Connecting people through photography to set dialogue in motion and inspire action

World Press Photo is an independent non-profit organization that champions the power of photojournalism and documentary photography to deepen understanding of the world’s complexities, promote dialogue, and inspire action. Founded in the Netherlands in 1955, our annual contest and thematic exhibitions reach millions of people in over 80 locations world-wide each year, and our online work reaches millions more.

We showcase compelling stories to create space for reflection in times of urgency. Amid a fast-changing media landscape influenced by censorship, misinformation, and threats to press freedom, we promote standards of accuracy, authenticity, visual excellence, and ensure diverse perspectives are represented. Our education programs support photographers in reaching these standards, and help the public explore the profound societal impact of photography.

Our archive holds iconic and lesser known images from past decades, capturing defining moments of our shared history as well as how they were viewed through the lens of society at the time. While not fully representative of the past, it reflects its historical context.

As a leading authority in independent photojournalism and documentary photography, World Press Photo sets standards in the industry through its juries and rigorous processes. Our juries meticulously evaluate each entry in its context, selecting compelling news and documentary photography that resonates globally. At a time of misinformation and emerging technologies blurring truth and fiction, World Press Photo stands by human-made photojournalism and its unparalleled impact.

With a global reach and diversified financial model, World Press Photo prioritises adaptability, equity, and resilience to ensure its programs are widely accessible. Your support helps us highlight and promote the work of both established and emerging photographers, keeping news and documentary photography a vital force for truth, connection, and change. Join World Press Photo to protect the future of independent photojournalism, ensuring its power to engage, inform, and inspire action in a rapidly evolving world.

Over the last few years, we have taken initiatives and started programs to encourage a more diverse and inclusive representation of the world. While important steps have been made since 2015, when we first publicized contest entrant data to be more transparent about the need for greater diversity, we must continue the work to achieve a more inclusive, diverse visual journalism industry, and to highlight a multiplicity of voices to offer a more balanced view of the world.

Therefore, the World Press Photo Foundation launched a new strategy in 2021 that includes changes to our contest, exhibitions and education programs. The 2022 Contest was the result of the first year of this new strategy and we are proud to say that the winners give a much more geographically balanced view of the world, with a majority of winning photographers being local to the countries which they are documenting, resulting in more nuanced perspectives and a better shared understanding. The winning stories documented a range of issues from the undeniable effects of the climate crisis to civil rights movements, and from access to education to preserving Indigenous practices and identity.

Hear more about the decisions behind the strategy from executive director, Joumana El Zein Khoury and results of the 2022 Contest from the global jury and the global winners: