SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) is inviting photographers from St. Maarten and abroad to share their view of the island through the 2027 Events Calendar Photo Contest.
The annual contest, supported by main partner CC1, is now open for submissions, with photographs accepted until September 15th. The winning photo will be featured in the 2027 SHTA Calendar.
For more than a decade, the SHTA Events Calendar has brought together the island’s events, creativity and culture in an annual publication. The 2027 edition will mark a new chapter for the calendar, introducing a new design after 10 years while continuing to showcase what makes St. Maarten unique.
The photo contest is open to both residents and visitors, giving emerging and established photographers an opportunity to have their work featured through SHTA’s annual calendar. Together, the printed editions and digital platforms generated more than 60,000 views over 2026, offering photographers and, where applicable, their company names significant exposure.
The competition has attracted photographers from both Sint Maarten and abroad over the years. In 2024, local photographer Mara Bailey won with an image of men playing dominoes in front of a mural celebrating the island’s local dialect.
The following year, Husam El Aswad from the Netherlands took the title with a photograph combining an old Fort Amsterdam window with a modern cruise ship. Most recently, in 2026, American photographer Richard Santaga won with a photograph of the Black Pearl in Simpson Bay. As the contest also continues to grow, the artistic quality of the submissions has continued to develop over the years.
Photographs should capture the attractiveness and character of St. Maarten through its landscapes, cultural symbols or art. Participants may submit up to three images, and all photographs must be provided in high resolution suitable for print. Entries can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by September 15th.
The winner will receive a weekend at Seaview Beach Hotel on the Philipsburg Boardwalk, with additional prizes to be announced. Seaview has a long-standing relationship with the arts and continues to support creativity through its new Artist-in-Residence program.
By welcoming residents and visiting artists and incorporating their work throughout the historic property, the hotel brings together art, hospitality and the cultural character of St. Maarten.
Once published, the 2027 Events Calendar will be distributed throughout St. Maarten and shared with travel partners abroad. Thousands of printed copies are distributed locally and internationally, while the calendar also attracts tens of thousands of online views.
In addition to the photo contest, SHTA is asking companies, NGOs and Government entities with events planned for 2027 to submit their dates for inclusion in the calendar. Event dates should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by September 15th. Island residents can also use the same email address to reserve their free copy of the 2027 Events Calendar.
