Marai Photo Grant: “My Reality. Now.” ends 15 January 2026

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Deadline: 15 January 2026. The Marai Photo Grant 2026 is here! We are inviting participants from across South Asia — including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Maldives, and Bhutan — to submit project proposals documenting how the value of water has impacted their local communities. Applications will be open from November 17th until January 15th.

Concept for the Marai Photo Grant: “My Reality. Now.”
2026 Theme: Water Scarcity
“My Reality. Now.” reflects Shah Marai’s belief in capturing the often overlooked, human side of life in Afghanistan amidst the prevailing narratives of violence and tragedy. During his tenure, Marai championed the importance of showcasing these rarely reported aspects of daily life, believing that significant stories exist beyond the headlines.

To further honour his legacy, we invite young photographers from South Asia to submit proposals for photo stories that document their urgent realities. The Marai Photo Grant 2026 seeks project proposals focusing on how water scarcity impacts daily life and communities to raise awareness of this critical issue. Apply now and let your vision be seen and heard. We look forward to seeing your work.

Prizes:

The Marai Photo Grant has two gender categories: “Female” and “Male.” Applicants must apply according to the gender stated in their passport. Winners in each category will receive prize money, Nikon gear, and AFP mentorship to bring their photo story projects to life. The winners’ photo story projects will then be showcased on AFP’s global news wire! Each category will also feature one runner-up.

Prizes:
Two winners (one from each gender category) will receive $3,000 USD and a Nikon Z6III with a NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S.
Two runners-up (one from each gender category) will receive a Nikon Z50II with a NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR.
Mentorship:
With their mentor, the Grant winners will define clear and achievable objectives for the program duration through regular one-on-one sessions for discussion and guidance. Grant winners will focus on their project and set challenging targets, aided by the mentor, who will provide regular reviews and constructive feedback. The photographer’s development will be tracked by the mentor. Through these discussions, the Grant winners will also be able to learn more about the news photography industry. At the end of the program, the mentor will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their project work.

Photo Contest Website: https://maraiphotoaward.com/index.html