07 November 2026
Access Art Space, Cairo, Egypt
As part of the open studio and public program in Cairo on Saturday, 7 November, we’ve invited experienced photo editors and practitioners to connect with and provide feedback for documentary photographers. Please note that spots are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here for the reviews.
With Anita Huynh and Mohamed Mahdy
Gain insider advice on how to submit your work to the 2027 World Press Photo Contest. What makes a compelling entry? How does judging work? How can you leverage the contest for career growth? Anita Huynh, Programs Manager at World Press Photo, speaks to Mohamed Mahdy, 2026 and 2023 World Press Photo Contest winner.
Presented by Photopia
With Yael Martinez and Heba Khamis, moderated by Marwa Abouleila, founder and director of Photopia
This panel discussion brings together 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass mentor Yael Martínez and previous Joop Swart Masterclass participant and World Press Photo Contest winner Heba Khamis. Drawing from their respective practices in Mexico and Egypt, the speakers will examine the complexities of working within their home environments, addressing how photographers navigate memory, trauma, and local realities while building visual narratives that resonate across international boundaries.
Presented by DAZED MENA
With Omar El Kafrawy and Monica Abadir, moderated by Fatima Mourad, photo editor of DAZED MENA
A discussion about visual clichés, representation, and the responsibility of making images faithfully in a place that is often photographed through a narrow set of references. How do you approach a subject without arriving with a predetermined image of it? How do you make work that is specific, curious, and personal? A conversation about what it actually takes to make a photograph today, especially in Egypt. From finding a subject and developing a visual idea to navigating locations, production, access, and cultural context, the panel explores how the place you're working in inevitably shapes the image you make.
Presented by Safena 7
With Ali Zaraay, Ahmed El Khatib, Agata Bar, Ayumi Higuchi and Farah Hallaba
Gathering in the Safena 7 photobooks library, this session brings together bookmakers from Egypt and the Netherlands to share approaches to making photobooks and compare practices: from production methods, to distribution, and community building. The event aims to build lasting connections and best practices between the Netherlands and Egypt.
Presented by Joop Swart Masterclass Participants
JSM participants will be be in Cairo for the masterclass week. They will work on editing sessions throughout the masterclass week and continue to develop their projects further. Join us and hear from the photographers as they show their works-in-progress and walk us through their processes in the open studio.
Participants of the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass: 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.
The public program will be a day of cultural exchange and mutual learning with the Cairo based photography community, the participants, and mentors. You can expect talks, presentations and portfolio reviews. This program is free to attend.
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. For the third year, it focused on photographers from the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. Established in 1994, this educational program supports emerging documentary photographers and photojournalists with 5 to 10 years of experience through mentorship, practice development, and professional networking. For the first time, the in-person segment of the program, which began remotely in July 2026, will be hosted in Cairo, Egypt. 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. It is funded by the Porticus Foundation and Stichting Maanwater.
Image credits: Faiz Abubakr Mohammed (left), Haitham Imad (right).
Grid credits: Projects by the 2026 JSM participants.
