateur
$45 · 5 images
Professional
$55 · 5 images
Deadline
November 3, 2026
Exhibition
February 2027 · Chelsea, New York
Enter now

8th edition

AWARDS, PRIZES & BENEFITS

  • Collective Exhibition30 photographers

    30 photographers will be selected to exhibit in New York City at Agora Gallery, 530 West 25th Street, Chelsea — one of the world’s most recognized gallery districts.

  • Cash Prizes$500 Each · 5 Winners

    5 photographers will each receive a cash award of $500.

  • The Art of Light AwardBy Harlowe

    Presented by Harlowe — one photographer receives an Avant Max Creator Kit.

  • Online PromotionARTmine.com · 1 Year

    5 photographers will receive a year-long spotlight on ARTmine.com.

  • Social Media PromotionDuring Exhibition

    5 photographers awarded one week of promotion on our social media platforms.

  • Honorable Mention+ Free 9th CIPC Entry

    10 photographers receive an honorable mention — plus complimentary entry to the 9th CIPC.

The exhibition

Selected artists exhibit at Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York. Below: opening receptions from recent editions, each captioned with its own.

Full exhibition archive

Selected work

From the 7th edition

One work per selected artist. Open any one to move through them.

8th edition

Jury

Work is reviewed by a rotating panel of expert jurors, each representing a different field in the art world, ensuring a fair and balanced selection process.

  • Alison Morley

    Chair Emerita, Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Program · New York, United States

    Alison Morley is a photography coach, Photobook editor and educator.

    View full bio
  • Roy Schweiger

    Photographer and Director · New York, United States

    Roy Schweiger, a photographer and director based in New York, has an unwavering fascination with the human face.

    View full bio
  • Sandra M. Stevenson

    Deputy Director of Photography, The Washington Post · Washington, D.C., United States

    Sandra M.

    View full bio

Before you enter

Competition guidelines

Guidelines · FAQ · Terms and conditions

Testimonials

  • Shannon Charvat at the opening reception
    “It has always been a dream of mine to exhibit in New York City and have the chance to show so many people my work. I was really, really honored to be chosen. This is my first time exhibiting. So, I’m hoping more comes my way and I get more opportunities to hopefully show off so much more of my work.”

    Shannon CharvatUnited States · 7th CIPC Selected Artist

  • Rik Roos at the opening reception
    “Being able to display my work in New York at Agora Gallery was the icing on the cake. I was extremely excited to be part of this creative community and have the opportunity to exhibit my work in New York.”

    Rik RoosNetherlands · 7th CIPC Selected Artist

  • Kathryn Huang at the opening reception
    “Seeing my work in this space is really amazing. I’ve always wanted to exhibit my work in a physical medium, and I feel like this space is really beautiful. It really does capture everything that I want to present as an artist.”

    Kathryn HuangUnited States · 7th CIPC Selected Artist

  • Cheryl Miller at the opening reception
    “The Chelsea International Competition was such an exciting event! Being in this juried competition goes a long way in building confidence in your work as a photographer, gaining international exposure, meeting other artists and the opportunity to exhibit in the fabulous Agora Gallery! Thank you so much!”

    Cheryl MillerUnited States · 6th CIPC Selected Artist

Read more from our artists →

Enter the 8th edition

Open for Entries · Closes Nov 3, 2026

Our partners

  • Established in 1984 in Chelsea, Agora Gallery provides artists with opportunities to present their work to the New York art market and to collectors worldwide. The gallery contributes exhibition prizes and online promotion to CIPC selected artists.

    Visit Agora Gallery
  • AGI Fine Art was established by Agora Gallery to support artists who want to exhibit at leading art world events, including Art Miami Week and the NY Art Expo. Their experienced team is dedicated to providing seamless, high-quality exposure.

    Visit AGI Fine Art
  • ARTmine is an online fine art gallery for collectors, interior designers, and art consultants, operated by Agora Gallery. The platform features national and international contemporary artists and offers CIPC winners a year-long promotional spotlight.

    Visit ARTmine
  • White Space Chelsea is a 4,000 sq ft event venue at street level on West 25th Street in Chelsea. The space hosts pop-up exhibitions, fashion events, private parties, and corporate gatherings in the heart of New York's premier gallery district.

    Visit White Space Chelsea
  • Harlowe is a premium lighting brand for content creators and photographers. They proudly sponsor the CIPC with the Art of Light Award — an Avant Max Creator Kit presented to one outstanding photographer each year.

    Visit Harlowe