A Photography Exhibition for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026

Sport in Mind, the UK’s leading mental health sports charity, is inviting photographers to take part in a national exhibition exploring how movement can transform mental health.

Mental health doesn’t change through conversation alone, it changes when people move, try, show up, and take action.

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About the Exhibition

For Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, we’re showcasing portrait photography that captures the power of sport and physical activity as an act of action for mental health.

Selected works will be:
•     Exhibited publicly in Reading and London
•     Featured across Sport in Mind’s campaign communications, with full credit

This is a chance to use your craft to raise awareness, support mental health, and help more people access life‑changing services.

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What We’re Looking For

We want portraits that show what taking action feels like.
Themes we’re drawn to
•     Focus
•     Relief
•     Release
•     Pride
•     Connection
•     Calm

What to capture
•     Sport or physical activity in motion
•     Emotional moments during or after movement
•     Honest, human stories, not perfection or performance

Portraits can be environmental, contextual, or intimate.
Colour or black & white.
Your style, your voice 

Here's some examples to inspire you to take action:

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Who Can Take Part

This open call is for:
•     Photographers at any stage of their career
•     Professionals, emerging photographers, and students
•     Everyday participants and elite athletes
•     People of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, and lived experiences
•     Public figures who inspire change

If the work is thoughtful, human, and aligned with the brief, we want to see it.

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How to Submit Your Work
Click the link below to the submission form
Photographers will be asked to submit:
•     1–3 portrait images
•     A short description of the person or story behind the image
•     Confirmation of permission from the subject(s)

*Please ensure you have read the Terms and Conditions before you submit your entry

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Why Take Part?

By contributing your work, you will:

•     Raise awareness of the powerful impact sport can have on mental health
•     Support Sport in Mind’s life‑changing programmes
•     Help more people access movement‑based support
•     Be part of a national exhibition during Mental Health Awareness Week