Photographers from around the world are invited to submit entries for the 29th Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award, organised by Médicos del Mundo Spain.
This prestigious award honours compelling photography that highlights social inequalities, injustices, and human rights abuses—or the conditions that cause or confront them. The initiative promotes documentary photography and photojournalism as powerful tools to raise awareness, mobilise citizens, and combat injustice—what the organisers call “the world’s worst disease.”
Eligible Themes
Photographic works should explore one or more of the following themes:
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Health and public health access
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Natural disasters
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Humanitarian response
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International cooperation
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Social exclusion and human rights violations
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Armed conflict
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Vulnerable and at-risk groups
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Refugee and/or migrant populations
Award Details
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Prize: €6,000 cash award for the winner
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Travel & Accommodation: Médicos del Mundo will cover travel and lodging for two nights for finalists to attend the award ceremony and exhibition opening
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to:
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Photographers of any nationality, whether professional or amateur
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Individuals aged 18 and above
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Those whose work reflects a documentary or photojournalistic approach in line with the contest guidelines
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No entry fee is required to participate
Submission Guidelines
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Only one entry is allowed per participant.
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Entries can be submitted in Spanish or English.
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Each entry must include:
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Personal and contact details
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A series of 5 to 10 photographs, in colour or black and white, with captions.
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At least 50% of the images must have been taken between 2024 and 2025.
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Images must be in JPEG (.jpg) format, with a minimum of 3,000 pixels on the longest edge and a maximum file size of 3 MB per image.
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Images must be uploaded in the intended display order.
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Participants must be the original authors of all submitted photographs.
How to Submit
To submit your entry, click here.
Deadline: October 10, 2025
The 29th Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award, organized by Médicos del Mundo Spain, invites photographers from around the globe to submit entries. The award seeks to honor powerful photography that addresses social inequalities, human rights abuses, and injustices. It promotes using documentary photography and photojournalism to raise awareness and combat these issues.
Eligible themes for submission include health access, natural disasters, humanitarian response, international cooperation, social exclusion, armed conflict, vulnerable groups, and refugee or migrant populations. The winner will receive a prize of €6,000, and finalists will have travel and accommodation covered to attend the award ceremony.
The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers aged 18 and above whose work aligns with documentary or photojournalistic styles. No entry fee is required. Each participant can submit one entry in Spanish or English, consisting of 5 to 10 images. At least half of the images must be taken between 2024 and 2025, and specific technical specifications must be met.
Submissions must be original work, and entries are accepted until October 10, 2025. Participants can submit their entries through the provided link in the call for submissions.
