The Sony World Photography Awards 2026 have once again highlighted just how powerful photography can be, bringing together an incredible selection of images from around the world. With more than 430,000 submissions from over 200 countries and territories, this year’s competition offers a wide-ranging look at the people, places, and stories shaping life today.
Taking the top honor of Photographer of the Year is Citlali Fabián for “Bilha, Stories of My Sisters,” a moving and deeply personal series centered on the lives, resilience, and shared experiences of Indigenous women in southern Mexico. Alongside her work, this year’s winning and shortlisted images explore everything from wildlife and environmental issues to culture, identity, and social change, showing just how much a single frame can communicate. Now on display at Somerset House in London, the selected works bring together more than 300 photographs that capture both the beauty and complexity of the world through contemporary photography.
#1 “The Barefoot Volcanologist” By Elle Leontiev
Photographer of the Year, Open Competition, Portraiture Category
Description: “On the ash plains of Mount Yasur, on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu, Phillip, an internationally recognized, self-taught volcanologist, stands barefoot atop a volcanic rock bomb. Wearing a lava-protection suit gifted to him by visiting researchers, the volcano smolders behind him, sending a plume of gas and Sulphur into the sky. Phillip grew up beneath the active volcano, and this portrait captures him in his element.”
Description: “On the ash plains of Mount Yasur, on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu, Phillip, an internationally recognized, self-taught volcanologist, stands barefoot atop a volcanic rock bomb. Wearing a lava-protection suit gifted to him by visiting researchers, the volcano smolders behind him, sending a plume of gas and Sulphur into the sky. Phillip grew up beneath the active volcano, and this portrait captures him in his element.”
17points
#2 “Crossing Point” By Will Burrard-Lucas
Winner, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature Category
Description: “An eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) moves through a forested river crossing in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve at night. A remote camera trap was installed here in collaboration with rhino rangers to monitor how individuals use secluded corridors linking feeding areas and water sources. Its primary purpose was conservation monitoring, the system allowed nocturnal scenes to be lit creatively, revealing the wildlife and habitat in dramatic ways that are rarely seen in an area largely closed to tourism.”
Description: “An eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) moves through a forested river crossing in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve at night. A remote camera trap was installed here in collaboration with rhino rangers to monitor how individuals use secluded corridors linking feeding areas and water sources. Its primary purpose was conservation monitoring, the system allowed nocturnal scenes to be lit creatively, revealing the wildlife and habitat in dramatic ways that are rarely seen in an area largely closed to tourism.”
17points
#3 “Saving History From The Flames” By Philip Kangas
Photographer of the Year, Youth Competition
Description: “When a fire broke out in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in central Stockholm, firefighters worked hard to contain the fire and began transporting art pieces to safety.”
Description: “When a fire broke out in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in central Stockholm, firefighters worked hard to contain the fire and began transporting art pieces to safety.”
15points
#4 “Bilha, Stories Of My Sisters” By Citlali Fabián
Photographer of the Year, Creative Category
Description: “Mitzy is part of Indigenous Futures, a network that discusses the climate crisis from the perspective of Indigenous peoples. She has participated in forums including COP26 and COP30, and is represented with her ancestors and future generations as a united front in the defense of their territory. Growing up without role models can make it difficult to recognize one’s ability to shape the future. This series seeks to create a precedent through collaboration with activists and artists from Indigenous communities in southern Mexico.”
Description: “Mitzy is part of Indigenous Futures, a network that discusses the climate crisis from the perspective of Indigenous peoples. She has participated in forums including COP26 and COP30, and is represented with her ancestors and future generations as a united front in the defense of their territory. Growing up without role models can make it difficult to recognize one’s ability to shape the future. This series seeks to create a precedent through collaboration with activists and artists from Indigenous communities in southern Mexico.”
13points
#5 “Capybaras At The Forefront Of Dispute And Resistance In Buenos Aires By Anita Pouchard Serra
2nd Place, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature Category
Description: “Capybaras eat grass in the public areas of the private town of Nordelta, close to a construction zone, 22 March 2025 in Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nordelta was built on a wetland, an ecosystem where water is the main factor controlling plant and animal life. The development’s 45,000 upper-class residents have seen the capybara population triple to 1,000, dividing the community and leading the Buenos Aires government to approve population control plans.”
