Flash is Back!

Flash is Portland Track's annual celebration of the athletes, moments, and artists of running. It began in 2021 as a gala and silent auction of running photography and has grown into an open competition that draws photographers from around the world, from track and road to trail, ultra, and cross country.

Each year, Flash brings the running and photography communities together for one night to see the year's best running images in print, celebrate the photographers behind them, and support the artists through an auction of their work.

When: Wednesday, December 16, 2026. Doors at 7pm.

Where: Portland Art Museum - Fields Sunken Ballroom

1119 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205

The Gala

7pm: Doors & Auction Opens

8pm: Awards

9pm: Raffle

9:30pm: Auction Closes

Attire: Portland Formal (aka whatever you feel good in!)

Local food and drinks are served throughout the evening.

Flash 2026 Gala Tickets - Coming Soon!

the competition

The Flash photography competition is free to enter and open to photographers everywhere. Entries are accepted in four categories, Action, Portrait, Abstract, and Landscape, from October 4 to November 4, 2026. One entry per person.

Each entry is judged by a panel of award-winning photographers, veteran photo editors, innovative creative directors and more with just 30 images being selected for the highly sought after Flash Shortlist.

Enter Now!

The auction

Shortlisted photographers can choose to have their print auctioned on gala night. Each auctioned image is a single, stamped Flash competition copy with a certificate of authenticity.

Bidding happens online but is open only to guests attending the gala in person at the Portland Art Museum's Sunken Ballroom, so there's nothing to ship. Opening bids start at $100, and the auction closes that night. Depending on each photographer's choice, proceeds go to the photographer, to Portland Track, or are split between them.