LCE Photographer of the Year 2026 Finalists Announced, Winners Revealed Live in Birmingham

Finalists for the LCE Photographer of the Year 2026 have been announced, with the winners set to be revealed live on the Creator Stage at The Photography & Video Show this Sunday, 15 March, between 14:00 and 14:45 at Hall 5, NEC Birmingham.

The live announcement is one of the centrepiece moments of TPVS 2026, which runs 14 to 17 March. Before the on-stage reveal, attendees can browse a dedicated exhibition of shortlisted images on the show floor — a genuine sneak preview of the work competing for the top prize before category winners and the overall Photographer of the Year are called out.

Among the shortlisted images already circulating digitally is a landscape entry where the photographer described their process: "There were no clouds in the sky, so I decided to climb to the middle of the opposite hill and find a small cave to make the scene more interesting. After a bit of searching, I managed to find one. Additionally, during sunset, the wind beautifully lifted the sand from the dunes beneath the peaks, adding a unique atmosphere to the photo." It's the kind of deliberate, problem-solving approach that the competition's four-judge panel is evaluating across criteria of composition, lighting, subject matter, and technical skill.

The prize fund sits at £10,000 in total, with the overall winner taking £2,500 in London Camera Exchange vouchers. The Emerging Talent award, aimed at photography students, carries a £500 prize for the winning student and a separate £500 for their university or course. A People's Choice Award is determined by public vote. Entries were free to enter, open to photographers aged 18 and over worldwide, though prizes are awarded to UK residents only.

Organised by London Camera Exchange, the competition spans 14 categories including Landscape, Portrait, Macro, Street, Birds, Creative, Travel, Events, and Emerging Talent. LCE launched the competition in 2024, and this year's edition carries extra weight for the retailer: founded in Guildford in 1956 and now employee-owned, the company is marking its 70th anniversary in 2026 across its 26 high-street stores.

The Photography & Video Show runs daily from 10:00 to 17:00 through Tuesday 17 March at Hall 5, NEC Birmingham. The shortlist and full finalist details are listed at poty.lcegroup.co.uk.