10^th Singapore Young Photographer Award

The 10^th Edition of the Singapore Young Photographer Award (SYPA) is back!

Calling all aspiring photographers and lens-based artists aged 13 to 25!

SYPA is your stage to showcase creativity, technical finesse, and bold perspectives. Whether you’re a local or an international youth living in Singapore, this is your chance to shine.

From street photography to portraiture and conceptual work, we want to see your strongest, most compelling images. SYPA celebrates the fresh viewpoints and visual storytelling that only young photographers can bring.

This year’s theme, “Echoes of Home,” invites you to explore what home means to you, your community, and the world around you. Create a cohesive body of work responding to the theme and stand a chance to win over $8,000 worth of prizes!

But SYPA isn’t just about the prizes. It’s about amplifying your voice, elevating your craft, and taking your first steps into the photography scene. And here’s the best part: Finalists of the 10th SYPA will be showcased alongside the 10th Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF).

Need a camera? Don’t worry! Cameras are available for rent from our Official Equipment Rental House, Camera Rental Centre (CRC) at a discount of 30% (capped at $100 savings) for all registered participants of SYPA 2026. Check out our FAQ to find out how to rent from them!

So what are you waiting for?
Grab your camera, start shooting, and let your vision be seen.

Deadline
31^st May 2026,
Sunday, 23:59, GMT+8 (SGT)

Submit Here

Image Credits
From “Some Other Place” by Quince Pan
(9^th SYPA 2024 Youth Category Finalist)

WORLDS WITHIN

Home is more than a place. It is a memory, a sound, a touch, a ritual, just like an echo that follows us wherever we go. For this year’s theme, “Echoes of Home” invites photographers to explore the subtle, powerful ways home shapes our identities and lingers in our lives.

We encourage submissions that interpret the theme broadly and creatively. Your “home” might be the house you grew up in, the landscape that shaped you, a cultural tradition passed through generations, or the people who create a sense of belonging. Home may be a feeling rediscovered in unexpected places, or an absence that resonates just as deeply as presence.

“Echoes of Home” seeks images that resonate, photographs that capture the quiet poetry of the familiar or reveal the unexpected ways home follows us into the world. We encourage authenticity, sensitivity, and imagination as you interpret this deeply personal theme.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Interested Applicants are required to submit the following, as part of their application via Judgify here, by 31^st May 2026 (Sunday), 2359hrs:

JUNIORS (13 to 18 y/o)
- Portfolio of 5 images that relates to the theme
- A caption of 150 words (max) about your portfolio
YOUTHS (19 to 25 y/o)
- Photo Series of 7-10 images that relates to the theme
- A caption of 200 words (max) about your Photo Series
PHOTO CLUB (13 to 25 y/o)
- Name of Photo Club/Group/Collective
- Affiliation to School/Institution (if applicable)
- Applicants must have submitted an entry in the Junior or Youth category to be eligible for this category.
- Note: Applicants are to indicate in the form of their intent to participate in this category.

JUNIOR CATEGORY JURY PANEL

Pending

YOUTH CATEGORY JURY PANEL

Pending

JURY SELECTION PROCESS

All submissions will be reviewed by the DECK team and shortlisted candidates will be reviewed by our esteemed guest judges ranging from past winners and current professionals from varying backgrounds in the photography industry. Do keep a look out here to find out who our jury panellists are!

PRIZES

1ST
PRIZE
(X1)

MERIT
PRIZE
(X2)

JUNIOR

$1,000 Cash Prize
Nikon Z50II Camera
NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR
$200 Camera Rental Centre Voucher
Certificate

$500 Cash Prize
Nikon Z30II Camera
NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR
$100 Camera Rental Centre Voucher
Certificate

YOUTH

$2,000 Cash Prize
Nikon Z50II Camera
NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR
$300 Camera Rental Centre Voucher
Certificate

$1,500 Cash Prize
Nikon Z30II Camera
NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR
$100 Camera Rental Centre Voucher
Certificate

BEST PHOTO CLUB

$1,000 Cash Prize
Nikon Z30II Camera
NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR

TIMELINE

01^st January 2026 Launch of SYPA Submission Website

Jan - May 2026 Outreach Programmes

Workshop 01: Photography Techniques
Workshop 02: Telling a Visual Story

31^st May 2026, Sunday, 2359hrs GMT+8 (Singapore Time) Deadline for Open Call

June - July 2026 Judging Process by Jury

August 2026 Release of results for finalists

September 2026 Announcement of Winners

October 2026 Exhibition of Finalist Works at 10^th SIPF (Singapore International Photography Festival)

*The timelines detailed are indicative and may deviate.

