“This anniversary offers not only a moment of reflection, but also an opportunity to learn from the past and to continue evolving with purpose and integrity” - Joumana El Zein Khoury
2025 marks World Press Photo’s 70th anniversary—a significant milestone to reflect on the powerful legacy that began in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organized the first ever contest to expose their work to a global audience. Since then, World Press Photo has grown into a global platform for photojournalism and documentary photography reaching millions through the annual contest, worldwide exhibitions, and education programs.
Left: The first World Press Photo of the Year awarded in 1955 to Mogens von Haven. Right: The 1962 Contest jury deliberating on the entries. Credit: Ben van Meerendonk/International Institute of Social History (Amsterdam)
This milestone year invites us not only to look back at our remarkable history and celebrate the awarded images that have shaped public understanding over the past seven decades, but is also an occasion for reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to the core of what we do: championing the power of photojournalism and documentary photography to deepen understanding of the world’s complexities, promote dialogue, and inspire action.
To mark this special occasion, we have several upcoming activities, including a 70-year anniversary exhibition curated by Cristina de Middel, educational programs and videos, and a free-to-download publication to delve deeper into the themes of our anniversary exhibition.
Program supported by the Open Society Foundations (OSF).
What Have We Done? Unpacking Seven Decades of World Press Photo
In this landmark year, we’ve taken the deliberate step of inviting external interpretation of our extensive archive. What Have We Done?, curated by acclaimed photographer and author Cristina de Middel, aims to deepen and challenge one’s understanding of how images construct meaning, promoting a more nuanced engagement with visual storytelling.
By examining archival images and their contexts, we acknowledge the remarkable work done by journalists in often very challenging circumstances, while simultaneously inviting the public to engage with our visual past not as a fixed narrative, but as a living resource that informs how we might tell stories differently.
In seven decades, the three words that define this organization have transformed completely: “World,” “Press,” and “Photo” don’t mean the same in 1955 as they do today. This exhibition acknowledges that shift while asking where we go from here.
The exhibition features over 100 photographs from those working across the 70-year period – from Horst Faas, Don McCullin, David Chancellor, Eddie Adams, and Steve McCurry, to Johanna Maria Fritz and Sara Naomi Lewkowicz.
The full exhibition, in collaboration with Noorderlicht, will premiere at Niemeyer in Groningen, the Netherlands, on 19 September. It will also be on display in Johannesburg, South Africa from 20 September.
A selection from 'What Have We Done? ' displayed at the World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 in De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Credit: Maarten Nauw.
Pop-up festivals
Running alongside What Have We Done?, pop-up festivals in each location will bring together critical thinkers, photographers, and speakers for a dynamic program of talks, presentations, workshops, guided tours, and educational activities – all aimed at deepening engagement with the exhibition’s themes and sparking meaningful dialogue.
Stay tuned for more information.
Left: Image by Hocine Zaourar, Agence France-Presse, awarded World Press Photo of the Year in 1998. Right: ‘Signal’ by John Stanmeyer, VII for National Geographic, awarded World Press Photo of the Year in 2014.
70 Prints for 70 Years
Launching in November 2025, this limited-time sale invites the public to own a piece of visual history through a curated selection of 70 images from our archive. The collection tells the story of World Press Photo at 70 – from historic and widely recognized works, to more recent and diverse perspectives. It also includes work from Joop Swart Masterclass participants, highlighting our ongoing focus on education and the next generation of visual storytellers.
Support our work
World Press Photo believes in the power of showing and seeing visual stories that are accurate, diverse, and trustworthy. As an independent nonprofit organization, we generate our own income to fund our programs and are kindly supported by individuals who also believe in the importance of photojournalism and visual storytelling. If you share our vision, please consider
making a donation.
