8 HOURS >>> 4 CHECKPOINTS >>> 4 THEMES
UPR AMSTERDAM
12 SEPTEMBER 2026
Challenge your PERSPECTIVE 🇳🇱
Spend eight hours racing through Amsterdam with four themes and twelve photos.
Your perspective on a city millions think they know. Find the moments hiding in plain sight and shoot series that tell stories a jury can't ignore.
Rembrandt understood that seeing is choosing, light falling on what matters, the rest left in shadow. That is what a series asks of you. One image shows what you found. Three show how you see.
Your camera, your vision, your race. Tickets available.
Highlights RACE
Date race Saturday 12 September, 2026
CP1 (start) To be announced - Check UPR beachflag
Start at checkpoint is @ 11:00h
Finish at checkpoint is @ 19:00h
Submit photos next day @ 13:00h
4 checkpoints & 4 themes
Prizes: 3 Ă— Best Photographer, 4 Ă— Best Theme, 4 Ă— Jury's Choice
Over €1,000 in prizes
Brussels to Amsterdam, brace yourself to shoot in series.
UPR AMSTERDAM 2026
RESULTS
Urban Photo Race Amsterdam · A Day of Cracks, Half Smiles and Minds Elsewhere
On 12 September 2026, photographers went out into the streets of Amsterdam for the Urban Photo Race, a photo marathon through the city. A full day of photography, built on observation, storytelling, and seeing a familiar city in a new way. There were four themes: Falling apart, Almost happy, Not my problem, and Somewhere else. Each theme asked not for one lucky photo, but for a series of three that build one idea.
The day started at the first checkpoint. Racers picked up their first theme and spread across the city, from the busy markets and squares to the quiet streets and waterfronts most visitors never see. Amsterdam gave them a lot in one day: bikes on every street, bridges and canals, full terraces, and the small, strange moments that only show themselves to someone who is really looking.
Each theme asked for something different. "Falling apart" looked for things, and moments, that come undone. "Almost happy" was about a smile that does not fully arrive. "Not my problem" showed the small ways people look away. And "Somewhere else" asked photographers to find a mind, or a place, that is not quite here.
Then came the harder part. Over the following weeks, the jury, Bas Losekoot, Dougie Wallace, and Giedo van der Zwan, studied every series carefully before choosing the winners. "What stood out was how the photographers developed an idea and carried it through the work," says Dougie Wallace. The race showed again that a strong series grows from one idea, carried through three frames, even when time is short and the city keeps moving.
Congratulations to every photographer who walked the city with us and to the winners of UPR Amsterdam 2026. Thank you for making Amsterdam your canvas.
Best Photographer
#1 Bram Busink
#2 Niels van de Laar
#3 Mechteld V kessel
Best Theme
Falling apart · Bram Busink
Almost happy · Niels van de Laar
Not my problem · Jolien Roos
Somewhere else · Niels van de Laar
Jury's Favourite
Bas Losekoot: Bram Busink
Dougie Wallace: Bram Busink
Giedo van der Zwan: Bram Busink
Special Recognition
Gerald Peterson
#1 Best Photographer
Bram Busink
“After the themes were given, I started looking for an original approach. When I photograph, I look for stories with a human element. In general, I am really attracted to colour, light, and reflections. In the final selection, I found a harmony between all these elements.”
@brambusinkphotography
#3 Best photographer
Mechteld van Kessel
“My own free eye pics taken in the moment my way of making pictures”
@mechteldvankessel
Best Theme #1:
“Falling apart” by Bram Busink
Best Theme #2:
“Almost happy” by Niels van de Laar
Best Theme #3:
“Not my problem” by Jolien Roos
“I wandered through Amsterdam looking for things people had left behind, then waited for life to enter the frame. Someone passing by, looking away, carrying on. Sometimes it was patience, sometimes pure luck, like the cat who seemed to pose for the shot.”
@jolien_roos
Best Theme #4:
“Somewhere else” by Niels van de Laar
Jury's Favourite: Bas Losekoot, Dougie Wallace, Giedo van der Zwan
“Falling apart” by Bram Busink
special recognition:
“Falling apart” by Gerald Peterson
JURY IMPRESSIONS
The standard was really strong, with thoughtful responses to the themes and a real range of approaches. What stood out was how the photographers developed an idea and carried it through the work. The strongest entries had a clear concept, but left room for humour, ambiguity and unexpected details, giving the pictures something beyond their immediate visual appeal. Well done.
