Arbaeen Int’l Award calls for submission

The 11th edition of the prestigious Arbaeen International Award calls for submissions.

The secretariat of the event has announced that the deadline for submissions is December 1, while the awarding and closing ceremonies are planned for January 5, 2026.

The event is set to be held, celebrating one of the most significant spiritual and cultural events in the Islamic world. 

This global competition encompasses a wide range of categories, including Photography, Film, Travelogue, Personal Reflections, Virtual Media, Poetry, Books, and Arbaeen Songs.

The award aims to honor and promote the deep spiritual connection and cultural expressions associated with Arbaeen, the annual pilgrimage that draws millions of believers from around the world to the holy city of Karbala to pay homage to Imam Hussein (AS). 

Established by Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) in 2014, the International Arbaeen Award was initially conceived to showcase the grandeur of the vast religious gathering through visual and literary arts.

Recognizing the event’s spiritual significance and its potential to foster unity among Muslims globally, the organization launched the transnational competition to introduce and promote the cultural and religious dimensions of Arbaeen to an international audience. 

Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of the Imam and his loyal companions on Ashura.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians embark on a journey to the Iraqi city of Karbala to observe the holy day of Arbaeen at the holy shrines of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the Shia, and his brother, Hazrat Abbas (AS).