Johannesburg – The Sony World Photography Awards announced today the 2026 overall winners at a gala ceremony in London, bringing together leading figures in the contemporary photography world to honour this year’s winners and their achievements.
The prestigious Photographer of the Year 2026 title was awarded to Citlali Fabián for the series Bilha, Stories of my Sisters.
Citlali Fabián is a visual artist from the Yalalteca Indigenous community in Mexico, currently based in London, who uses photography to explore ways of addressing identity and its connections with territory, migration, and community bonds.
Fabián receives a $25 000 (USD) cash prize, a range of Sony Digital Imaging equipment, and the opportunity to present a solo showcase at the Sony World Photography Awards 2027 exhibition.
Fabián was selected from the 10 Professional competition category winners, who were announced at today’s ceremony, alongside the 2nd and 3rd place finalists in each category.
The evening’s programme additionally recognised the overall winners of the Awards’ Open, Student and Youth competitions.
Also honoured during the course of the evening was this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient, celebrated photographer Joel Meyerowitz.
Now in their 19th edition, the Sony World Photography Awards set the standard for international photography recognition; an unmissable moment in the global cultural calendar that continues to discover, celebrate, and elevate the photographers shaping our visual world.
Across this year’s competitions, over 430 000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted.
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King Suku (disputed) Fabrice Zombi Kavabioko, who came to Belgium to request the restitution of works of art and human remains belonging to the Suku people. -
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Phillip of Tanna a self taught volcano scientist lives at the base of Yasur volcano in his local village on Tanna. He collaborateds with international scientists to document information about Vanuatu’s volcanos. In this image he poses in a gifted lava suit on the ash plaine of Yasur -
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, september 2025. The k-pop group Blue Flame, established two years ago, inside the univerity gym during rehearsal. Bucheon University in Tashkent, a Korean branch campus, has become one of the main meeting points for this scene, bringing together young people from different backgrounds who share the same enthusiasm. -
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, september 2025. K-pop group KND, established 3 years ago. Sylas, 23, Isaac, 21, MonsterBoy, 21, Daviss, 20, Theo, 22. To pursue their dream, they defied their parents, who disapproved of their passion for K-pop. In Uzbekistan, the genre is often seen as a predominantly female domain, so they face bullying and online hate. They first met on TikTok, eventually formed a group, and are now about to record their debut album. -
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Tiffany Jones, from Texas, USA
“Our tour guide told us the Pope had died. I felt deeply sad. I knew he was very ill, but still, it’s a loss. I appreciated how much he did for people. He truly stood for us, the ordinary people.” -
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Rully Mallay, born in 1961 in Watampone (Sulawesi), is a trans rights activist and founder of the Waria Crisis Center (WCC) in Yogyakarta. -
Rini, born in 1969 in Tangerang, earns her income as a street musician. She regularly attends Ponpes Al-Fatah. -
“I arrived here a year ago. I had many problems in my life. I lived with my husband in Heseke. The comrades suggested I come here, and I decided to. The relationships among women are beautiful; I love everything here. I hope to be reborn here, with a clear mind, and to live in peace — here it’s possible.”
Amal in Jinwar, an eco-feminist village founded during the Syrian war as a refuge for women. The village, powered in part by solar energy, was built collectively and inaugurated in 2018.
Jinwar, Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava), Syria — September 2025 -
Şirîn Ehmed is a teacher at Jinwar and has lived in the village since its foundation in 2017.
Jinwar is a women-only village built for women and their children in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Its name comes from Kurdish: jin (woman) and war (space or home), meaning “women’s space.”
Jinwar, Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava), Syria — September 2025 -
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Reportage sur La ville de Lagos, Nigeria. -
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Katherine is a member of the Comandos de la Frontera, part of a mobile unit moving through the Putumayo rainforest that has around 50 to 60 people. -
Darwin, a young coca leaf picker (raspachín), rests on a mound of freshly harvested coca leaves gathered by the other workers before the leaves are chopped and processed in the rural community of Jordán Guisia, in Putumayo, Colombia. -
Daniel, a young coca leaf picker (raspachín), carries one of the sacks of coca leaves he gathered earlier in the day in the rural community of Jordán Guisia, in Putumayo, Colombia.
Each edition of the Awards brings into focus stories and images with profound resonance, offering an authoritative perspective on the ever-evolving art of photography.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition is on display at Somerset House, London from 17 April – 4 May, presenting over 300 prints and hundreds of images in digital displays, as well as a special presentation by Joel Meyerowitz.
