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The SIYU AWARD is an annual prize for young photographers from Switzerland and the successor to the vfg Young Talent Award for Photography, which was presented from 1996 to 2022.
Following the merger of the vfg with two other Swiss associations for professional photographers to form SIYU – professionelle fotografie schweiz in 2024, the established young talent award was ‘gently revamped’ and is now continued as the SIYU AWARD, receiving substantial support from SIYU and its individual sections.
The aim of the prize remains the same: to offer photographers at the start of their careers a platform to present their work and to network.
From this year onwards, we are able to distribute 100 per cent of the funds from the Alois Ottiger Grant (endowed by his siblings in memory of the Zug-based photographer and philanthropist, who passed away in 2025) amongst the ten finalists. This takes the form of three prizes (CHF 5,000, CHF 3,000 and CHF 2,000), a production grant of CHF 1,000 for each finalist, and a catalogue which, thanks to this funding, can be published every two years as a double catalogue.
In June 2026, artist and photographer Virginie Otth (Lausanne), curator and art historian Bassma El Adisey (Zurich) and photographer and filmmaker Gregor Brändli (Basel) selected the ten finalists from over 140 entries – including the three recipients of the Alois Ottiger Grant. We are delighted to reveal this still well-kept ‘secret’ on the evening of the opening and to present to the public the group exhibition featuring works by Marvin Estevez-Locatelli, Jonathan Labusch, Valeria Leiva, Debora Amiliay, Aude Mayer, Luz Belén Moreno, Mathilda Olmi, Thalles Piaget, Marco Serventi and Cedric Zellweger.
Photobastei Zurich, Sihlquai 125, 2nd floor
Exhibition runs until 8 November 2026.
Photobastei opening hours: Mon/Tue closed; Wed 12–18h, Thu–Sat 12–21h, Sun 12–18h.
https://siyu-award.ch