Winners of the 2026 Hevsel Cup Photography Competition Announced

The names of the winners in the Hevsel Cup photography competition, organized under the Diyarbakır-based Fotono21 and meeting with art lovers with its 2026 edition this year, have been clarified. This special event, held with intense participation across many different categories, succeeded in bringing together amateur and professional names devoted to the art of photography. The works, meticulously selected as a result of the detailed evaluations of the jury members, also received great appreciation from the art community. Along with the winning photographs, the other exhibited works succeeded in offering a visual feast to the audience. Beyond being just a competition, the event provided significant momentum to cultural mobility and artistic production in the region.

This year's organization of the competition carried deep meanings beyond being just an artistic competition; as the event was dedicated to the memory of the late Bedri Akçay, one of the very valuable and respected names in the photography world. Akçay's unique perspective behind the 镜头, and his lasting legacy regarding nature and human beings, were among the most important elements that shaped the fundamental spirit of this organization. Participants and art lovers remembered his unique contributions to the art of photography with respect and gratitude throughout the competition. In this context, the special reminders made and the memorial photographs exhibited both alleviated the longing for the master and became a source of inspiration for the new generation of photographers wishing to follow in his footsteps. Therefore, the 2026 Hevsel Cup became an event of loyalty and remembrance, taking its place among the unforgettable.

Diyarbakır, a city standing out with the historical and cultural riches of the Southeastern Anatolia Region, acts as a cultural bridge at the local and national levels by hosting such artistic organizations. Thanks to the efforts of innovative and visionary organizations like Fotono21, the city continues to position itself as one of the important centers of modern photography today. With the organization of the Hevsel Cup, the unique natural beauties, historical texture, and local social life of the region found the opportunity to be discovered by much wider audiences. The organizers, believing in the unifying and pacifying power of art, aimed to maximize intercultural interaction through the event. The countless frames taken in the streets of the city and the legendary Heval Gardens were of a nature that proved to the whole world how colorful and diverse a mosaic these lands possess.

The works that the competitors revealed as a result of fieldwork lasting for days revealed different and impressive branches of the art of photography. These works, spread across a wide range from nature photography to street life, portrait art to abstract conceptual approaches, pushed the boundaries of creativity heavily. The frames, in which the weather conditions and light were captured at the most precise moments, aroused admiration and deep aesthetic pleasure in the viewers. It was stated that the selection committee considered extremely challenging criteria such as composition, use of light, technical proficiency, and originality of the subject. As a result, the successful works that emerged were considered an indicator of how much modern Turkish photography has developed and that it will reach even better places in the future.

At the magnificent award ceremony held at the end of the organization, great enthusiasm was experienced as the winning names were presented their cups and various awards. The Fotono21 team stated that they believe in the critical role of art in societal development, promising to continue such cultural activities traditionally in the upcoming years. The supports provided by local administrations and non-governmental organizations in the city proved once again that they are essential for the survival of such large-scale and successful organizations. It was announced that, in order for the event to reach audiences and art lovers of all time, the winning photographs would be presented to the public in the near future with a comprehensive exhibition in the city. In this context, the 2026 Hevsel Cup left a very precious mark on the memory of society, not only for the contribution it provided to the professional careers of the winning names but also for the spreading of the art of photography to the masses.