UPR BRUSSELS 2026
RESULTS
Urban Photo Race Brussels · A Day of Motion, Misdirection and Second Looks
On 6 June 2026, photographers went out into the streets of Brussels for the Urban Photo Race. A full day of photography, built on observation, storytelling, and seeing a familiar city in a new way. There were four themes: Trying too hard, In motion, Out of place, and Nothing is what it seems. Each theme asked not for one lucky photo, but for a series of three that build one idea.
The morning started with a quiet energy. Racers picked up their first theme and spread across the city, from the big squares in the centre to the small streets most visitors never see. Brussels gave them a lot in one day: hard morning light, a short rain shower, trams cutting through the crowds, and the small, strange moments that only show themselves to someone who is really looking.
Each theme asked for something different. "Trying too hard" was about restraint, and seeing effort that shows.
"In motion" followed the rhythm of a city that never stands still. "Out of place" looked for the detail that does not belong. And "Nothing is what it seems" asked photographers to look once, then look again, until the obvious turned into something else.
Then came the harder part. Over the next two weeks, the jury, Daniel Rachamim, Jeffrey De Keyser, and Kevin Scarlett, studied all the entries carefully before choosing the winners. The race showed again that creativity grows under pressure, when time is short, the light changes fast and the best frame is hiding in plain sight.
Congratulations to every photographer who walked the city with us and to the winners of UPR Brussels 2026. Thank you for making Brussels your canvas.
Best Photographer
#1 Anna Linmans
#2 Elitsa Andreeva
#3 Karen Velleman
Best Theme
Trying too hard · Anna Linmans
In motion · Esther Gerritsen
Out of place · Siebe Jacxsens
Nothing is what it seems · Anna Linmans
Jury's Favourite
Kevin Scarlett: Anna Linmans
Daniel Rachamim: Esther Gerritsen
Jeffrey De Keyser: Esther Gerritsen
Special Recognition
Anna Linmans
#1 Best Photographer
Anna Linmans
“I wanted to show how Brussels feels to me and I used the themes to illustrate that. I find the metro beautiful, ugly and a bit scary - all at the same time. So I spent quite some time underground, hopping from station to station.”
@bintjerobijn
#2 Best photographer
Elitsa Andreeva
“I am interested in spatial illusion, in reducing cityscapes & still life-s to abstraction, in defining a frame around a random situation up to a point when it is removed from its context thus allowing for metaphors of daily routines. I shoot images that are abstract paintings.”
@el_el_poochable
#3 Best photographer
Karen Velleman
“It truly fascinates me that we walked the same streets, yet saw a different city. I was drawn to fleeting moments, details that reveal something and fragments of things we usually pass by .”
@kunstkip.karen
Best Theme #1: “Trying too hard”
Anna Linmans
Best Theme #2: “In motion”
Esther Gerritsen
“Instead of photographing people in motion, I looked for a different kind of motion on the street. With these photos I wanted to show that motion lives not only in action, but also in shapes and lines.“
@headshot_nederland
Best Theme #3: “Out of place”
Siebe Jacxsens
“Inspired by Belgium's love for the surreal, this series celebrates the beauty of the unexpected encounters in familiar urban spaces.”
@studiosiebe
Best Theme #4: “Nothing is what it seems” by Anna Linmans
Jury's Favourite:
Daniel Rachamim, Jeffrey De Keyser
Theme #2: “In motion” by Esther Gerritsen
Jury's Favourite: KevinScarlett &
Special Recognition:
Theme #4: “Nothing is what it seems” by Anna Linmans
JURY IMPRESSIONS
It was a pleasure to review such a wide range of submissions. The triptychs covered many different approaches to street photography, from more classic street work to surreal, conceptual and even abstract images. It was great to see this diversity in both colour and black-and-white photography.
Some photographers managed to build triptychs that felt like complete pieces of work rather than three separate photographs. Creating a set of images that is both visually strong and connected by a clear idea within such a limited timeframe is not easy, and several entries achieved this very well.
At the same time, I came across a number of strong individual photographs that did not quite come together as a convincing triptych. In the end, the connection between the images played an important role in the judging process. The strongest entries were those where the three photographs reinforced one another and worked together as a whole.
