The annual World Press Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year. Selected from 57,376 photographs submitted by 3,747 photographers in 141 countries, we’re excited to present the winners of the 69th annual World Press Photo Contest!
Winners
Offering a powerful reflection of our world, the 2026 World Press Photo Contest winners illuminate the realities we face globally; marked by fracture, urgency and yet an innate resilience. They reveal the global overreach of power, the escalating climate crisis, and the human cost of conflict, while also bringing into focus stories of resistance, rebuilding, recovery, and the quiet, enduring dignity of those who persevere.
Within this selection, you will encounter stories that feel familiar, moments and events that have shaped headlines, as well as those that have gone unseen or underreported. The photographs move between global perspectives and deeply personal, insider views, offering a layered understanding of the world we live in.
“Take the time to truly look at these images, to sit with them, to question them, to allow them to move you.” – Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo
The 42 winners were selected by an independent jury based on visual excellence, storytelling approach, and commitment to diversity; celebrating local voices, dedication, and a range of styles.
Please note: There is no hierarchy of winners in each category. All winners are weighted equally.
Judging of the 2026 World Press Photo Contest took place in January and February 2026 and involved regional juries and a global jury. The regional juries first made a selection of entries per category in their regions, after which the global jury decided on the winners. Learn more about the judging process.
“This is a critical moment — for democracy, for truth, for the question of what we as a society are willing to see and call out and what we are willing to ignore. The photographers recognized here have done their part. They have made the record. Now it is our turn to look.” - Kira Pollack, global jury chair
The World Press Photo of the Year and two finalists
The Photo of the Year and two finalists will be announced on 23 April 2026 at 11.00 AM CEST (Netherlands time) online and at the press opening of our Flagship Exhibition 2026 at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.
Entries close: 18 January 2026, 13.00 CET (Amsterdam time)
Contest winners announcement: 9 April 2026, 11.00 CEST (Amsterdam time)
Photo of the Year (with two finalists) announcement: 23 April 2026, 11.00 CEST (Amsterdam time)
Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 opens in Amsterdam: 24 April 2026
World Press Photo Days: 28-30 May 2026
Public event The Stories That Matter, bringing together the 2026 Contest winners and international speakers for a day of talks, workshops and interactive events in Amsterdam: 30 May 2026
Ambassadors
We thank the 2026 Ambassadors, independent industry experts and former World Press Photo Contest jury members, who were available to support first time entrants to our annual contest, with advice and recommendations.
The 2026 Contest Ambassadors were:
Andreas Trampe, Germany, co-founder Hamburg Portfolio Review
