Photolympics 2026 Is Official: Four Categories, PHP 450,000 in Prizes, and One Night of Champions on November 15
Every year, one day in November turns a mall into an arena. Photographers march in behind their brands, a theme is revealed on stage, a clock starts, and by nine that night one of them is the Grand Champion. That is Photolympics, the biggest on-the-spot photography competition in the Philippines, and on September 21, 2026 CameraHaus gathered its partner brands in one room to unveil the 2026 edition. The date is November 15. The venue is the Music Hall at SM Mall of Asia. And this year, for the first time, there are four ways to win.
The launch
Before Photolympics goes public, it goes to the brands. Every camera, lens, lighting, and accessory partner that fields a team on the day sat down together for the reveal, hosted by CameraHaus Vice President Robenson Ong Lo. The deck ran through the new categories, the prizes, the road to November, and the day itself. There was trivia between sections, and a room full of people who compete against each other in November cheering each other's answers. That is the thing about Photolympics: the brands are rivals for one afternoon and a community the rest of the year.
The legacy
Photolympics has crowned a Grand Champion every year it has run, and the torch that opens the day is carried in by the people who have held it. Seven names, five brands, one title.
- Winston Cinco · Pentax
- Ed Tuazon · Fujifilm
- Chris Andres · Canon
- Jude Bantug · Nikon
- James Ona · Canon
- Emman Foronda · Nikon
- Angelo Criman · Nikon
Nikon's 2025 win was back to back, which under a new Photolympics tradition earns the brand first pick of booth location this year. Win the Grand Championship, choose first next season.
What is new: four categories
For years Photolympics has been one contest: the on-the-spot shoot. In 2026 it becomes four, and three of them are new.
The theme is revealed on stage. Shoot from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Every brand crowns a Brand Champion and two runners-up, then CameraHaus judges name the Grand Champion that night.
PHP 150,000Separate from the Regular OTS, built for students and judged among students. Twelve schools each send a School Champion, and all twelve are judged on November 15. Students can also enter the other three categories.
PHP 100,000PHP 70,000 to the student, PHP 30,000 to their school organization.
Regular OTS rules, same day, same theme, photo entries. Shot entirely on an action camera.
PHP 50,000Good video takes time to shoot and more time to edit, so this one is not on the day. The theme and mechanics are announced October 12, entries close November 12, and the Video Champion is crowned on November 15. Open to everyone, including the communities of lens, light, audio, drone, and accessory brands.
PHP 150,000Why a Collegiate Edition
If you were at CH Camp at Benilde in July, you were told an invitation was coming. This is it. CH Camp has spent the year bringing talks, photowalks, and gear floors to campuses, and the Collegiate Edition is where those campuses meet. Twelve schools, twelve champions, one stage, and a CH Camp wall behind the main stage to show where each of them came from.
The road to Photolympics
November 15 is the finish line. The road starts in October.
- October 12Video category theme announced. Entries open.
- October 24 · IntramurosPhotowalk Summit. A day of photowalks, talks, and brand activities inside the walls of Intramuros. The offline prequel to Photolympics.
- October 30 · OnlineRoad to Photolympics, an online photo contest open to anyone, anywhere, shared by CameraHaus and its partner communities on the same day.
- November 6Brand invitation videos go live. This year's theme: Carry the Torch.
- November 12Video category entries close.
- November 15 · Music Hall, SM Mall of AsiaPhotolympics 2026.
The day itself
If you have been to a Photolympics you know the shape of it. If you have not, this is what November 15 looks like.
- 6:30 AMCall time. On-site registration at the brand booths, with free taho.
- 8:30 AMWelcome Breakfast Ceremony for brand VIPs and special guests.
- 9:00 AMThe Parade of Teams. A marching band leads Team CameraHaus and every brand team through the mall to the Music Hall, where past Grand Champions pass the Photolympics torch.
- After the paradeCoach interviews, opening remarks from William Sia and Robenson Ong Lo, the group shot, the brand video invites, and the Cheer Dance and Team Chant Competition. Then the theme is revealed.
- 11:30 AM to 2:30 PMShooting proper. Small Olympic Games in front of the stage while the photographers are out.
- 1:00 to 7:00 PMBrand workshops, talks, live shoots, and launches on the main stage. Free ice cream at 3:00.
- 2:30 PMEntries due at the brand booths. Brand judging, then CameraHaus judging.
- 7:00 PMPeople's Choice voting, entertainment, and the raffle.
- 9:00 PMAnnouncement of winners.
What this means for you
Register at your brand's booth on the day. Regular OTS is open, and the theme stays secret until the stage.
Ask if your school is one of the twelve. If it is, your School Champion goes to the Music Hall. If it is not, you can still enter every other category.
Your category exists now. Same theme, same clock, your camera.
Watch for the theme on October 12. You get a month, not three hours.
Come for the parade, the workshops, the free taho and ice cream, and a night that ends with a champion.
Save the date
November 15, 2026. Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia. Registration details, the video theme, and the Photowalk Summit lineup are announced first on CameraHaus social media.
Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook Relive Photolympics 2025Frequently asked questions
When and where is Photolympics 2026?
Sunday, November 15, 2026 at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Call time is 6:30 AM and winners are announced at 9:00 PM.
What are the categories and prizes?
Regular OTS (PHP 150,000), Collegiate Edition (PHP 100,000, split PHP 70,000 to the student and PHP 30,000 to the school organization), Action Camera (PHP 50,000), and Video (PHP 150,000). PHP 450,000 in cash prizes in total.
Is the Video category shot on the day?
No. The Video theme is announced on October 12 and entries close on November 12. The Video Champion is announced on November 15.
Who can join the Collegiate Edition?
Students from the twelve participating schools, each of which sends one School Champion to the finals on November 15. Students may also enter the Regular OTS, Action Camera, and Video categories.
What is the Photowalk Summit?
The offline prequel to Photolympics on October 24 in Intramuros: photowalks, talks, and brand activities inside the Walled City.
See you on November 15
To every partner brand that showed up for the launch and will show up again in November with a team, a coach, a chant, and a booth: thank you. To the seven Grand Champions who will carry the torch in: thank you for setting the bar. And to everyone reading this and wondering whether to enter: the theme is a secret, the clock is three hours, and someone in that hall is going to be the eighth name on the list. It could be you.
See the launch on Instagram. Last year's recap: Photolympics 2025. More CameraHaus events: Events.