Dougie Wallace
Obviously, judging is a very subjective business. As a judge, you always have your personal preferences for a certain style, approach, or use of the medium. It is incredibly difficult to decide who is “the best photographer”. And honestly, I don’t think there is such a thing.
All the work I have seen here was made by someone with a passion for photography. And that passion is what connects me to every single one of them.
For me, it was a privilege to go through all the series and experience such a diversity of visions across the four themes.
The Urban Photo Race is unique and very different from any other competition I have judged. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but there seems to be a kind of “soul” to this event. And you can feel it in the work of every single participant.
It was a pleasure to be part of this years' edition!
Giedo van der Zwan
I have seen some very smart and original approaches to the themes and was happy that most of the photographers worked within coherent series, since this was not always the case the previous years. Some photographers really showed the ability to read urban space and how to translate it into strong visual narratives. I often recognised a great humanistic sensitivity to the street scenes and felt all people photographed, were treated with dignity and respect.
I photographed extensively in the streets of Amsterdam myself, and know the city by heart, and yet, these series created during the race were shot in some interesting locations I have never seen before. I like to congratulate the winning photographers, since I understand how difficult it is to respond quickly to such vague themes. It is evident that most photographers really enjoyed the day and I am happy to see that the street photography scene in Amsterdam is still alive!
Bas Losekoot
STARTING POINT
Museumplein, Amsterdam
Exact meeting point details sent 1 week before race
Look for: UPR beach flag
Arrive between 10:00 -11:00h for registration.
First theme revealed at 11:00h.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Public transport strongly recommended.
MEET YOUR JURY
Three photographers will read your work:
Dougie Wallace, Bas Losekoot. and Giedo van der Zwan.
They look at more than single images. Composition and authenticity matter, but what they really read is the series: how three frames hold together, build one idea, and tell a story none of them could tell alone.
Dougie Wallace
Dougie Wallace is a Scottish photographer whose work explores the humour, contradictions and rituals of everyday life. Working primarily on long-term documentary projects, he is drawn to places where people perform versions of themselves, whether on city streets, at festivals, in nightlife districts or among travelling communities.
His projects have taken him from the taxi drivers of Mumbai and the luxury tourists of Knightsbridge to football supporters, music fans and street life across Europe, Asia and South America. His photographs have been exhibited internationally and published in several books by Dewi Lewis.
Known for his vivid colour, close observation and often irreverent eye, Wallace's work sits somewhere between social documentary and visual anthropology.
Bas Losekoot
Bas Losekoot (1979, Amsterdam) has been capturing human behaviour in urban environments for many years. His focus is on the small sociological moments of daily public life, exploring emotions familiar to everyone when navigating the street, such as anonymity, xenophobia and loneliness. His style can be described as street photography combined with cinematic lighting. For four years he shot his series Stadsbeeld for Het Parool, every week in the streets of Amsterdam.
Giedo van der Zwan
Giedo van der Zwan's street photographs have a direct physicality. Giedo works close to his subjects, with wide-angle framing and flash, so people, clothing, animals, and bursts of color seem to press right up against the surface of the image. He combines the chaos and energy of candid street life with clean, balanced compositions.
Next to being a photographer, Giedo is also workshop leader and founder of ShootLikeaLocal, a collective of inspiring local photographer guides.
HOW IT WORKS
1. Register & Pay
Buy your ticket online. Race day details sent 1 week before, with a final reminder 2 days before the event.
2. ARRIVE & CHECK IN
Registration opens 10:00h. Pick up your race card, check in via the UPR app, meet fellow photographers. First theme revealed at 11:00h - race starts.
3. RACE THE CITY
Checkpoints are sequenced 1 → 2 → 3 → 4. You must visit them in order.
Each checkpoint has a time window. You must arrive within that window to check in, receive the next theme, and get the next checkpoint location.
You have until 19:00h to complete all 4 checkpoints. You'll shoot 12 photos total (3 per theme). Submission deadline is next day at 13:00h.
Plan your time and route between checkpoints carefully - managing the time windows is part of the challenge.
4. SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS
Submit all 12 photos directly through the UPR web app (no download required) before 13:00h the next day.
5. JURY EVALUATION
The jury reviews all submissions. Judged on theme interpretation, series cohesion and execution.
6. WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The moment you've been waiting for.
Winners revealed approximately 5 weeks after the race on UPR website and Instagram.
Winners receive:
Prize money and partner prizes
Spotlight feature across UPR platforms
Recognition in European street photography circles
The entire community gets to see the winning series. For more questions visit FAQ page.
RACE DAY TIMELINE
10:00h - 11:00h
└─ Checkpoint 1 Registration + Theme 1 revealed
13:00h-14:00h
└─ Checkpoint 2 Check in + Theme 2 and 3 revealed
15:00h -16:00h
└─ Checkpoint 3 Check in + Theme 4 revealed
18:00h -19:00h
└─ Checkpoint 4 Final check in
NEXT DAY - 13:00h
└─ Photo submission deadline. Submit your 12 photos on the race webpage.
~5 Weeks later
└─ Winners announced UPR website + Instagram
Questions about the race? Visit our FAQ page.
RACE PRIZES
Over €1,000 in prizes, spread across more photographers. Marquee awards are won on merit. The jury awards go to photographers who have not already won, so recognition reaches more of the field.
Best photographer
#1
€250 cash
Angelbird PRO storage card, a top-tier professional memory card matched to your camera
Saal Digital €100 print voucher
Capture One - All in One Subscription (1 Year)
Best photographer
#2
€150 cash
Albelli €100 voucher
Saal Digital €100 print voucher
Best photographer
#3
€100 cash
Photofacts Academy annual membership (1 Year)
Saal Digital €100 print voucher
Jury's Favourite (3 awards)
Each juror picks one favourite series. These go to photographers who have not won a cash prize, so more people get recognised.
One UPR ticket for a 2027 UPR race of your choice.
3x One UPR ticket for 2027
Best Theme (4 awards)
The strongest series for each theme.
€50 each + Angelbird USB-C cable
4 themes × €50 = €200 total
Jury's Special Recognition (1 award)
One series picked out by the jury, from photographers who have not won yet.
Capture One - All in One Subscription (1 Year)
One UPR ticket for a 2027 UPR race of your choice.
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
Amsterdam 2026 is supported by:
ANGELBIRD
Based at the foot of the Austrian Alps, Angelbird designs and engineers high-performance storage media and purpose-built workflow solutions for professional film, photography, and audio production. Driven by real-world needs and trusted by industry leaders like ARRI, Atomos & RED, Angelbird combines precision craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, pro-level customer support, and uncompromising reliability to empower every stage of the creative process, giving creators the confidence and freedom to stay focused on their vision – without limits.
SAAL
Saal Digital is the trusted partner of professional photographers and photography enthusiasts who demand the highest quality. Specialising in premium photo products, from fine art prints and high-quality photo books to personalised wall art in HD, they turn special moments into real masterpieces that last a lifetime. With state-of-the-art printing, premium materials and great attention to detail, Saal Digital delivers exceptional results for professionals and anyone who wants to preserve their memories in the best possible way.
Photofacts Academy
Photofacts is a leading online photography education platform packed with masterclasses, Dutch courses, and practical tutorials designed to level up your skills. Whether you’re trying to master tricky low-light exposures or nail composition on the fly, Photofacts provides the knowledge you need to capture the city like a pro.
Capture One
Is the professional choice for photographers worldwide, known for fast, reliable tethered shooting, true-to-life color processing, and precision editing tools built for the way photographers actually work.
Albelli
Freedom on the streets is digital, but art belongs in print. Albelli is a premier photo printing specialist that turns your fleeting race-day captures into beautiful, tangible photo books and high-end wall art. They are the final step in your creative process—helping you bring your best urban frames off your memory card and onto your walls.
Oedipus
Born in Amsterdam in 2012, Oedipus Brewing was built on friendship, curiosity and a refusal to follow the rules. We brew beers that blend craft with imagination, tradition with surprise. From our brewery and Craft Space in Amsterdam-Noord, we keep pushing flavor in unexpected directions. Crafted for the curious.
Ready to race through Amsterdam?
Tickets available 12 July, 2026