Description: “Capybaras eat grass in the public areas of the private town of Nordelta, close to a construction zone, 22 March 2025 in Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nordelta was built on a wetland, an ecosystem where water is the main factor controlling plant and animal life. The development’s 45,000 upper-class residents have seen the capybara population triple to 1,000, dividing the community and leading the Buenos Aires government to approve population control plans.”
13points
#6 “Homes Of Haor” By Joy Saha
Winner, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design Category
Description: “Documenting the vernacular architecture of Ashtagram, Kishoreganj, in Bangladesh’s Haor region, where homes are built on naturally raised mounds that become islands during the monsoon, surrounded by seasonal floodwater, and boats become the primary means of travel. From above, the settlements form distinct patterns shaped by elevation, water and function. Roads, clustered dwellings, and carefully arranged livestock spaces reveal how rural communities design and adapt their built environment to a landscape defined by water.”
Description: “Documenting the vernacular architecture of Ashtagram, Kishoreganj, in Bangladesh’s Haor region, where homes are built on naturally raised mounds that become islands during the monsoon, surrounded by seasonal floodwater, and boats become the primary means of travel. From above, the settlements form distinct patterns shaped by elevation, water and function. Roads, clustered dwellings, and carefully arranged livestock spaces reveal how rural communities design and adapt their built environment to a landscape defined by water.”
12points
#7 “It’s A Dog’s Life” By Rob Van Thienen
3rd Place, Professional Competition, Sport Category
Description: “An Afghan hound strikes a fake rabbit. For many years Van Thienen has attended sighthound training sessions. Many are former racing dogs that have been adopted in order to give them a happy post-racing life. Even after retirement they are still athletes that need to run and chase on a daily basis. At this private track, an artificial rabbit is pulled by wire along the track, allowing the dogs to run alone or in small groups. At the end of the track there is a soft sandbox where they grab the rabbit, Van Thienen’s favorite moment.”
Description: “An Afghan hound strikes a fake rabbit. For many years Van Thienen has attended sighthound training sessions. Many are former racing dogs that have been adopted in order to give them a happy post-racing life. Even after retirement they are still athletes that need to run and chase on a daily basis. At this private track, an artificial rabbit is pulled by wire along the track, allowing the dogs to run alone or in small groups. At the end of the track there is a soft sandbox where they grab the rabbit, Van Thienen’s favorite moment.”
12points
#8 “Buzkashi” By Todd Antony
Winner, Professional Competition, Sport Category
Description: “A chapanda (rider), Marengo as depicted in the 19th century painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps. Buzkashi (‘goat pulling’ in Persian) is the fierce, ancient sport of Tajikistan. Similar to polo, but there are no teams and no boundaries. The ball is a goat carcass and the aim is brutally simple, seize it, hold it, break free. The game was born among the nomadic horse cultures of central Asia, where strength and horsemanship were measures of identity.”
Description: “A chapanda (rider), Marengo as depicted in the 19th century painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps. Buzkashi (‘goat pulling’ in Persian) is the fierce, ancient sport of Tajikistan. Similar to polo, but there are no teams and no boundaries. The ball is a goat carcass and the aim is brutally simple, seize it, hold it, break free. The game was born among the nomadic horse cultures of central Asia, where strength and horsemanship were measures of identity.”
11points
#9 “Sixteen And A Half - Eight Months In A Juvenile Prison” By Bagdassarian Alexandre
3rd Place, Professional Competition, Documentary Projects Category
Description: “Over a period of eight months, Alexandre Bagdassarian documented the daily lives of young detainees in one of France’s six juvenile prisons, one of the country’s least visible institutions. ‘The cells were delicate spaces for me to photograph, as they are at once impersonal and intimate. What mattered most was the young person’s consent, that he or she genuinely accepted my presence and that of the camera.”
Description: “Over a period of eight months, Alexandre Bagdassarian documented the daily lives of young detainees in one of France’s six juvenile prisons, one of the country’s least visible institutions. ‘The cells were delicate spaces for me to photograph, as they are at once impersonal and intimate. What mattered most was the young person’s consent, that he or she genuinely accepted my presence and that of the camera.”
11points
#10 “Country Music In Kenya” By Fredrik Lerneryd
3rd Place, Professional Competition, Perspectives: Category
Description: “A woman poses for a portrait during International Cowboy Day. This series was photographed over an 11-month period, with the highlight being the International Cowboy Day festival, in Nairobi, Kenya. The festival drew around 3,000 country music fans to Ngong Racecourse in the final week of July. Country music has been played on the radio in Kenya since colonial times, and the popularity for the genre is growing, with shows being held by various artists in local bars a few times a week.”