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Citlali Fabián wins for her project Bilha, Stories of my Sisters, which blends carefully crafted photographic portraits with digital illustrations.
The series tells the stories of iconic women from Indigenous communities across Oaxaca, Mexico, whose advocacy work generates meaningful impact across a range of spheres: in law, linguistics, the arts and ecology, among others.
Conceived as a project to inspire young girls with positive role models, and created through close, sustained collaboration with the women in the photographs, the images in this series highlight their achievements as well as their lived experiences and motivations.
The digital drawings applied to the portraits comprise symbols and motifs that reflect the sitters’ personal trajectories and celebrate their cultural heritage.
Commenting on Citlali Fabián’s winning project, Monica Allende, Chair of the 2026 Professional jury says: ‘Through her work, Citlali Fabián reflects on urgent questions of visibility and representation.
In many Indigenous cultures, stories are told collectively, shaped by conversation and lived experience rather than by a single voice.
Fabián brings this spirit into her photographic practice by working closely with each woman she portrays.
Her subjects are not simply photographed; they are active participants in shaping how their stories are told.
Through this process, the artist highlights the presence, strength, and achievements of women who have often been overlooked, giving them the visibility and recognition they have long deserved within the wider social and cultural landscape.’
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY WINNERS
The winning series in the 2026 Professional competition have been selected by a panel of expert judges.
Each of the winning photographers displays an original approach to storytelling and outstanding technical ability.
All of the category winners receive Sony Digital Imaging equipment, and were invited to participate in Insights, a day of specialised sessions with industry experts in London.
To learn more about this year’s Professional winners and finalists, please visit worldphoto.org.
This year’s winners are:
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
WINNER: Joy Saha (Bangladesh) for Homes of Haor
Finalists: 2nd place André Tezza (Brazil); 3rd place Chen Liang (China Mainland)
CREATIVE
WINNER: Citlali Fabián (Mexico) for Bilha, Stories of My Sisters
Finalists: 2nd place Pablo Ramos (Mexico); 3rd place Ben Brooks (United Kingdom)
DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS
WINNER: Santiago Mesa (Colombia) for Under the Shadow of Coca
Finalists: 2nd place Colin Delfosse (Belgium); 3rd place Alexandre Bagdassarian (France)
ENVIRONMENT
WINNER: Isadora Romero (Ecuador) for Notes on How to Build a Forest
Finalists: 2nd place Matteo Trevisan (Italy); 3rd place Shane Hynan (Ireland)
LANDSCAPE
WINNER: Dafna Talmor (United Kingdom) for Constructed Landscapes
Finalists: 2nd place Andreas Secci (Germany), 3rd place Michael Blann (United Kingdom)
PERSPECTIVES
WINNER: Seungho Kim (Republic of Korea) for Sunny Side Up: A Portrait of the Most Average K-Parenting Today
Finalists: 2nd place Hayate Kurisu (Japan); 3rd place Fredrik Lerneryd (Sweden)
PORTRAITURE
WINNER: Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni (Italy) for The Faithful
Finalists: 2nd place Marisa Reichert (Germany); 3rd place Federico Borella (Italy)
SPORT
WINNER: Todd Antony (New Zealand) for Buzkashi
Finalists: 2nd place Morgan Otagburuagu (Nigeria); 3rd place Rob Van Thienen (Belgium)
STILL LIFE
WINNER: Vilma Taubo (Norway) for Talking Without Speaking
Finalists: 2nd place Gargi Sharma (India); 3rd place Daniele Vita (Italy)
WILDLIFE & NATURE
WINNER: Will Burrard-Lucas (United Kingdom) for Crossing Point
Finalists: 2nd place Anita Pouchard Serra (Argentina); 3rd place Wolfgang Duerr (Germany)
OPEN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The Open competition is a celebration of the photographic image in all its power; standout images are chosen for the way they distil a moment into something that resonates far beyond it.
The Open Photographer of the Year 2026 is Elle Leontiev (Australia), who receives a $5 000 (USD) cash prize and Sony Digital Imaging equipment.
Leontiev wins for The Barefoot Volcanologist, a striking portrait of Phillip Yamah, an internationally recognised, self-taught volcano scientist, standing atop a volcanic rock bomb on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.
