In each of the six regions of our contest model, a selection of entries per category will first be made by a regional jury, chaired by the regional jury chair.
The juries are made up of professionals from and/or working in the region they are judging, who are well-equipped to place the stories into a cultural, political and social context.
Once the regional juries have made their selection of entries, the global jury, composed of the six regional jury chairs and one additional member, the global jury chair, decides on the 2027 World Press Photo Contest winners. From those, they will then choose the World Press Photo of the Year and the two finalists.
The global jury is assisted by an independent secretary. The secretary is responsible for all procedural matters and ensures the rules and procedures are fairly and properly applied. The secretary does not contribute to debate on the merits of any entry, and has no vote in the balloting.
Global jury chair
Singapore,
Senior Editor for Wider Image and Special Projects, Reuters
"Photojournalism has never been more vital, or more fragile. Artificial intelligence is blurring what we can trust in an image, and audiences need verified visual truth more than ever. I believe independent journalism holds power to account because it is rooted in what was actually seen. Who stands in front of the lens and who stands behind it shapes what stories are told and I am glad that World Press Photo recognizes regional categories as part of its contest.
Awards matter because they carry important work to new audiences. I hope the World Press Photo Contest can give photojournalists and the public a reference for quality and ethics. I am honored to serve as global jury chair for the 2027 Contest and to spend time with work from every corner of the world. I look forward to healthy debate with my fellow jurors, the kind that leaves us illuminated and nourished. That is the true power of photography: to bear witness, to question, and to help us understand one another.” - Maye-E Wong
Stay tuned for the announcement of the full 2027 World Press Photo Contest jury.
