HUAWEI spotlights the profound power of imagery with the XMAGE Awards 2026, its global photography competition that celebrates the ability of a single frame to capture emotion, truth, and perspective.
Open to passionate hobbyists and professional photographers using HUAWEI smartphones, including the latest HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, the competition invites participants to transform everyday moments into compelling visual stories.
XMAGE Awards 2026: The Power of Image
Since its launch, the XMAGE Awards has grown into one of HUAWEI’s premier platforms for smartphone photography excellence, empowering creators to push the limits of their craft and share their unique perspectives with the world. More than a competition, the XMAGE Awards is a celebration of visual storytelling, where diverse visions come together through the universal language of images.
Under this year’s theme, “Now Is Your Shot,” the competition challenges participants to share their authentic perspectives using impactful images. Creators can submit their entries across nine categories, including:
- So Far So Close
- Colour & Shade
- Good Night
- Active Moments
- Faces
- A Heartwarming World
- Experimental Lab
- Storyboard
- Action
Each category is set to unveil the vibrant kaleidoscope of human experience, capturing those profound, fleeting moments that demand to be remembered.
Awards and Recognition
From thousands of entries, 100 outstanding works will be selected as part of the prestigious XMAGE 100, representing the most powerful visual stories of the year. From the XMAGE 100, 97 winners will receive an XMAGE creator fund of USD1,500 along with an electronic certificate. Meanwhile, the three Grand Prize Winners will be awarded USD10,000 in XMAGE creator fund and a certificate. Winners will be recognized during the awarding ceremony in November at Paris’ Grand Palais, an international hub for art and fashion.
Rediscover the Beauty of the Philippines
This year, HUAWEI partnered with Department of Tourism Regional Offices IV-B, V, VII, and X to spotlight the remarkable, unfiltered beauty of the Philippines. Through this collaboration, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro becomes a tool to help Filipinos rediscover and share the country’s beauty in its most authentic form.
The initiative encourages creators to go beyond postcard-perfect shots and capture the Philippines as it truly is — alive with color, character, and emotion. From the majestic natural wonder of Mayon Volcano and the vibrant fields of Buwakan ni Alejandra, to the intricate handweaving traditions of Hablon in Cebu, each destination showcases a distinct story and identity unique to its region.
Powered by the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro
Through the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro’s True-to-Colour Camera, scenic and cultural treasures across the Philippines are preserved with remarkable fidelity, capturing scenes exactly as users see them. As day fades into night, the phone’s 50MP Ultra Lighting Camera allows users to capture nighttime scenes like the fire dance performances along Alona Beach with impressive depth and clarity.
Adding another layer of versatility, the device’s 48MP Ultra Lighting Telephoto Macro Camera enables users to frame intricate subjects from afar, including the delicate features of tarsiers at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. Meanwhile, the 40MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera helps ensure that expansive landscapes and immersive scenes remain fully within frame.
The smartphone’s IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance also allows it to withstand extreme elements, including temperatures from -20°C to 80°C and water depths of up to six meters. From the beauty of Mayon Volcano to underwater scenes at Panagsama Beach, the smartphone is designed to help users document experiences with ease.
HUAWEI also highlighted the phone’s AI Composition feature, which acts as a creative partner for users by helping refine composition and framing. The feature was showcased through scenes captured at the Sikyop Underground River.
How to Join the XMAGE Awards 2026
Submission of entries for the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2026 is open to photographers and hobbyists with a passion for visual storytelling. Entries captured using HUAWEI devices may be submitted through the official XMAGE Awards website until August 16, 2026.
Capture your best photos like a true professional with your best mate, the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro — available at PHP69,999. Save up to PHP5,000 off and get the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro at PHP 64,999 on Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, HUAWEI Online Store, and at HUAWEI Experience Stores nationwide.
For more information, visit HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2026.