Description: “A woman poses for a portrait during International Cowboy Day. This series was photographed over an 11-month period, with the highlight being the International Cowboy Day festival, in Nairobi, Kenya. The festival drew around 3,000 country music fans to Ngong Racecourse in the final week of July. Country music has been played on the radio in Kenya since colonial times, and the popularity for the genre is growing, with shows being held by various artists in local bars a few times a week.”
11points
#11 “Country Music In Kenya” By Fredrik Lerneryd
3rd Place, Professional Competition, Perspectives Category
Description: “Sheriff Knight (centre), the ‘Dancing Cowboy,’ leads the line dance during International Cowboy Day at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi, Kenya.”
Description: “Sheriff Knight (centre), the ‘Dancing Cowboy,’ leads the line dance during International Cowboy Day at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi, Kenya.”
10points
#12 “A Portrait Of The Most Average K-Parenting Today” By Seungho Kim
Winner, Professional Competition, Perspectives Category
Description: “South Korea stands at a crossroads. In 2023, the country’s birth rate hit a record-low of 0.72 children per woman, while more than 6m households now find the meaning of family in their dogs. Choosing between a child and a pet has become an ironic reality. However, the photographer of this series chose to put both ends of this spectrum ‘onto life’s hot frying pan’. This series is a fragile, vibrant and beautifully messy record of the K-parenting world that lies ahead.”
Description: “South Korea stands at a crossroads. In 2023, the country’s birth rate hit a record-low of 0.72 children per woman, while more than 6m households now find the meaning of family in their dogs. Choosing between a child and a pet has become an ironic reality. However, the photographer of this series chose to put both ends of this spectrum ‘onto life’s hot frying pan’. This series is a fragile, vibrant and beautifully messy record of the K-parenting world that lies ahead.”
10points
#13 “Beneath The Bridge” By Morgan Otagburuagu
2nd Place, Professional Competition, Sport Category
Description: “Bisi posing after training, Lagos, Nigeria. Beneath the Bridge documents a makeshift gym where amateur boxers, boys and girls alike, forge their discipline and dreams with nothing but tires, rope, water and willpower. The project creates an intimate, visceral portrait of grassroots aspiration, exploring universal themes of resilience, gender equality in traditionally male spaces, and the profound human need to carve a place of purpose from the margins.”
Description: “Bisi posing after training, Lagos, Nigeria. Beneath the Bridge documents a makeshift gym where amateur boxers, boys and girls alike, forge their discipline and dreams with nothing but tires, rope, water and willpower. The project creates an intimate, visceral portrait of grassroots aspiration, exploring universal themes of resilience, gender equality in traditionally male spaces, and the profound human need to carve a place of purpose from the margins.”
10points
#14 “Everyday Structures” By André Tezza
2nd Place, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design Category
Description: “Loja e Mercado Marielen. Named after one of the owner’s daughters, this store in Campo Largo is a family-run business integrated into the same building where the family lives. This project documents small neighborhood grocery stores on the outskirts of Curitiba, in southern Brazil. These modest structures form an architecture of resistance that persists even as large retail chains reshape the city. Often family-run and linked to domestic spaces, the stores merge work, memory and dwelling into a single building.”
Description: “Loja e Mercado Marielen. Named after one of the owner’s daughters, this store in Campo Largo is a family-run business integrated into the same building where the family lives. This project documents small neighborhood grocery stores on the outskirts of Curitiba, in southern Brazil. These modest structures form an architecture of resistance that persists even as large retail chains reshape the city. Often family-run and linked to domestic spaces, the stores merge work, memory and dwelling into a single building.”
10points
#15 “Jinê Land: Where Women Keep The Earth Alive” By Matteo Trevisan
2nd Place, Professional Competition, Environment Category
Description: “Şirîn Ehmed is a teacher at Jinwar and has lived there 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 meaning woman and war meaning space or home, forming ‘women’s space’. September 2025. The series tells the story of women shaping the ecological and social future of Rojava in north-east Syria, where Kurdish, Assyrian, Arab, and Armenian communities have self-organised.”