Commenting on her win, Elle Leontiev says: “In 2018, I stood in a London gallery at the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and dreamed of being featured.
“Years later, my dream has become real.
“Seeing my work win has filled me with overwhelming gratitude and tears of joy.
“It’s a reminder that quiet dreams, nurtured and pursued with heart, can come true.”
STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The brief for this year’s Student competition was Together, inviting students of photography across the world to enter a series on the theme of togetherness, looking at the concept in its broadest sense.
The Student Photographer of the Year 2026 is Jubair Ahmed Arnob (Bangladesh, Counter Foto – A Center for Visual Arts).
His series The Place Where I Used To Play, visually narrates the changing landscape of the Green Model Town in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where urban development is altering daily life and the suburban topography.
Commenting on his win, Jubair Ahmed Arnob says: “Winning the Sony World Photography Award feels like a dream come true — years of passion, memories, and stories finally being seen and recognised.
“It fills me with gratitude, joy, and a renewed drive to keep capturing the world through my lens.”
YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The 2026 Youth competition invited all photographers aged 19 and under to respond to the Open Call and share their best images of the past year.
The Youth Photographer of the Year 2026 is Philip Kangas (Sweden, 16 years old).
He receives the award for Saving History from the Flames, a remarkable image of two firefighters as they carry an artwork out of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm during a fire, capturing the action and collaboration of the moment.
Commenting on his win, Philip Kangas says: “I was very surprised when I heard that I was a winner in this year’s Sony World Photography Awards.
“I am very happy, as it gives confirmation to my hard work.”
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
The prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2026 is awarded to acclaimed photographer Joel Meyerowitz.
Meyerowitz’s practice is marked by his observant eye, finely tuned to the currents and textures of life.
His work shows a fascination with life happening around him, and a remarkable instinct for framing images that are at once revealing and enigmatic, imbued with beauty and wit.
A selection of works by Meyerowitz, including excerpts from his series Europa (1966-1967) and two new artist videos, are on view at Somerset House as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition, offering an insight into the spirit and curiosity that has characterised his practice for the past six decades.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION CATEGORY WINNERS AND SHORTLIST
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
CREATIVE
DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS
Category Winner
Joy Saha, Bangladesh
2nd Place André Tezza, Brazil
3rd Place Chen Liang, China Mainland
Photographer of the Year
Citlali Fabián, Mexico
2nd Place Pablo Ramos, Mexico
3rd Place Ben Brooks, United Kingdom
Category Winner
Santiago Mesa, Colombia
2nd Place Colin Delfosse, Belgium
3rd Place Alexandre Bagdassarian, France
Shortlist
Cristopher Rogel Blanquet Chavez & Daniel Ochoa de Olza, Mexico
Farshid Rahimi Kalahroudi, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni, Italy
Mathieu Moindron, France
Peter Lipton, Netherlands
Stephan Zirwes, Germany
Tomasz Kawecki, Poland
Abbey Hepner, United States
Armin Graca, Bosnia And Herzegovina
Daniela Balestrin, Brazil
Persia Campbell, Mexico
Sarah Ketelaars, United Kingdom
Sergio Meléndez Cava, Peru
Zula Rabikowska, United Kingdom
Anne Mocaër, France
