All competitions · Prize / award
Dummy Award 2026 (formerly Kassel Dummy Award)
The PhotoBookMuseum gGmbH · Cologne, Germany
International competition for unpublished photobook dummies, run by The PhotoBookMuseum Cologne with printer MAS Matbaa. Shortlist of around 50 tours European festivals; one book is fully published. Entry EUR 44.
Your eligibility
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Who can enter
- Location
- Open worldwide
- Age
- No age limit
- Career stage
- Any
- Mediums
- Photography
- Theme
- photobook
- Work
- Previously unexhibited work only
- Submission
- Online, then physical if shortlisted
- Also
- Unpublished photobook dummies only; self-published runs up to 100 copies or digital publications count as unpublished. Online registration plus physical dummy posted to Cologne.
About
The Dummy Award, until 2022 known as the Kassel Dummy Award, is organised since 2023 by The PhotoBookMuseum in Cologne in partnership with MAS Matbaa, Istanbul. Photographers, artists and designers working with photography submit unpublished book dummies (self-published editions up to 100 copies count as unpublished).
Around 48–50 shortlisted dummies are exhibited at festivals including Milan, Łódź, Cologne, Arles and Dublin. The PBM/MAS Prize winner has the book produced and published by MAS Matbaa with all costs covered; four further winners receive a 25% production grant. For 2026, online registration closed 15 February 2026 (extended from 31 January) and physical dummies had to reach Cologne by 3 March 2026. Entry fee EUR 44 per book.