The 2026 World Press Photo Contest
The annual World Press Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year. Entering is free and prizes include up to €11,000, inclusion in our annual traveling exhibition, and more.
Entries for the 2026 World Press Photo Contest are now closed.
To learn who wins, where you can see the exhibitions and more, sign up for our newsletter.
Key contest information
Entering the World Press Photo Contest is free and open to all professional photographers working in the field of photojournalism and/or documentary photography.
As a winner, your work will be:
- Included in our annual traveling exhibition seen by over 4 million visitors, shown around the world in over 80 cities
- Published on our website and social platforms with over 2 million followers
- Included in our annual yearbook, available in six languages with a worldwide distribution of more than 30,000 copies
You will also receive:
- €1,000 for each of the winners and an additional €10,000 for the World Press Photo of the Year winner
- A Fujifilm X Half camera for all winners and an additional FUJIFILM GFX camera and lenses will be awarded to the World Press Photo of the Year winner and two finalists
- An invitation to a winners’ event in Amsterdam for all winners
- A physical award for all winners
2026 Contest timeline
- Entries open: 1 December 2025
- Entries close: 18 January 2026, 13.00 CET (Amsterdam time)
- Contest winners announcement: 9 April 2026
- Photo of the Year (with two finalists) announcement: 23 April 2026
- Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 opens in Amsterdam: 24 April 2026
- Public event 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 are:
- Andreas Trampe, Germany, co-founder Hamburg Portfolio Review
- Andrew Esiebo, Nigeria, artist and storyteller
- Ezra Acayan, Philippines, photojournalist
- Maíra Gamarra, Bolivia/Brazil, curator, educator and editor
- Rena Effendi, Azerbaijan, photographer, writer, filmmaker
Do you want to be notified about any upcoming announcements regarding the 2026 Contest? Sign up here.
