World Press Photo is pleased to share the 13 selected participants for the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass (JSM), coming from 11 countries across the world. For the third consecutive year, the masterclass will focus on photographers from the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. For the first time, the in-person part of the program will take place in the region, bringing participants, mentors and the photography community together in Cairo, Egypt.
Established in 1994, the
Joop Swart Masterclass is World Press Photo’s long-standing educational program for emerging photographers working in documentary photography, photojournalism and visual storytelling. The program supports photographers with five to ten years of professional experience in developing their practice and building sustainable careers. It provides a space for participants to exchange knowledge and perspectives, receive guidance from established practitioners, and consider the wider role and impact of their work. The participants of this 30th edition have been working on their projects under the guidance of their mentors since July 2026.
Joumana El-Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo, said, “Reaching the 30th edition of the Joop Swart Masterclass is an important milestone for World Press Photo and a moment to reflect on the value of investing in the next generation of photographers. This year’s group brings together diverse perspectives, experiences and languages from across the world, and bringing the program to Cairo creates an opportunity for meaningful exchange with the region’s photography community.”
View the
media kit, including the participants’ bios, portraits, project descriptions and one image per participant. Further images and captions will be available after the masterclass ends, in November.
The 13 participants of the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass are:
Bashar Taleb is a Palestinian photojournalist based in Gaza. His work documents conflict, displacement, and daily life, focusing on the human realities of war and its aftermath.
Cam Juárez is a K’iche’ photographer and visual artist exploring the intersections of autofiction and documentary imagery. She is developing an audiovisual project in Cuba.
Faiz Abubakr Mohammed is a Sudanese photojournalist whose documentary and editorial work examines political upheaval, conflict, and their impact on communities in Sudan.
Farhana Satu is a documentary photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, whose work explores overlooked stories, everyday realities, family, environment, and belonging.
Guerchom Ndebo is a Congolese photographer and visual artist whose documentary work explores social and environmental realities across the region.
Hadeer Mahmoud is an Egyptian photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work explores women’s rights, displacement, and the lived experiences of marginalized communities.
Haitham Imad is a Palestinian photojournalist based in Gaza whose work documents conflict, humanitarian crises, and the resilience of civilian communities.
Lisa Bukreyeva is a Ukrainian photographer whose work explores the psychological and emotional realities of conflict, foregrounding dignity amid war.
Nathalia Angarita is a Colombian photographer based in Bogotá whose work explores social inequality, gender, human rights, and environmental issues through long-term documentary storytelling.
Parisa Azadi is an Iranian visual journalist and artist whose work explores political violence, social injustice, and resistance within historically oppressed communities.
Riska Munawarah is an Indonesian documentary photographer whose work explores identity, women’s rights, and the social realities shaping everyday life in her hometown.
Ruba Alfaraouna is a Palestinian visual and sound artist whose work explores voice, land, memory, and Bedouin identity through sound, photography, and video.
Zohreh Sabagh Nejad is an Iranian documentary photographer whose practice investigates urban landscapes, memory, and the human stories they contain.
The participants have been working on their projects since July 2026 under the guidance of four mentors:
The 13 participants were selected by an independent selection committee based on a nomination process. The selection committee for this year was: Amak Mahmoodian, Iran, artist and educator; Amr Alfiky, Egypt/United States, staff photographer, Reuters; Joshua Irwandi, Indonesia, documentary photographer, National Geographic Explorer; Sebah Chaudhry, United Kingdom, creative producer and curator; Virginia Lozano, United States/Mexico, visuals editor, NPR.
From 2-9 November, the participants and mentors will come together in Cairo for an intensive week of workshops, portfolio reviews, cultural visits, talks, and conversations with their mentors and Cairo-based practitioners. The program will not only focus on photographic practice, but on the participants’ individual and professional development, helping them strengthen their approaches to editing, presenting and communicating about their work, while considering how they can build sustainable careers and advance their own projects.
A central part of the 2026 program is cultural exchange with Cairo’s photography community, creating an opportunity for mutual learning across different cultural and professional contexts.
On Thursday 5 November, the participants will present their work in progress through a public presentation in Cairo. The event will provide an opportunity for audiences to encounter the photographers and their work, and to hear directly about the stories, approaches and questions informing their practices. The presentation will be livestreamed on World Press Photo’s YouTube account at 16.00 CET (Amsterdam time), 17.00 EET (Cairo time).
On Saturday 7 November, World Press Photo will present a special on site public program: World Press Photo in Cairo. The program will create opportunities for learning and exchange through workshops, portfolio reviews, conversations and an open studio. More information will be available soon.
Following the masterclass, participants will organize presentations for their local photography communities, sharing their work and learnings from the program and extending the exchange beyond the week in Cairo.
The Joop Swart Masterclass reflects World Press Photo’s commitment to investing in education and creating opportunities for photographers to develop their work, connect with peers and contribute to the future of visual journalism. It is funded by the Porticus Foundation and Stichting Maanwater.
Dazed MENA, a youth-culture platform spotlighting fashion, creativity, and contemporary life across the Middle East and North Africa, is the media partner for the program in Cairo. “Partnering with World Press Photo allows us to champion the powerful, honest voices documenting our shared humanity. With the Joop Swart Masterclass being held in Cairo this year, a city of endless stories, Dazed MENA’s association reflects our commitment to uplift image-makers both local and around the world far beyond traditional creative boundaries. At its heart, photography is truth, and together, Dazed MENA and WPP ensure these vital stories are felt, seen, and heard.” – Ahmad Swaid, Editor-in-Chief, Dazed Middle East North Africa
For media information
Nicola Jeffs
For members of the media in Cairo, there will be time to meet the group upon request to find out more about their projects for commissioned articles. Please get in touch. Online interviews can also be arranged.
Further images from the projects by the participants will be available after the masterclass, later in November.
EVENT INFO
5 November: 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass Presentations
The
2026 Joop Swart Masterclass cohort will share their developing projects on stage. Addressing urgent and complex themes from war, displacement, and migration to belonging, intimacy, care, and resistance. They confront loss, collective memory, and gender-violence as environmental and political pressures continue to intensify.
Participants: Bashar Taleb (Palestine), Cam Juárez (Guatemala), Faiz Abubakr Mohammed (Sudan), Farhana Satu (Bangladesh), Guerchom Ndebo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Hadeer Mahmoud (Egypt), Haitham Imad (Palestine), Lisa Bukreyeva (Ukraine), Nathalia Angarita (Colombia), Parisa Azadi (Iran), Riska Munawarah (Indonesia), Ruba Alfaraouna (Palestine), and Zohreh Sabagh Nejad (Iran). Mentors: Maye-E Wong, Nariman El-Mofty, Tanvi Mishra, and Yael Martinez.
Date and time
Thursday 5 November 2026
16.30 EET arrival and guests seated
17.00 EET presentations begin
Location
Zawya Cinema
15 Emad El-Deen, Oraby, Al Azbakeya, Cairo Governorate 4320111, Egypt
Open studio, showcasing the work of the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass participants, and public program. This will be a day of cultural exchange and mutual learning with the Cairo based photography community, the participants, and mentors. Full program to be announced soon. This program will be free to attend.
Date and time
Saturday 7 November 2026
Time 11.00-19.00 EET
Location
Access Art Space
St - off, 10 Al Nabrawi, Champollion Rd, Egypt
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 world-wide 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.
