EURAZEO ANNOUNCES THE WINNER OF THE FIRST EDITION OF THE EURAZEO PHOTO PRIZE

The 2026 Eurazeo Photo Prize grant, centred on the theme “Stories of Europe”, has been awarded to Vincent Catala. It recognizes his photographic project, selected from among 140 applications submitted by photographers of 20 different nationalities.

Meeting on 21 September, the Jury* reached its final decision after interviewing the five shortlisted candidates. Vincent Catala was named the winner of the 2026 Eurazeo Photo Prize for Balta Jūra – The White Sea.

“My photographic project will unfold along the coastline of the three Baltic States, from western Lithuania, bordering Kaliningrad, to eastern Estonia, on the Russian frontier. Stretching over several hundred kilometers, this coastal strip forms one of Europe’s regions most profoundly marked in recent history by repeated and abrupt shifts in sovereignty, borders and populations. These ruptures have left behind a layering of legacies and identities, now rekindled by rising tensions with Russia. My work will also be built around this idea of layering. The sea, whether visible or beyond the frame, will provide both its geographical unity and its psychological depth.”

The Eurazeo Photo Prize Grant builds on the legacy of the Eurazeo Photo Award. Established in 2010, the award has supported 15 winners to date. In its new format, the Eurazeo Photo Prize invites applications from professional photographers of all nationalities, whether based in France or internationally.

The Eurazeo Photo Prize is part of the Eurazeo Endowment Fund's commitment to education and access to culture. This new format enables applicants to submit an original project that they commit to developing and producing over a six-month period. Proposed projects should explore Europe through human stories and contemporary issues, from the local to the international level.

Each year, the Eurazeo Photo Prize will support one photographer by providing the resources needed to undertake a long-term photographic project and enhance its visibility through both artistic and strategic support.

As the winner of this inaugural edition of the grant, Vincent Catala will produce his project from October 2026 through spring 2027.

William Kadouch-Chassaing, Co-CEO and jury member, declared:

“For many years, Eurazeo has supported photography and the artists who offer a unique perspective on the world around us. This grant enables us to highlight artistic excellence and promote contemporary photography. This edition is particularly meaningful as it coincides with the bicentenary of photography and the launch of the Eurazeo Photo Prize grant. We are delighted to honour Vincent Catala, whose project offers a sensitive and deeply European perspective on the changes reshaping Europe. It perfectly reflects the ambition of this new grant: to support stories that help us better understand the world we live in.”

Jean-François Camp, Chair of the jury, declared:

“After carefully reviewing the submissions and selecting five outstanding photographers, the Eurazeo Photo Prize Grant Jury, following interviews with each finalist, selected Vincent Catala's project, whose distinctive perspective resonates particularly strongly with the theme of this call for projects. Spanning the three Baltic States, his project explores a part of Europe where histories, identities and contemporary transformations intersect. After spending more than a decade in Brazil, his return to Europe brings a unique photographic perspective that is both personal and deeply sensitive.”