World Press Photo, the independent non-profit organization that champions the power of photojournalism and documentary photography, announces its key dates for 2026, including its annual contest, traveling exhibitions, masterclass, and the World Press Photo Days.
The 2026 World Press Photo Contest
The annual World Press Photo Contest, which recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography of the past year, announces its winners in spring 2026. The organization will announce 42 winners on 9 April, and from this selection, the Photo of the Year winner and two finalists will be announced on 23 April. These announcements will be made online via the World Press Photo website and social media channels, with a live announcement taking place on 23 April at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, to which the press are invited. The world premiere of the World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 will open to the public on 24 April.
Winners of the contest receive €1,000, a Fujifilm X Half camera, and a physical award. They are also invited to come to Amsterdam for a winners’ event in May. The Photo of the Year winner receives an additional €10,000. They, and two finalists, additionally receive a FUJIFILM GFX camera and lenses. Learn more about the prizes.
The 2026 Contest saw 57,376 photographs entered by 3,747 photographers from 141 countries. The regional juries have shortlisted the entries from their respective regions for the global jury, who are now working on their final selection live from the World Press Photo office in Amsterdam. The global jury is chaired by Kira Pollack, photo director and curator, Harvard Shorenstein Center fellow. See the full jury.
Key editorial dates to note:
- Thursday 9 April at 11.00am CEST (5.00am EDT): 2026 World Press Photo Contest winners announced online. Every photo taken in 2025 is eligible to win World Press Photo of the Year.
- Thursday 23 April at 11.00am CEST (5.00am EDT): The World Press Photo of the Year and two finalists are announced online and at a live press opening of the Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 at De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Joumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo; Emmy Dexel, communications director of World Press Photo (for Dutch Media); and the Photo of the Year winner (TBC) will be available for interviews. Press are invited to attend by contacting nicola@worldpressphoto.org.
- Friday 24 April: The Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 opens to the public at De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This marks the start of the worldwide tour for the World Press Photo Exhibition 2026.
- Thursday 28 - Saturday 30 May: World Press Photo Days 2026 (more info below).
The World Press Photo Exhibition 2026
The images awarded in the 2026 World Press Photo Contest will be shown to millions worldwide as part of the organization’s annual traveling exhibition to over 80 locations. The world premiere of the exhibition opens in Amsterdam on 24 April and runs until 27 September.
Key exhibition dates 2026:
- De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands: 24 April - 27 September
- Palazzo Esposizioni, Rome, Italy: 6 May - 29 June
- Landesmuseum, Zurich, Switzerland: 7 May - 7 June
- Willy-Brandt-Hause, Berlin, Germany: 8 - 31 May
- State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia: 6 June - 19 July
- Caixa Cultural, São Paulo, Brazil: 14 July - 6 September
- Marche Bonsecours, Montréal, Canada: 26 August - 12 October
- Westlicht, Vienna, Austria: 18 September - 15 November
- Erasmus Huis Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia: 25 September - 24 October
- Museum of Ethnography, Budapest, Hungary: 25 September - 8 November
- Pressen, Copenhagen, Denmark: 26 September - 18 October
- Galleria Modernissimo, Bologna, Italy: 30 October - 30 November
- Museum Hilversum, Hilversum, the Netherlands: 30 October - 13 December
Credit: Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Baskoro for China Global South Project
World Press Photo Days 2026
Taking place from Thursday 28 - Saturday 30 May, the World Press Photo Days include industry events for editors and educators, the winners of the 2026 Contest, and the public. During these days, international professionals of the media industry will gather and participate in events to discuss and refine standards in photojournalism. This includes invite only events such as: a photo editors’ forum, exhibition partners meet-up, round tables with photographers, portfolio reviews, and workshops; as well as the 2026 Contest Award Ceremony on Thursday 28 May, and the public event
The Stories That Matter on Saturday 30 May in
De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, which press are invited to attend.
The Stories That Matter, a ticketed public event returning for its third edition, brings together the awarded photographers of the 2026 Contest, international speakers, critical thinkers, and the wider public to explore the urgent issues and narratives shaping our world. The photographers awarded in the 2026 Contest will present their work in the World Press Photo Exhibition 2026, alongside a dynamic mainstage program and series of educational elements. There will also be a book signing where the 2026 Contest winners will sign copies of the Yearbook 2026. Tickets, programming, and more information will be available soon.
The 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass
For the third year in a row, the Joop Swart Masterclass will continue to focus on the SWANA region (Southwest Asia and North Africa), thanks to funding from the Porticus Foundation. This year marks the 30th edition of the Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo’s most esteemed and longest running education program.
While holding on to the core objective to develop and guide photographers with 5-10 years of experience in their practice, the renewed format of the Joop Swart Masterclass places special emphasis on building skills for long and sustainable careers in photojournalism, documentary photography, and beyond. 12 participants will be selected and each participant will be assigned a mentor. The masterclass will take place predominantly online, with a one-week in-person element in the SWANA region in November. Nominations for the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass have now begun.
See the nominators.
Press are invited to cover the in-person element in November, when the masterclass concludes and the projects the participants have been working on come to fruition. A selection of images for press will be available through a media kit once the masterclass has finished.
Notes to editors
PRESS ACCREDITATION FOR EVENTS IN 2026
Press accreditations are available, where journalists can interview winners of the contest, speakers, or cover the aforementioned events and programs. This includes the Photo of the Year press conference on 23 April, the Award Ceremony on 28 May, and
The Stories That Matter event on 30 May. All events will take place at
De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. To be included, please get in touch with
nicola@worldpressphoto.org.
A selection of winning images from the 2026 World Press Photo Contest for editorial use will be shared in a Media Kit with media outlets in advance, upon request, to publish stories about the winners. To receive the Media Kit, please get in touch with
nicola@worldpressphoto.org.
For media information contact:
Europe, UK, SWANA region:Nicola Jeffs
+ 44 7794 694 754
Alexandra Fanning
(347) 468-0735
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About World Press Photo
World Press Photo is an independent non-profit organization that champions the power of photojournalism and documentary photography to deepen understanding, promote dialogue, and inspire action. Founded in the Netherlands in 1955, our annual and thematic exhibitions reach millions of people in over 80 locations worldwide each year, and our online work reaches millions more. We create space for reflection in times of urgency, while upholding standards of accuracy, authenticity, visual excellence, and diverse perspectives. Our education programs help photographers reach these standards, and members of the public recognize them.
We are thankful for the support of our funders, particularly our strategic partners the Dutch Postcode Lottery and FUJIFILM Corporation.
For more information, visit www.worldpressphoto.org or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, Bluesky, and YouTube.
