Open Call

With Triennial Expanded, the 9th Triennial of Photography Hamburg 2026 once again advocates for visibility of Hamburg’s independent photography scene. The programme aims to connect the international and local photography scene and foster new relationships. Hamburg-based photographers, artists and collectives, as well as art spaces and galleries from Hamburg, are invited to engage with the thematic framework of the 9th Triennial and respond artistically. Selected projects will receive funding and be included in the official festival programme. 

Triennial Expanded will take place during the Opening Days, from June 4 to 14, 2026. 

The 9th Triennial of Photography Hamburg 2026, titled Alliance, Infinity, Love – in the Face of the Other, celebrates the creative potential of Alliance, Infinity, and Love, while calling for responsibility towards the Other.

The festival seeks to amplify a broad spectrum of photographic voices —established and emerging, visible and overlooked— that challenge dominant narratives, reclaim forgotten perspectives, and foster dialogue across social and cultural divides.

Objective and Open Call 

The aim of Triennial Expanded is to highlight the local photography scene for a national and international audience during the Opening Days (June 4 to 14, 2026). The program is directed at Hamburg-based independent photographers, artists, curators, and collectives, as well as project spaces and galleries in Hamburg. We are looking for photographers and artists that have a lens-based practice and engage, explore, respond to and reflect on photography as a medium.  
 
Submitted projects should conceptually relate to the central themes of the 9th Triennial and interpret them in experimental, poetic, bold, or unexpected ways. In addition to photographic and lens-based works, interdisciplinary approaches and educational formats are also welcome—especially those specifically designed for children and young people. 

Conditions of Participation 

Particularly innovative and creative formats that broadly engage with the medium of photography and convincingly address the central themes may receive financial support and be included in the official programme.  

Another central selection criterion is the scheduling of projects during the Opening Days (June 4–14, 2026). Projects planned outside this timeframe can unfortunately not be considered for funding. 

Applications are open to: 

• Independent artists, photographers, curators, and collectives based in Hamburg, regardless of whether they already have an exhibition space of their own.

• Project spaces and galleries based in Hamburg that present artistic positions or implement discursive programs. 

To strengthen the local scene, applications from Hamburg-based photographers, artists, curators and collectives will be given preferential consideration. 

All further questions regarding the application process, as well as additional information, can be found here on the website and in the FAQs. Two online consultation sessions will be offered to address any questions regarding the funding criteria and application procedure. 

We are looking forward to your creative and innovative submissions! 

Funding Amount 

Selected projects will receive financial support of up to €5,000. The amount of funding depends on the scale of the project and the artists, curators, and/or collectives involved. 

Jury 

The projects for Triennial Expanded are selected by the artistic director Mark Sealy and a professional jury. The jury members include Bettina Freimann (Project Director of the 9th Triennial), Cale Garrido (Curator of the 9th Triennial), Stephanie Bunk (Curator and Board Member of the Freundeskreis der Photographie), Hanna Schneider (Head of Film and Photography, Hamburg Ministry of Culture and Media) and Joanna Warsza (City Curator Hamburg).

Submission period 

The submission period starts on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM and ends on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM (CEST). 

The team of the 9th Triennial offers two online consultation sessions: 

• On July 16, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM (CEST) 

• On July 24, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM (CEST) 

All applicants will be informed of the jury’s decision by email at the end of September 2025.  

The official announcement of the funded projects will be made in mid-October 2025 on the website as well as on the Instagram account and newsletter of the 9th Triennial. 

Required Documents 

All the information and materials listed below must be compiled into a single PDF document (max. 10 MB) and sent by email to The documents can be submitted in either English or German, with English preferred due to the international jury. 

1. General Information and Contact Details: 

• First name, last name 

• Gender (optional) 

• Date of birth 

• Address and proof of residence in Hamburg 

• Telephone number 

• Email address 

• Website and/or Instagram page (if available) 

2. Project Description: 

• Project title 

• Type of project 

• Duration 

• Venue (if already confirmed) 

• Short project proposal related to the theme of the 9th Triennial (max. 2,000 characters)  

• Images* 

• List of participating artists 

• Short biographies (max. 1,500 characters) 

* Please select images that convey the project as precisely as possible. All images must be included in the PDF. 

3. Calculation: 

• Cost breakdown 

• Requested funding amount 

• Planned own contribution and/or third-party funding 

The data provided is not intended for publication but is exclusively for processing by the team of the 9th Triennial of Photography Hamburg 2026 and for conducting the selection process by the jury. 

The privacy policy of the Triennial of Photography Hamburg applies, available here.