Don’t miss the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2026, now in its 19th year, offering an unparalleled platform to propel your photographic journey. This completely free competition welcomes photographers of all levels and styles. With a grand prize of $25,000, global exhibition opportunities (including a potential solo show!), cutting-edge Sony gear, and significant international recognition, this is your chance to gain invaluable exposure and celebrate your unique creative perspective. Whether you’re a budding talent or an established pro, the Sony World Photography Awards could be the key to unlocking new pathways in your career.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2026, now in its 19th year, stands as a premier global competition dedicated to opening new pathways and enhancing the careers of photographers worldwide.
Remarkably, entry remains completely free and is accessible to all photographers, regardless of their experience level or the devices they use. The top accolades include a $25,000 prize, participation in the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards exhibitions in London and globally, a dedicated solo exhibition in the following year, cutting-edge Sony Digital Imaging equipment, inclusion in the annual book, and extensive international recognition through press and media coverage, among other benefits.
Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned professional, this competition offers a platform to celebrate your individual creative vision and unique perspective.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2026, is made up of four competitions, with their own categories and deadlines:
Professional Competition, closes 13 January 2026
- Free to enter
- Open to anyone submitting a series of 5 to 10 images per category
- Ten diverse categories to enter
- Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place photographers plus up to 7 shortlisted photographers per category
- One overall winner receives the Photographer of the Year title and is rewarded with a solo presentation of their work as part of the Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition the following year.
Categories:
- Architecture & Design
- Creative
- Documentary Projects
- Environment
- Landscape
- Wildlife & Nature
- Still Life
- Sport
The Professional competition is judged on a body of work. Photographers must submit a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of ten (10) images and all submissions must be accompanied by a series description. Please note that if you enter the Professional competition you cannot enter the Open or Youth competitions.
Open Competition, closes 6 January 2026:
- Free to enter and open to anyone submitting single images taken in 2025
- Enter up to three single images for free
- Ten diverse categories to enter
- Awards for category winners plus up to 15 shortlisted photographers per category
- One overall winner receives the Open Photographer of the Year title
Student Competition, closes 28 November 2025:
- Free to enter for anyone aged from 18 to 30 years-old undertaking a photography programme
- Students answer a set brief with 5 to 10 images
- Up to 10 shortlisted photographers
- One overall winner receives the Student Photographer of the Year title
Category: Together
Togetherness can take many meanings, shapes and forms. It is a subject rich for exploration. Throughout history photographers have looked at life in communities in both the human and the natural world, considering the ways that individuals exist as members of a group.
For this year’s brief, we invite students to explore the theme of togetherness from any angle they choose, looking at the concept in its broadest sense. From intimate stories of camaraderie, to big and small communities working towards shared goals, to places and spaces that bring us together, and patterns of connection in the natural world – we invite you to consider the innate need for sociality in all living beings.
Your images can be taken on any device, shot in any style, and approached from any angle you feel is best. While creative responses are encouraged, photographers must stick to the brief
Youth Competition, closes 6 January 2026:
- Open to photographers aged 19 and under
- Photographers can enter up to three images relating to a theme
- Judges will select a shortlist of up to 10 photographers
- Shortlist compete for Youth Photographer of the Year title
- Overall winner receives Youth Photographer of the Year title and Sony digital imaging kit
Open Call: Show us your best images!
Enter your favourite photographs taken in 2025. Submit up to three of your striking single images from the past year and share them with the judges. All photographic styles, genres and approaches are welcome – enter your top standout images you think will catch the judge’s eye and imagination.