Jeffrey De Keyser
It was very interesting to view everybody's entries, I had no idea what to expect and was nicely surprised. For me one or two really showed they were a step ahead of the crowd. On another day with a different set of circumstances it may have resulted differently. Well done everyone for taking part, I hope you learned something from the experience. It's an old saying but I will repeat it non the less, it's not the winning, it's the taking part that counts the most.
Kevin Scarlett
It was a great race, and overall the photos were excellent. There were many individual images that really stood out to me, and I especially enjoyed seeing how some photographers carried a consistent idea and style throughout their series. That consistency is what ultimately helped me choose my favorite entry.
Overall, the quality of the work was outstanding, and I had a lot of fun going through all the photos. It was clear that the participants put a lot of effort into their work and, most importantly, seemed to have a great time taking part. Thank you all for sharing your creativity and perspective! 😊
Daniel Rachamim
MEET YOUR JURY
Our jury is handpicked for their street photography expertise and deep knowledge of Brussels. They'll evaluate your work from multiple angles - composition, storytelling, series cohesion and authenticity.
This is a photography-active group: festival contributors, documentary photographers, competition veterans. They know what separates a good shot from a great series.
Kevin Scarlett
Kevin Scarlett is a English photographer and graphic designer based in Brussels. Street photography is second nature to Kevin. Active since 2010 on the avenues of his adopted hometown, practicing street photography before he’d even heard of the genre.
He has been consistently recognised in competitions and festivals dedicated to this medium for many years.
Interested in the uneveryday, oddballs, lost causes, myths and folklore, global or local. Taking pictures is his way of understanding the world we live in and finding beauty in the most unlikely of places.
Daniel Rachamim
I am a photographer working in portraiture, street photography, and NGO documentation. Trained in photography and cinema, I have collaborated with major cultural institutions and NGOs.
Based in Brussels, my first passion is street photography, which has been exhibited at the Museum of Art and History in Parc du Cinquantenaire, among other venues.
Jeffrey De Keyser
Jeffrey De Keyser (1984) is a Belgian street photographer and social science teacher based in Ghent.
His surreal, existential work explores the human condition through visual storytelling and has been exhibited and published internationally.
RACE PRIZES
Best photographer
Overall winners across all 4 themes.
1st Place:
+ €250 cash
+ SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG II | ART (E-mount or L-mount)
+ Photofacts Academy annual membership (€179 value)2nd Place:
+ €120
+ Albelli €100 Voucher3rd Place:
+ €75
+ WISPER workshop Street Photography: A Look at the City
Best Theme (4 awards):
Best interpretation of each challenge.
Winner per theme: €50
4 themes × €50 = €200 total
Jury's Choice (4 awards):
Each jury member selects their personal favorite series.
Jury's favorite: €35 (3 awards)
Jury's Special Recognition: Lomography Simple Use Camera
loaded with Classicolor 35 mm film (1 award)
3 jury picks = €105 total + camera/film
Prize money will be transferred to winners' bank accounts within one month of the official announcement.
All submissions are verified to ensure a fair and transparent process.
PRIZE PARTNERS
Brussels 2026 is supported by:
SIGMA
Built for photographers who demand precision on the street. Sigma's Art line lenses deliver exceptional sharpness and character in every frame. Main prize partner for UPR Brussels, offering the Best Photographer a Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG II Art lens. On race day, five Sigma BF cameras will be available for participants to shoot with.
WISPER
A Belgian arts organisation where people connect with art in freedom across six disciplines including photography. WISPER believes everyone with an artistic hunger or curiosity should feel at home and free to be themselves. The 3rd place Best Photographer wins a spot in their street photography workshop: A Look at the City.
Photofacts Academy
The leading Dutch language online photography platform with 125+ courses taught by the best photography educators from the Netherlands and Belgium. The Best Photographer wins an annual membership worth €179, giving full access to the entire course library for a full year.
Lomography
A global community and brand dedicated to analogue photography. From experimental cameras to vibrant colour films, Lomography celebrates the unpredictable, the creative and the unexpected. Jury's Special Recognition wins a Simple Use Camera loaded with Classicolor 35mm film. For those who shoot differently.
Albelli
Turns your best photos into something you can actually hold. Photo books, prints, canvases, calendars and more, all made to last. The 2nd place Best Photographer wins a €100 voucher to create something lasting from their race day work.
