VIVO Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards 2026 — Season 4
The vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards is a national creative competition that celebrates smartphone photographers and visual storytellers who use images to interpret the world around them. Now in its fourth edition, it encourages participants to explore the theme “How Far Your Curiosity Can Take You?”
The 2026 edition expands beyond still photography for the first time by introducing a short-film category titled “My City.” Participants can tell stories about the people, places, sounds, routines and distinctive character of a city through a short video. The collaboration with National Geographic Creative Works brings an additional focus on visual storytelling and exploration.
VIVO Imagine Awards 2026: Smartphone Photography Contest Adds a New Short-Film Category
The fourth edition of the vivo Imagine Smartphone Photography Awards invites Indian creators to explore photography and short-form filmmaking, with six categories, a ₹5 lakh grand prize and a vivo X300 Ultra for each category winner. Here’s what participants need to know before entering.
Contest categories
The official website lists six categories for Season 4.
Nature & Landscape
Mountains, natural environments, landscapes and details of the outdoors
Night & Light
Night scenes, illuminated spaces and the creative use of light.
Motion
Movement, action and fleeting moments.
Street & Culture
Everyday life, cultural settings and spontaneous street scenes.
Portrait
People and the stories expressed through their faces, expressions and surroundings.
Short Film — “My City”
A film of up to 60 seconds capturing a city’s people, places, sounds, rituals and contradictions.
Entry requirements and prizes
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who can enter | Indian citizens aged 18 and above |
| Eligible device | A vivo smartphone; the work must be captured on a vivo device |
| Entry fee | No fee is stated in the terms and conditions |
| Photography formats | JPG, PNG or HEIC; the homepage specifies up to 10 MB per image |
| Short-film format | MP4 or MOV; maximum 60 seconds |
| Editing and AI | AI-generated imagery is prohibited; original files must be retained |
| Judging | Anonymous review by a professional jury |
| Grand prize | ₹5,00,000 |
| Category awards | A vivo X300 Ultra for each category winner, including the Grand Winner |
| Event location | No confirmed physical venue or event time was identified in the official information reviewed |
| Results | Expected in November 2026, according to the launch announcement |
Official links
- Official contest website and entry portal
- Terms and conditions
- About the awards
- Official vivo India announcement
The official announcement lists these media contacts for queries: Areeb Anwar (areeb.anwar@vivo.in) and Prachi Agrawal (prachi.agrawal@vivo.in).
