Over the coming weeks, Head On Photo Festival's twelve selectors will work through entries from photographers across Australia and the world.

Successful applicants will be invited to exhibit as part of Head On Photo Festival 2026 - one submission will receive a $5,000 cash award.

#headonphoto

𝑆𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑂𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑠 by Belgian photojournalist Alain Schroeder was featured in Head On Photo Festival 2025 along the Bondi Beach Promenade. Fewer than 15,000 Sumatran orangutans remain in the wild, listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.

Image: Alain Schroeder

#headonphoto #headonphoto2025

Head On Photo Festival has celebrated music photography over many years, and we've gathered some of the stories behind the most iconic images in a new blog post on our website - see it here: headon.org.au/magazine/tur...

Photo: Masayoshi Sukita

#headonphoto

This is the final look back at Head On Photo Festival 2019, with Jennifer Greenburg’s 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 that inserts the artist into found photographs, disrupting how we read images and the histories they appear to represent.

Image credit: Jennifer Greenburg

#headonphoto #archive

Another image from the archive - Head On Photo Festival 2019.

Roger Grasas’ series 𝑀𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑏 examines the rapid transformation of Gulf landscapes, where oil and technology reshape the relationship between nature and the built environment.

Image credit: Roger Grasas

#headonphoto #archive

2019 was a particularly strong year for Head On Photo Festival, so we’re looking back at a selection of works starting with Miranda Schmitz’s series In Between - reflecting on coming of age as a universal experience.

Image credit: Miranda Schmitz

#headonphoto

Sixteen years ago, this was the program for the very first Head On Photo Festival in Sydney.

A lot has changed since then - but the commitment to exceptional photography that is free and accessible to all, hasn't.

Thank you to Tamara Voninski of Oculi for this image.

#headonphoto #photography

Submissions are closed and there is much to do between now and November - but when the Head On flags sweep down Bondi Road toward the Pavilion and the beachfront exhibitions, you'll know Head On Photo Festival has arrived.

Image credit: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM

#headonphoto #bondi #bondibeach

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝟒𝟖 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬.

Late submitters have 2 days grace on our original deadline. The new final deadline is midnight, Tues 31 March. No further extensions will be granted.

If you have not yet submitted, this is your last opportunity.

Image: Diana Nicolette Jeon

#headonphoto

Submissions for Head On Photo Festival 2026 close tonight. This is your final chance to submit your work for consideration.

Submit before midnight at headon.org.au/submissions

Image credit: Soumyendra Saha

#headonphoto #photographyfestival #closingsoon #callforentries #submitnow

Submissions for Head On Photo Festival 2026 close in 2 days.

Selected artists exhibit across some of Sydney's most iconic locations, attracting over 400,000 visits each year. Don't leave it too late. Submit your exhibition now at headon.org.au/submissions

Image credit: David Cossini

#headonphoto

Birgit Neiser's project about artisanal mining in Myanmar was exhibited along iconic Bondi Beach promenade as part of Head On Photo Festival 2025.

Could that be you in 2026?

Submissions close 29 March. Find out more at headon.org.au/submissions

Image credit: Birgit Neiser

#headonphoto

Only seven more days to go before submissions close for the Head On Photo Festival 2026. Selected artists exhibit at some of Sydney's most iconic locations, attractig over 400,000 visits each Festival.

Find out more and submit at headon.org.au/submissions

Image credit: Tace Stevens

#headonphoto

Gustavo Minas' series 𝐿𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝐶𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 is named from Polish philosopher Zygmunt Bauman's concept of 𝘓𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, an exploration of the fluid, ever-evolving nature of contemporary urban life - exhibited at Head On Photo Festival 2025 at
long Bondi Beach

Image credit: Gustavo Minas


#headonphoto

Exhibiting at Head On Photo Festival connects you with an audience of over 400,000 visitors across some of Sydney's most iconic locations.

Submissions for 2026 are open now. Find the details you need to enter at headon.org.au/submissions

Image: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM



#headonphoto #submitnow

House of Hope by Marjolein Busstra was another powerful exhibition at Head On Photo Festival 2025. It documented the life of Manar, a Palestinian woman living against the wall in an occupied West Bank town who founded the only Steiner school in Palestine.

