The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has announced “Family” as the main theme for its Fifteenth season competition, which launched on 13 January 2026 and will run until 31 May 2026.

This season includes five main categories: Family, Sports Photography, General (Black & White and Colour), Portfolio (Story-Telling), and a new category titled Dreams Through AI. Submissions must be made through HIPA’s official website, www.hipa.ae, by 11:59 pm (UAE time) on 31 May 2026.

According to HIPA Secretary General Ali Bin Thalith, the Family theme aligns with the UAE leadership’s designation of 2026 as the “Year of the Family,” highlighting the role of family in social stability, cohesion and quality of life. The theme is open to broad interpretation, encouraging photographers to explore family both in its human sense and as a wider concept of connection and belonging.

The Sports Photography category continues to focus on capturing athletic performance and emotion, while the General category offers creative freedom across black and white and colour photography. The Portfolio category invites photographers to present a cohesive visual story through a series of images.

The newly introduced “Dreams Through AI” category combines traditional photography with artificial intelligence. Participants are required to submit an original photograph alongside an AI-generated image that represents a dream-like interpretation of the original work.

HIPA will also present its Photographer of the Year award, alongside special awards given by invitation only.