ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has invited Pakistani citizens to participate in the ECO International Mobile Photography Festival 2026, providing photographers with an opportunity to showcase the country’s cultural heritage.
The festival, organised by the ECO Cultural Institute, is being held under the broader theme “Our Heritage”, with this year’s focus on “Passing on Heritage.”
Participants are encouraged to photograph cultural traditions, handicrafts, folk music, ceremonies, storytelling, poetry, traditional skills and other forms of heritage passed from one generation to another.
The competition is open to both amateur and professional photographers aged 15 years and above from the 10 member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Each participant can submit up to three photographs.
A key requirement is that entries must be captured using a mobile phone. DSLR, mirrorless and other dedicated cameras are not permitted.
AI-generated images are also prohibited, while limited basic editing such as cropping, brightness and contrast adjustments is allowed.
The deadline for submissions is September 12, 2026. Selected photographs will be considered for exhibition and inclusion in the festival catalogue.
