2026 Photo Contest – North and Central America – Singles
Alex Kent, Columbia University Pro–Palestine Protests

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2026 World Press Photo Contest winners announced

NORTH AMERICA

Marie Monteleone, North and Central America jury chair
“We combed through thousands of images and focused on what best represented the stories that mattered. Without photojournalism we lose these historical records. We lose the power to hold people accountable, to see what is happening around us and how the world is existing. Without photojournalism we are isolated from the truth and from facts.”

2026 Photo Contest – North and Central America – Singles
Jan Sonnenmair, Portland Protests ICE

2026 Photo Contest – North and Central America – Stories
Carol Guzy, ICE Arrests at New York Court

2026 Photo Contest – North and Central America – Stories
Ethan Swope, Los Angeles on Fire

2026 Photo Contest – North and Central America – Stories
Jahi Chikwendiu, Tanner’s Song

AFRICA

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, Africa jury chair
“The main themes from the Africa region reflect a wide spectrum of realities. From the ongoing war in Sudan, to a powerful cultural event in Morocco; from elephant culling in Zimbabwe to the issue of women who have been abused in Kenya, as well as beautiful scenes from daily life in South Africa. All of these together provide an honest portrait of the continent.”

2026 Photo Contest – Africa – Singles
Kiana Hayeri, Children Who Do Not Exist

2026 Photo Contest – Africa – Singles
Ihsaan Haffejee, Joburg Ballet School

2026 Photo Contest – Africa – Stories
Chantal Pinzi, Farīsāt: Gunpowder’s Daughters

ASIA–PACIFIC AND OCEANIA

Yasuyoshi Chiba, Asia–Pacific and Oceania jury chair
“For the Asia–Pacific and Oceania region, we had strong news and untold stories – we selected a balanced set of images. We were looking for photographs that showed what happened in 2025, but were also looking for something extraordinary or unexpected.”

2026 Photo Contest – Asia–Pacific and Oceania – Stories
Matthew Abbott, The Last Dolphin Hunters

2026 Photo Contest – Asia–Pacific and Oceania – Singles
Edwina Pickles, Bondi Beach Terror Attack

2026 Photo Contest – Asia–Pacific and Oceania – Singles
Tyrone Siu, A Desperate Plea

EUROPE

Silvia Omedes, Europe jury chair
“We were looking for stories that were a mirror to Europe. Stories that have the sensitivity to talk about very difficult topics, but also to question us about them. There are very important stories, even in intimate, domestic spaces, that can shed light on how to understand ourselves better.”

2026 Photo Contest – Europe – Singles
Evgeniy Maloletka, Russian Attack on Kyiv

2026 Photo Contest – Europe – Singles
Paula Hornickel, Emma the Social Robot

2026 Photo Contest – Europe – Stories
David Guttenfelder, Drone Wars

2026 Photo Contest – Europe – Stories
Brais Lorenzo, Burned Land

2026 Photo Contest – Europe – Stories
Sanna Sjöswärd, Engla Louise

2026 Photo Contest – Europe – Long-Term Projects
William Keo, Extramuros

SOUTH AMERICA

Gael Almeida, South America jury chair
“Photography can serve the purpose of opening doors to new realities. It is a powerful tool that everyone has access to. The topics that remain important to this region are related to the political situation, but it’s not only about violence; there is also resistance and resilience.”

2026 Photo Contest – South America – Singles
Santiago Arcos, Funeral for “The Four of Malvinas”

2026 Photo Contest – South America – Singles
Priscila Ribeiro, A Territory of Hope

2026 Photo Contest – South America – Stories
Ferley A. Ospina, Name the Absence

WEST, CENTRAL, AND SOUTH ASIA

Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson, West, Central, and South Asia jury chair
“The overarching theme in the region was the impact of conflict on individuals and communities; people living through war and rebuilding their lives with resilience post-conflict.”

2026 Photo Contest West, Central, and South Asia – Singles
Yasir Iqbal, A Daughter’s Grief in Kashmir

2026 Photo Contest – West, Central, and South Asia – Stories
Elise Blanchard, “I’m Afraid”: Afghan Women Face US Aid Cuts

2026 Photo Contest – West, Central, and South Asia – Stories
Nicole Tung, A Syrian City Rebuilds, Still Divided

2026 Photo Contest – West, Central, and South Asia – Long–Term Projects
Diego Ibarra Sánchez, Hijacked Education

2026 Photo Contest – West, Central, and South Asia – Stories
Saher Alghorra, Witnessing Gaza

World Press Photo 2026 Exhibitions

World Press Photo 2026
Awards & Exhibitions / World Press Photo
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