Dong Wei, China Mainland
Mário Cruz, Portugal
Sandile Ndlovu, South Africa
Seamus Murphy, Ireland
Ye Hyun Kim, Korea, Republic Of
Yris Pablo, Venezuela
ENVIRONMENT
LANDSCAPE
PERSPECTIVES
Category Winner
Isadora Romero, Ecuador
2nd Place Matteo Trevisan, Italy
3rd Place Shane Hynan, Ireland
Category Winner
Dafna Talmor, United Kingdom
2nd Place Andreas Secci, Germany
3rd Place Michael Blann, United Kingdom
Category Winner
Seungho Kim, Korea, Republic Of
2nd Place Hayate Kurisu, Japan
3rd Place Fredrik Lerneryd, Sweden
Shortlist
Borja Abargues, Spain
Eduardo Valenzuela, Ecuador
Hossein Sadri Nobarzad, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
Jacob Paley, United States
Mahé Elipe, France
Tommy Trenchard, United Kingdom
Yi-Hsuan Lin, Taiwan
Daniel Clavería, Chile
David Baxter III, United States
Florian Ruiz, France
Julia Mustonen-Dahlkvist, Sweden
Liam Man, United Kingdom
Nathalie Ericson, Sweden
Peter Franck, Germany
Brian Mena Laureano, Mexico
Camille Nivollet, France
Dara Petrova, Ukraine
Kanyuan Li, China Mainland
María Fernanda García Freire, Ecuador
Maria Fynsk Norup, Denmark
PORTRAITURE
SPORT
STILL LIFE
Category Winner
Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni, Italy
2nd Place Marisa Reichert, Germany
3rd Place Federico Borella, Italy
Category Winner
Todd Antony, New Zealand
2nd Place Morgan Otagburuagu, Nigeria
3rd Place Rob Van Thienen, Belgium
Category Winner
Vilma Taubo, Norway
2nd Place Gargi Sharma, India
3rd Place Daniele Vita, Italy
Shortlist
Caroline Gutman, United States
Ed Alcock, United Kingdom
Hans-Juergen Burkard, Germany
János Bődey, Hungary
Ron Timehin, United Kingdom
Shaohan Fang, China Mainland
Wei Kuai, China Mainland
Alain Schroeder, Belgium
Delfina Pignatiello, Argentina
Irina Werning, Argentina
Luis Henry Agudelo Cano, Colombia
Mariusz Śmiejek, Poland
Qiu Yan, China Mainland
Yi Xiao, China Mainland
Alessandro Gandolfi, Italy
Andrzej Pilichowski-Ragno, Poland
Carlos Espinosa, Ecuador
Francesco Amorosino, Italy
Md Harun Or Rashid, Bangladesh
Ruston Banal, Philippines
Yi-Hsuan Lin, Taiwan
WILDLIFE & NATURE
Category Winner
Will Burrard-Lucas, United Kingdom
2nd Place Anita Pouchard Serra, Argentina
3rd Place Wolfgang Duerr, Germany
Shortlist
Benjamin Pawlica, France
Fei Xin, China Mainland
Hugo Hebbe, France
James Ross, United Kingdom
Loren Elliott, United States
Marcus Westberg, Sweden
Sunita Mandal, United States
OPEN COMPETITION CATEGORY WINNERS AND SHORTLIST
ARCHITECTURE
CREATIVE
LANDSCAPE
Winner
Markus Naarttiijärvi, Sweden
Siavosh Ejlali, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
J Fritz Rumpf, United States
Shortlist
Carlo Yuen, Hong Kong
Catherine Wang, United States
Eng Tong Tan, Malaysia
Falkmar Ameringer, Austria
Hanjun Zhang, China Mainland
Hui Liang, China Mainland
Klaus Lenzen, Germany
Kong Zhongxiang, China Mainland
MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan, United States
Qingsheng Sun, China Mainland
Ramatis Haywanon da Costa, Brazil
Utshaho Gupta, United States
Abdulla AL-Mushaifri, Oman
Ali Zolghadri, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
Anne-Marie Etienne, France
Ben Mozafari, Canada
Cameron Wilcox, United States
Chen Zijun, China Mainland
Chukwudebelu Ojekwe, Nigeria
Claudia Behrensen, Argentina
Jay Tang, Netherlands
Maja Schubert, Germany
Marie-Line Dentler, France
Sai Ma, China Mainland
Shabnam Maleki, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
Toshio Ishido, Japan
Cong Lin, Canada
Dimitry Papkov, United States
Francisco Lima Saraiva, Brazil
Jassen Todorov, United States
Jim Guerard, United States
Kibong Nam, Korea, Republic Of
Lisa K. Kuhn, United States
Manuel Ortiga Castillo, Spain
Matteo Redaelli, Italy
Sascha Schernthaner, Austria
Scott Portelli, Australia
LIFESTYLE
MOTION
NATURAL WORLD & WILDLIFE
Winner
Vanta Coda III, United States
