CELEBRATING A DECADE OF VISUAL STORYTELLING!!
The most awaited time of the year is here again! We are thrilled to announce the DCP Grand Annual Photography & Film Festival 2026, scheduled for 9th, 10th & 11th January 2026 at the prestigious Bombay Art Society, Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai.
What began in 2015 as our first-ever Grand Annual Photography Exhibition has now blossomed into one of India’s most celebrated visual arts festivals. On its 11th year, the festival continues to grow bigger and more inspiring—bringing together photography, films, workshops, and conversations under one roof.
FEW IMPORTANT DATES / TIMES / VENUES TO REMEMBER
- Entry Opens on: 1st October 2025
- Last Date for Sending Entries: 31st October 2025
- Festival Dates: 9th, 10th & 11th January 2026
- Timings: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (all three days)
- Venue: Bombay Art Society, Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT DURING THIS FESTIVAL?
This year’s festival is designed as a celebration of creativity, passion, and storytelling. It will feature the Grand Annual Photography Exhibition and Awards 2026, where more than 250 extraordinary photographs will be showcased across two galleries. Alongside this, the Annual Film Festival and Film Awards 2026 will offer a platform for short films from filmmakers across genres and levels of expertise. Visitors can also look forward to the launch of the Limited Edition Coffee Table Book 2026, a collector’s piece featuring all exhibited images. Completing the experience will be a series of workshops and talk shows by industry stalwarts, making the festival an enriching journey for both participants and audiences.
THE GRAND ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION AND AWARDS 2026
The exhibition will present around 250 carefully curated and elegantly framed photographs, printed on Epson Enhanced Matte paper in 18” x 12” size. These images will reflect a variety of themes including wildlife, travel, underwater and marine life, landscapes and astro, portraits and fashion, as well as products and food.
How to participate?
Submissions are open w.e.f 1st October 2025. To participate, entrants are required to send low-resolution images in 3:2 or 2:3 aspect ratio (Not less than 1 MB and not more than 2 MB) as attachment to the email ID submissions@dcpexpeditions.com. This is only for screening and we dont want very big files right now. Hence donot send high resolution files through multiple mails / via WeTransfer or any other big files transfer systems at this point of time. A maximum of 10 entries per person will be accepted.
After evaluation, if your image/images are shortlisted, then the selected participants will be requested to submit high-resolution files (File Format – Tiff / File size – 18″ x 12″ at 300 dpi or 5400 pixels x 3600 pixels / Horizontal or Vertical / FileProfile – Adobe RGB / No borders / No Watermark). We will be printing the images and also we will be framing them to maintain the same quality standards all throughout.
Categories
(1) Wildlife (includes mammals, birds, macro)
(2) Travel (includes street, culture, heritage, festivals)
(3) Underwater and marine
(4) Landscapes and Astro
(5) Portraits and fashion
(6) Products
(7) Food
You can send your entries in any one or all of the categories upto a maximum of 10 entries per head putting all categories together. Please note 10 images in total and not 10 images per category.
If you are below 18 years of age, do mention the same while submitting your entries, so that your entries can compete in the ‘Young Photographer of the Year’ category.
Fees
There is no fee to submit entries. However, if an image is selected, a fee of Rs 1200 per photo will be charged towards framing. All other expenses, including printing, venue, mounting and promotions, will be taken care of by DCP and our sponsors.
Exhibitors are requested to collect their framed images at the end of the exhibition.
Last date of sending your entries is 31st October 2025.
Exhibition and awards
All shortlisted entries will not only be part of the exhibition but will also qualify as nominations for the DCP Grand Annual Photography Awards 2026. The winners will be honoured during the Grand Annual Award Ceremony on 11th January 2026, at the Bombay Art Society Auditorium from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
DCP ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL AND FILM AWARDS 2026
After its successful debut in 2025, the Annual Film Festival returns to celebrate the art of storytelling through short films. Entries are open to all, whether amateurs, professionals, or film clubs.
How to participate?
Participants may submit up to three entries per person or group, by sharing private links hosted on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo to submissions@dcpexpeditions.com. Films may be submitted under two categories: Wildlife and Non-Wildlife (fiction and non-fiction). Mobile phone films are welcome, provided they are mentioned as such at the time of submission. Entries should be in 16:9 aspect ratio, while 9:16 films will compete in the reels category. Original work, free of watermarks, and accompanied by English subtitles (if in another language) is mandatory.
Fee
Participation is free at the submission stage. If a film is selected, a fee of Rs 1200 per film will be charged towards screening and handling. Shortlisted films will be screened during the festival across both galleries, while the winning films will be showcased at a special screening on 11th January 2026 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Bombay Art Society Auditorium. Winners will be honoured at the Grand Annual Award Ceremony later the same day.
LAUNCH OF LIMITED EDITION COFFEE TABLE BOOK 2026
Like every year, the festival will also witness the launch of the DCP Coffee Table Book 2026. This limited edition volume will feature all the exhibited images, printed on 200 GSM photo-quality paper in a 39 x 29 cm format, with 200 full-colour pages and hardbound covers. The book will be available only on pre-order and will serve as a timeless keepsake for all participants and collectors.
Be a part of India’s Biggest Community Driven Festival of Visual Arts
The DCP Grand Annual Photography & Film Festival 2026 is more than just an exhibition—it is a movement that celebrates the spirit of photography, filmmaking, and creative collaboration. With extraordinary images, inspiring films, insightful talks, and the joy of community coming together, the festival promises to be one of the most remarkable events of the year.
We warmly invite you to participate and celebrate with us this January.
Team DCP Expeditions
WhatsApp: 8779885656
Email: submissions@dcpexpeditions.com