Image: Marjolein Busstra

#headonphoto

Shown at Paddington Reservoir Gardens as part of Head On Photo Festival 2025, this powerful black and white series by Yannis Kontos follows Abu Bakarr Kargbo, who lost both arms in the 1999 rebel invasion of Freetown.

Image credit: Yannis Kontos

#headonphoto #documentaryphotography #blackandwhite

It has been a while, but our What's On page has been updated

Visit headon.org.au/whats-on for the most up-to-date photography listings around the country.

And don't forget to let us know if you have a photography event our community should know about.

Image credit: Yi Hui

#headonphoto

Our early bird pricing ends 8 March.

Stop waiting – now is the time to submit.

Full details and entry information: headon.org.au/submissions

#headonphoto #callforentries


Image credit: Katherine Jenkins

Final day in Perth.

Head out, explore, and see it in person.

Head On Photo Festival Perth 2026 | 1 Feb – 1 Mar
Multiple venues across Perth

Major sponsor: City of Perth @cityofperth @visitperth #cityofperth #visitperth #cityoflights #headonphoto


Image credit: Stephen Godfrey

Head On Foundation congratulates William Yang on receiving the Legacy Award at the Asia Pacific Arts Awards 2026.

Listen to William’s talk from the 2025 Head On Photo Festival here: headon.org.au/magazine/a-n...

#headonphoto

Join us for a special Head On After Party as we celebrate the success of our inaugural Perth edition.

Free tickets: events.humanitix.com/head-on-phot...

Major sponsor: @cityofperth @visitperth #cityofperth #visitperth #CityOfLight #CameraElectronic #headonphoto

Image credit: Max Mason-Hubers

Submissions are open for Head On Photo Festival 2026 in Sydney. Early bird fee before 8 March. Closes 11:59pm Sunday 29 March (Sydney time).

Visit - headon.org.au/submissions

#headonphoto

The call for entries for the 2026 Head On Photo Festival is opening soon.

Ready to put your work in front of new audiences? Start preparing your submissions and stay tuned. Submission details announced shortly.

#headonphoto #callforentries #photographyfestival #photographers #exhibitionopportunity

Not All Light Is Lost - a therapeutic photography exhibition curated by Brett Canét-Gibson

Showing at Bunker Gallery, Team Digital from 16 Fe – 16 Mar

Major sponsor: City of Perth
@cityofperth @visitperth #headonphoto #cityofperth #visitperth #cityoflight #cathartica

Image: Brett Canet-Gibson

In Akribie, Nina Papiorek brings a meticulous eye to street photography, creating carefully composed black-and-white images shaped by architectural lines, light and the presence of people in urban space.

At Yagan Square, William Street during the Festival.

Image: Nina Papiorek


#headonphoto

Explore the hidden world of insects, spiders, and fungi in a hands-on macro photography workshop with Bridgette Gower, running on Sunday 15 February from 9am–12pm at Kings Park Botanic Garden.

Bookings and details via headon.org.au/festival-perth

Image credit: Bridgette Gower

#headonphoto

Congratulations to Runner-up of the WA Life Photo Awards, Lidia D’Opera.

This dynamic image captures a fleeting moment of collective movement and energy, recognised as part of Head On Photo Festival Perth 2026 at Camera Electronic throughout the Festival.

Image credit: Lidia D’Opera

#headonphoto

Join photographers Ian and Erick Regnard for a behind-the-scenes artist talk on 𝑅𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 𝑥 𝐿𝑒𝑖𝑐𝑎. Co-presented by Camera Electronic, hosted at Fridays Studio on Thu 12 Feb, 6pm.

Free event. Details via: events.humanitix.com/artist-talk-...


Image: Ian & Erick Regnard

#headonphoto

Congratulations to the Youth Winner of the WA Life Photo Awards, Oliver Whitham. It’s a pleasure to recognise emerging photographic talent as part of Head On Photo Festival Perth 2026. See it at Camera Electronic throughout the Festival.

Image credit: Oliver Whitham

#headonphoto #WALifePhotoAwards