CELEBRATING 50 YEARS – SPIVA CENTER FOR THE ARTS OPENS CALL FOR PHOTOSPIVA 2026
JOPLIN, MO—George A. Spiva Center for the Arts has opened the call for entry for PhotoSpiva 2026. This is the national photographic competition & exhibition’s 50th year.
PhotoSpiva 2026 Key Dates
Entry Period | November 7, 2025 – January 5, 2026 @ 11:59 PM
Opening Reception & Awards | Friday, March 13, 2026 @ 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Exhibition | March 14 – May 2, 2026
Eligibility & Guidelines:
PhotoSpiva is open to any amateur or professional photographer in the United States or its territories. Submitted images must be the photographer’s own work, and it is the sole responsibility of the photographer to obtain written releases from any recognizable person(s) depicted. Two-dimensional work derived from any photographic process — traditional, digital, or photo-based mixed media — is eligible as long as the work is original and has never been exhibited at George A. Spiva Center for the Arts. Three–dimensional work is not eligible for this competition and exhibition.
How to Submit:
Submit work on CaFE! https://bit.ly/photospiva2026callforentry
CaFE submissions due by midnight January 5, 2026
The prospectus and all other details can be found on Spiva’s website at https://spivaarts.org/annual-exhibits/photospiva/
PhotoSpiva is a national photographic competition hosted annually by the Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, Missouri. Established in 1977, it stands as the longest-running competition of its kind in the United States – celebrating 50 years in 2026. As envisioned by its founders, PhotoSpiva seeks to “present an exhibition of excellence in photography, celebrating the scope and vigorous activity of today’s contemporary photographers.” Juried selections will be exhibited from March 14–May 2, 2026 in Spiva’s state-of-the-art galleries in the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex. Each year, a new juror— chosen from among the nation’s most respected photographers and curators—brings a fresh perspective to the exhibition.
We are honored to welcome renowned photographer Dan Winters as the 2026 juror. (Learn more about Dan at www.danwintersphoto.com).
PhotoSpiva is accompanied by signature programs including PhotoSpiva Kids, Spiva in Bloom, and the 1000 Words Poetry Event.
Spiva Center for the Arts is inside the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex 212 W. 7th Street | Joplin, M0 64801 | (417) 623-0183 | Open Tue-Sat, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.