ABOUT

Founded by City Developments Limited (CDL) and championed by the late Mr. Kwek Leng Joo, the Singapore Young Photographer Award (SYPA) nurtures creativity, imagination, and a keen sense of artistry. It serves as a catalyst for renewing our photographic community, infusing it with young talent and adding vibrancy to Singapore’s ecosystem. Above all, photography is a powerful medium for communication, self-expression, self-efficacy, and self-esteem, all of which are crucial for youth character building.

To date, SYPA remains the only national platform for young photographers aged 13–25 years old and has run successfully for 8 different editions, inspiring and supporting numerous young talents and artists in their photographic journeys, significantly contributing to the Singaporean art scene.

PARTNERS

PRESENTED BY

ORGANISED BY

YOUTH AMBASSADOR

OFFICIAL EQUIPMENT
RENTAL HOUSE

TERMS & CONDITIONS

By registering for an account and/or submitting an application for CDL SYPA, you acknowledge and agree:

You are between the ages of 13 and 25 years old at any time during the year of 2026.
You are submitting a valid entry before 31st May 2026, Sunday GMT+8 2359hrs.
You are willing to receive email updates and communications from DECK and its appointed agents. You may unsubscribe from these emails at any time.
Your personal data can be used by DECK and its appointed agents for the purposes of SYPA and DECK related activities.
You have read and agree to the terms and conditions of 10^th SYPA as set by DECK.

By registering for an account and/or submitting an application for SYPA, you grant DECK and its appointed agents the right to use your work free of charge, royalty-free with non-exclusive rights to publish, reproduce, make available the submitted images in any manner and media, including but not limited to the right to publish, adapt, distribute, copy, display and translate across all media worldwide. All published work will be appropriately tagged and credited.

These terms and conditions may be modified from time to time and DECK reserves the right to change these terms at any time, without prior notice and at its sole discretion.

Any changes and updates will be posted on the website linked here containing the full terms and conditions.

FAQs

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Q: Is there an age limit for the competition?

A: The competition is for youths aged between 13 and 25 years old. It is split into three categories:

Junior for applicants aged 13 and 18 years old (at any time during the year 2026); Youth for applicants aged between 19 and 25 years old (at any time during the year 2026). Only the Photo Club category is open to applicants aged between 13 and 25 years old (at any time during the year 2026).

Q: If I only turn 13 in December 2026, am I still allowed to join SYPA 2026?

A: Yes! As long as you are within the age range of 13 and 25 at any time during the year 2026, do feel free to join SYPA 2026.

Q: How can I enter the competition?

A: Please go to judgify.me/sypa26 to submit your application. Do note that there are two forms to submit once you enter the link: The registration form where you register for the event. The submission form where you submit your images for judges review.

Q: How will the works be shortlisted?

A: All submissions will first be reviewed and selected by the DECK team to create a longlist. This longlist will then be further deliberated by the SYPA 2026 Jury Panel, who will decide on the finalists for each category and select the award winners.

Q: How will I know if I have been shortlisted?

A: Shortlisted applicants will receive an email from DECK detailing the important dates to note. It is advisable to be available and present for the awards ceremony, if not, we will reach out to you arrange a stand-in for the awards ceremony.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

Q: How many images do I need to submit?

A: Junior category applicants are to submit a portfolio of 5 to 7 images relating to the theme with a maximum of 150 words caption describing the portfolio of images and how it relates to the theme.

Youth category applicants are to submit a photo series of 7 to 10 images relating to the theme with a maximum of 200 words caption for the entire series.

For Photo Club category applicants, your submission for the Junior and Youth category will be your submission for this category. You will be required to tag your Photo Club and affiliated school if applicable.

Q: In what format should my images be submitted in?

A: Please submit your images in JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg) format. The file size should not be more than 8MB.

Q: Must I use a DSLR to capture the images?

A: No, it is not necessary to use a camera to capture the images. Do feel free to use any medium to capture the images such as film, digital, drones or phone cameras. Do make sure that your images are of at least 2,000px on the longest side, a maximum of 8MB and be in JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg) format for submission.

Q: What is the difference between a “portfolio of images” and a “photo series”?

A: In the context of SYPA 2026, a “portfolio of images” consists of images that correspond to the theme of the competition but do not necessarily need to be linked to each other. A “photo series” is a collection of images that are connected to each other. This could take the form of a photo story or conceptual work where there is a central subject, idea, or question that runs through the entire series, corresponding to the competition's theme.