Franklin Littlefield, United States
Klaus Hellmich, Germany
Shortlist
Andreas Kanellopoulos, Greece
Anita Clark & Paul Wenham-Clarke, United Kingdom
Brian Arancibia, Chile
Camila de Medeiros Fantinel, Brazil
Charlie Clift, United Kingdom
Ethan Parker, United Kingdom
Hernan Jaramillo, Colombia
Mustafa Shorbaji, Egypt
Sebastian Szczepanowski, Poland
Tomek Kozlowski, Poland
Andre Magarao, Brazil
Axel Schmidtke, Germany
Christoph Oberschneider, Austria
Easelyn Pineda, Philippines
He Lu, China Mainland
John Winkopp, United States
Lee Jongkee, Korea, Republic Of
Lorea Hausheer, Switzerland
Martin Schmid, Austria
Oscar Seguel Mangiola, Chile
Takeru Marui, Japan
Vishal Naveen, India
Zdeněk Vošický, Czechia
Chung Cheong Wong, Singapore
Daichi Shimada, Japan
Elizabeth Yicheng Shen, Taiwan
Giacomo Marchione, Italy
Huajin Sun, China Mainland
Juan Jacobo Castillo Barrerra, Colombia
Kevin Shi, United States
Lisa Skelton, Australia
Samuel Round, United Kingdom
Scott Portelli, Australia
Stan Bouman, Netherlands
Tim Munsey, United Kingdom
Vishal Naveen, India
Wouter van Hofwegen, Netherlands
OBJECT
PORTRAITURE
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Winner
Open Photographer of the Year
Winner
Robby Ogilvie, United Kingdom
Elle Leontiev, Australia
Giulia Pissagroia, Italy
Shortlist
David Hoekje, United States
Glen Serbin, United States
Guglielmo Mangilli, Italy
Hanhoon Lee, Korea, Republic of
Jan Goeke, Germany
Leonel Costa, Angola
Lesley Ormrod, United Kingdom
Olivier Koestel, France
Sarah Barlow, United Kingdom
Soomin Park, Korea, Republic Of
Yuliy Vasilev, Bulgaria
Alejandra Valenzuela, Chile
Charlie Clift, United Kingdom
Duncan Elliott, United Kingdom
Jaylon Cooper, United States
Kalista Kemp, South Africa
Kamil Hendrych, Poland
Katarzyna Lakocy, Poland
Livier Miroslava Ultreras, Mexico
Luis Alejandro Dávila López, Spain
Maria Gutu, Moldova, Republic Of
Mondo Love, United Kingdom
Shuyang Zhuang, China Mainland
Tim Pearse, United Kingdom
Andre Gaspar, Portugal
Arun Saha, India
Bijoy Krishna Paul, Bangladesh
France Leclerc, United States
Kathryn Mussallem, Canada
Maciej Lubomski, Poland
Mariana Zilbershteyn, Australia
Mattia Massaiu, Italy
Otto David Ramírez Villa, Mexico
Paolo Dellepiane, Italy
Rodrigo Paredes, Argentina
Rudi Uran, Slovenia
TRAVEL
Winner
Megumi Murakami, Japan
Shortlist
ChenYu Hsieh, Taiwan
David Sykes, United Kingdom
Filip Hrebenda, Slovakia
Jet Huynh, Vietnam
John Edwards, United States
Liping Jiang, China Mainland
Marie-Line Dentler, France
Megan Tavarez, United States
Sawyer Alcázar-Hagen, United States
Swati Biswas Guha, India
STUDENT & YOUTH COMPETITIONS CATEGORY WINNERS AND SHORTLIST
STUDENT COMPETITION
YOUTH COMPETITION
Student Photographer of the Year
Jubair Ahmed Arnob, Bangladesh
Counter Foto – A Center for Visual Arts, Bangladesh
Youth Photographer of the Year
Philip Kangas, Sweden
Shortlist
Aakash Gulzar, India
MERC, University of Kashmir, India
Shortlist
Abdallah Islam, Egypt
Chanel Grobler, South Africa
Open Window Institute, South Africa
Ayden Feagle, United States
Ci Song, China Mainland
Drexel University, United States
Doğa Ergün, Türkiye
Julian Cabral, Argentina
Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina
Jane Mozzi, Argentina
Laura Anna Rossa, Belgium
LUCA School of Arts Sint Lukas Brussels, Belgium
Jeirin Anton, Sri Lanka
Matte Dixon, Australia
Griffith University, Australia
Keira Pereira, Canada
Teresa Halbreiter, Germany
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Riley Shickle, United Kingdom
Yulai Xu, China Mainland
University of the Arts London, United Kingdom
Ruohan Wang, China Mainland
Zifan Zhang, China Mainland
Danish School of Media and Journalism (DJMX), Denmark
Victor Reichert, France
The post Sony World Photography Awards Overall Winners 2026 appeared first on The Bulrushes.