Professional Competition: Prizes for Overall Winner, Category Winner, Second Place, Third Place & Shortlist include:
- $25,000 (USD)
- Sony digital imaging equipment
- Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London
- Additional day of networking opportunities, one-to-one sessions with industry experts and portfolio reviews
- Certificate
- Trophy
- Global press exposure
- Copy of the book
- Inclusion in book
- Inclusion in exhibition
- Promoted on website
- Promoted to online community
- Solo display at London exhibition the following year
Open Competition: Prizes for Overall Winner, Category Winner & Shortlist include:
- $5,000 (USD)
- Sony digital imaging equipment
- Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London
- Certificate
- Trophy
- Global press exposure
- Copy of the book
- Inclusion in book
- Inclusion in exhibition
- Promoted on WPO’s website
- Promoted to WPO’s online community
Student Competition: Prizes for Overall winner Overall winner’s university / institution Shortlist include:
- Sony digital imaging equipment
- Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London
- Certificate
- Trophy
- Global press exposure
- Copy of the book
- Inclusion in book
- Inclusion in exhibition
- Promoted on WPO’s website
- Promoted to WPO’s online community
Youth Competition: Prizes for Overall winner Shortlist – up to 9
- Sony digital imaging equipment
- Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London
- Certificate
- Trophy
- Global press exposure
- Copy of the book
- Inclusion in book
- Inclusion in exhibition
- Promoted on our website
- Promoted to our online community
The World Photography Organisation recognises You, the author of the image, retain full ownership of the copyright in each Entry.
7.2 All Entrants understand that any image submitted to the competition may be used by the World Photography Organisation, and its Event Partners, for marketing and promotional purposes of You the author and the event only, for a maximum of three years after the announcement in April 2026. You hereby grant the World Photography Organisation a non-exclusive, irrevocable licence in each Entry throughout the world for three years in all media for any use connected to the promotion of You the author and the Sony World Photography Awards event and/or competition, including, but not limited too:
(a) judging the Competition
(b) displaying the winning entries and runners up at public exhibitions promoting the World Photography Organisation and organised by the World Photography Organisation
(c) inclusion within the Website, a World Photography Awards book, magazine or similar
(d) inclusion within any materials promoting of the Competition and / or any exhibition organised by the World Photography Organisation , in the promotion of the World Photography Organisation
(e) inclusion on Competition- and exhibition-related products to be sold by the World Photography Organisation or any third party following the individual agreement by the author
(f) sub-licensing the Entries to the press for reproduction in connection with the Competition and any exhibition
(g) allowing viewers of the Website and/or Sony World Photography Awards Application to view images on a computer screen, PDA or mobile telephone and store such pages in electronic form on disk or on a PDA or mobile telephone (but not on any server or other storage device connected to a network) for their personal, non-commercial use only.
(h) incorporation by the World Photography Organisation and Sony World Photography Awards Event Partners in Sony World Photography Awards Galleries and or Sony World Photography Awards Gallery Applications on Event Partner devices for a period of three (3) years after the applicable announcement date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, You hereby acknowledge and agree if Your image is included in such Sony World Photography Awards Galleries or Sony World Photography Awards Gallery Applications Your image will remain perpetually in the device royalty free.
7.3 All Entrants understand that the image information, including image name and description, may be shared with Event partners and media as per clause 7.1, 7.2 and 8. For the avoidance of doubt the “image information” does not include any personal information of You the author.
7.3.1 Should entrants elect to opt-in to sharing data, the email data and name will be shared with our event partners.
7.4 All entrants are required to enter under their correct names, and all entrants are responsible for providing this information accurately. The Awards programme is structured around providing opportunities and exposure to individual photographers and as such we do not award anonymously or accept pseudonyms.
7.5 The World Photography Organisation reserves the right to select which images be featured within the curated exhibit and such curation is made in its sole discretion. Associated image captions and bios may also be edited to fit within the context of the exhibition, book or other material connected to the Awards.
8. Any photograph used by the World Photography Organisation shall carry a credit line. Any failure to provide such credit line shall not be deemed to be a breach, as long as the World Photography Organisation uses its reasonable endeavours to rectify such failure within a reasonable period from the date of notice of such failure.
8a. All entrants understand the World Photography Organisation may need to crop your image or add text or logos when used specifically to promote your work or the Awards for online promotional purposes only.
Disclaimer: Although we make every effort to provide accurate information, we advise a thorough review of the competitions rules and details to ensure your understanding and acceptance before proceeding with your entry.
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