Doha, 19 August 2026

Tasweer Photography Festival Qatar has announced the winners of its 2026 Project Award and Single Image Award, recognising 30 photographers whose work stood out among this year’s submissions.

The winners were announced during a World Photography Day gathering at Fire Station Cinema in Doha, attended by photographers, artists and members of Qatar’s creative community. The event was also streamed on Tasweer’s social media platforms.

Twenty photographers received the Single Image Award, while 10 were selected for the Project Award. Their works cover documentary photography, portraiture and personal storytelling, exploring themes including memory, identity, heritage, place, community and social change.

The winning works will be exhibited alongside the 2025 selections during the fourth edition of Tasweer Photo Festival in April 2027.

Speaking on the occasion, Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director of Tasweer Photography Festival, said the event highlighted the creativity and powerful narratives emerging from photographers across the region. He noted that photography continues to connect cultures, preserve lived experiences and encourage dialogue at a time of rapid social and technological change.

Al Obaidly said the 10 Project Award winners will each receive a QR30,000 grant, while the 20 Single Image Award winners will receive QR2,000 each. He added that the awards, launched with Tasweer in 2021, have continued to attract photographers from across the WANA region.

He explained that the Single Image Award is primarily aimed at younger photographers, while the Project Award supports more experienced and professional practitioners. The movement of photographers from one category to another, he said, reflects the organic development of the region’s photography community.

The Single Image Award winners are Abdullatif Alnaemi, Ahad Alshamari, Amna Marafi, Avijit Biswas, Bahaaeldin Elgamal, El Mehdi Kharbouch, Elsie Haddad, Hazim Elhag, Hisham Naeem, Maram Elkhashab, Mariam Hassan, Mohammed Aljassem, Mohammed Gharib, Najla Said, Noora Mohammed Al-Henzab, Rania Deabes, Reem Al-Badr, Satti, Yousef Fatehallah and Yousef Naser.

The Project Award winners are Amat Al-Rahman Alafory, Ebrahim Alipoor, Fatema Al-Mohalal Al-Doh, Haitham Nsais, Issam Chorrib, Laura Menassa, Mohammad Kotb, Sadiq Al-Harasi, Shahad Alqassmi and Wadah Omer.

The sixth annual Tasweer grant was judged by Dr Issam Nassar, Professor of History and Programme Head at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; photographer and curator Linda Al Khoury; and curator and arts advocate Raneen Bukhari.

Belgium’s Ambassador to Qatar, HE Eugène Crijns, who talked to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the event, praised the quality of the entries and described photography as both an art form and a powerful medium for social and political expression. He said the standard was so high that he wished more photographers could have been selected.

Prof Dr Issam Nassar also highlighted the strength of the submissions, while veteran photographer Khaled Balouchi said his involvement with Tasweer over the past year had conducted several workshops, which helped him engage with the festival and its growing photographic community.

At the end of the event, a photography-themed quiz for the audience added an engaging and lively touch to the programme, attracting enthusiastic participation from photography enthusiasts.

Established by Qatar Museums, Tasweer serves as a major platform for photography in the WANA region, supporting photographers through exhibitions, awards, commissions, workshops and collaborations while creating opportunities for artistic development and international exposure.