Description: “Şirîn Ehmed is a teacher at Jinwar and has lived there 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 meaning woman and war meaning space or home, forming ‘women’s space’. September 2025. The series tells the story of women shaping the ecological and social future of Rojava in north-east Syria, where Kurdish, Assyrian, Arab, and Armenian communities have self-organised.”
10points
#16 “The Place Where I Used To Play” By Jubair Ahmed Arnob
Photographer of the Year, Student Competition
Description: “What is the city but the people?’ – William Shakespeare. Arnob returns in memory to Green Model Town, Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the rivers, canals, ponds, and fields that once held laughter are now buried under concrete. He photographed disappearing landscapes in a dreamy, surreal style, layering images with memory and emotion over the period of years.”
Description: “What is the city but the people?’ – William Shakespeare. Arnob returns in memory to Green Model Town, Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the rivers, canals, ponds, and fields that once held laughter are now buried under concrete. He photographed disappearing landscapes in a dreamy, surreal style, layering images with memory and emotion over the period of years.”
9points
#17 “Under The Shadow Of Coca” By Santiago Mesa
Winner, Professional Competition, Documentary Projects Category
Description: “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, southern Colombia. Coca cultivation remains one of the few economic options for rural families in this neglected border region. The project follows farmers and families whose livelihoods depend on an illicit economy shaped by poverty, weak state presence, and armed control, as well as members of Comandos de la Frontera armed group.”
Description: “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, southern Colombia. Coca cultivation remains one of the few economic options for rural families in this neglected border region. The project follows farmers and families whose livelihoods depend on an illicit economy shaped by poverty, weak state presence, and armed control, as well as members of Comandos de la Frontera armed group.”
8points
#18 “Koryo-Saram By Federico Borella”
3rd Place, Professional Competition, Portraiture Category
Description: “K-pop group Blue Flame inside the university gym during rehearsal in Tashkent, September 2025. Bucheon University, a Korean branch campus in Tashkent, has become one of the main meeting points for this scene, bringing together young people from different backgrounds. Koryo-saram are the descendants of ethnic Koreans from the former USSR who were forcibly deported to Uzbekistan through Stalin’s ethnic cleansing policies. Most identify as Uzbek citizens, with only faint traces of Korean cultural heritage remaining.”
Description: “K-pop group Blue Flame inside the university gym during rehearsal in Tashkent, September 2025. Bucheon University, a Korean branch campus in Tashkent, has become one of the main meeting points for this scene, bringing together young people from different backgrounds. Koryo-saram are the descendants of ethnic Koreans from the former USSR who were forcibly deported to Uzbekistan through Stalin’s ethnic cleansing policies. Most identify as Uzbek citizens, with only faint traces of Korean cultural heritage remaining.”
8points
#19 “Constructed Landscapes” By Dafna Talmor
Winner, Professional Competition, Landscape Category
Description: “Untitled. This series employs hand-printed and collaged color negatives that are reconfigured into abstracted landscape representations from a personal archive. Purposefully undisclosed locations, sites that may otherwise be loaded with personal and political connotations, are collaged and repurposed. These staged landscapes reference the histories of photography, from Pictorialist combination printing processes to contemporary discourse, conflating the ‘real’ and the imaginary.”
Description: “Untitled. This series employs hand-printed and collaged color negatives that are reconfigured into abstracted landscape representations from a personal archive. Purposefully undisclosed locations, sites that may otherwise be loaded with personal and political connotations, are collaged and repurposed. These staged landscapes reference the histories of photography, from Pictorialist combination printing processes to contemporary discourse, conflating the ‘real’ and the imaginary.”
7points
#20 “The Faithful” By Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni
Winner, Professional Competition, Portraiture Category
Description: “Between the death of one pope and the election of the next, crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, for an event that functions simultaneously as sacred ritual and global spectacle. The pilgrimage took on the traits of fandom, as rosaries, flags and prayer gestures were performed with full awareness of the attendant cameras and media. The portraits capture ‘doubled consciousness’: believers performing acts of faith within a mediated public space, where personal conviction merges with stadium-scale performance.”
Description: “Between the death of one pope and the election of the next, crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, for an event that functions simultaneously as sacred ritual and global spectacle. The pilgrimage took on the traits of fandom, as rosaries, flags and prayer gestures were performed with full awareness of the attendant cameras and media. The portraits capture ‘doubled consciousness’: believers performing acts of faith within a mediated public space, where personal conviction merges with stadium-scale performance.”
7points