Skip to main content

Dummy Award on Tour – Now in Dublin, soon in Santiago de Chile – Applications for the Dummy Award 2026 start from 01. October 2025  to 31st of January  2026  –  Join our Newsletter and follow us on Instagram!   

*The Dummy Award is the international competition for the best unpublished photobook dummies of the year.

Registration for the 2026 Dummy Award opens 1st of October. Get your photobook dummy ready and send us your story! 


Read the general information, have a look at our Terms and Conditions or browse through our FAQ’s.

Dummy Award on Tour! 

Dummy Award 2025 in Arles 

After a wonderful event and presentation at the Rencontres d´Arles this summer the 2025 Dummy Award Shortlist is currently on show at Galerie Fotografic in Prague  (30.07–13.09) and made it’s debut in North America at Penumbra Foundation in NYC (20. 08–13.09) as part of their In the Fold Photobook Forum (10.09-13.09) during NY Printed Matters ArtBook Fair.

Penumbra Foundation put together a great lecture program including Dummy Award jury member Luis Weinstein from Chile and our old friend Lukas Birk from Fraglich Publishing on September 11th. Pass by if you are in town! 

Next stations on our world tour are Dublin in Ireland at the newly inaugurated International Centre for the Image / PhotoIreland before the dummies go to Bangkok and Santiago de Chile. Exact date and program to follow

Dummy Award 2025 in Prague

Presenting the Dummy Award 2025 shortlist


On March 8th 2025 our shortlist-jury met in Cologne to go through all 395 submitted dummies sent in from 48 countries.  In the end, 50 books were selected to make up the shortlist of the Dummy Award ’25. Congratulations to all the shortlisted artists!

World Tour News

currently…

→ 27.09 – 26.10.2025

International Centre for the Image / PhotoIreland, Dublin, Ireland

→ 02.010 – 17.10.2025

Universidad Diego Portales , Santiago, Chile

recently…

→ 30.07 – 13.09.2025

Galerie Fotografic, Prague , Czech Republic

→ 10.09 – 13.09.2025

Penumbra Foundation, New York, USA

upcoming…

Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Rencontres Arles – Pop-Up hosted by the Fotobus , Arles France → 01.07. – 6.07.2024
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic →  29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Galerie Fotografic, Prague, Czech Republic → 29.07 – 13.09.2025
Fotofestiwal, Łódź, Poland → 12.06.-22.06.2025
Fotofestiwal, Łódź, Poland → 12.06.-22.06.2025
Fotofestiwal, Łódź, Poland → 12.06.-22.06.2025
f2 Festival Dortmund, Germany → 12.06. – 15.06.2025
f2 Festival Dortmund, Germany → 12.06. – 15.06.2025
f2 Festival Dortmund, Germany → 12.06. – 15.06.2025
f2 Festival Dortmund, Germany → 12.06. – 15.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum Cologne, Germany → 16.05. – 10.06.2025
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia Milano, Italy → 05.05. – 23.05.2025
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia Milano, Italy → 05.05. – 23.05.2025
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia Milano, Italy → 05.05. – 23.05.2025
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia Milano, Italy → 05.05. – 23.05.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025
PUK#20 at Goethe Institute Sofia, Bulgaria → 03.04. – 06.04.2025

Announcing the Dummy Award 2024 winners

We are pleased to announce the 5 winners of the Dummy Award 2024. Out of 51 shortlisted books, the winning titles were selected, taking into account public votes from the 12 international venues where the shortlist has been exhibited and the votes from the 2024 shortlist jury. 

All 5 winning books will receive a 25% production grant for printing their books at MAS printing house, Istanbul and our full promotion support. 

“fever dream” by Victoria Jung wins the PBM/MAS Prize 2024!
It
will be produced and published by MAS Matbaa in cooperation with the PhotoBookMuseum later this year. Stay tuned!

Congratulations to the five artists whose photobooks stood out and convinced both the jury and the visitors!

Lucky

by Edgar Martinez, VE

youtoube video

fever dream

by Victoria Jung, DE

youtoube video

Hello Italy

by Arez Ghaderi, IR

youtoube video

New Farmer

by Bruce Eesly, DE

youtoube video

The Book of the Four Actions

by Colectivo Estética Unisex, MX/ CO

youtoube video

We are very happy to announce: 

“fever dream” by Victoria Jung wins the PBM/MAS Prize 2024!

Congratulations from the whole team at the Dummy Award!

“fever dream” will be produced and published by MAS Matbaa in cooperation with the PhotoBookMuseum later this year.
Stay tuned!

Info

23 x 30cm, 160pp
softcover, spiral bound

New Orleans has always been a place of extremes. At least since the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, people here have lived in an environment that is often dilapidated, always threatened, and in many ways defective. Perhaps that’s why those who don’t fit into the system of America find a home here. Queer travelers who have been through a lot in their young lives. Katrina has created gaps that offer shelter. Fueled by the warm spirit of the local population, a group of unique young people was able to flourish. A rebellious and unruly subculture has emerged, cobbling together its own enchanting cosmos of the here and now, where the lights are as bright as the shadows are dark.

Victoria Jung

Out Now!

Tropical Trauma Misery Tour

by Rafael Roncato

Jury Statement

“Intriguing and thought-provoking, the “Tropical Trauma Misery Tour” photobook of the Brazilian Rafael Roncato is a brilliant foray into the style of a detective novel, unfolding against the media spectacle surrounding Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro—The Myth. The focus on the pivotal year of 2018, marked by Bolsonaro’s stabbing during a polarized presidential campaign, sees the former president assuming a central role in an online political campaign where he maintains complete control over his narrative and self-presentation.

The book stands as a testament to creativity, audacity, and exceptional intelligence. I was thoroughly captivated by its enchanting and exotic style, adeptly exploring the intricate political narratives shaping our world. Through a captivating blend of creative elements and editorial tactics, this book emerges as a vital tool, encouraging individuals to widely disseminate its message while condemning the dangers associated with misinformation. The blending of reality becomes a mode of resistance, unfolding as a meta-drama within the realm of political farce. This magnificent piece serves as an ironic guide, decoding the intricacies of Brazilian politics and media manipulation. It not only visually captures the impact of events but also acts as a potent gauge of the blurred line between truth and political performance.

A must-see for those seeking a visual journey into the heart of contemporary Brazilian political discourse, and for other countries that are contagiously impacted by this powerful farce.”

—Ângela Berlinde

Book Info

Size: 10,8 x 16,9 cm
Pages: 306
softcover

Author: Rafael Roncato
Design: Mateus Acioli

Publisher: MASA / The PhotoBookMuseum / Lovely House
Year: 2024
Language: English
ISBN: 978-85-85039-18-9

Price: 25€ 

Stay Updated: 

Join our Newsletter 

follow our Instagram channel