The Sony World Photography Awards has announced the 2026 overall winners. The prestigious Photographer of the Year 2026 title was awarded to Citlali Fabián for the series Bilha, Stories of my Sisters. Fabián was selected from the 10 Professional competition category winners and receives a $25,000 (USD) cash prize, a range of Sony Digital Imaging equipment, and the opportunity to present a solo showcase at the Sony World Photography Awards 2027 exhibition. This year's Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient was celebrated photographer Joel Meyerowitz. See more on the Professional Category winners below and find more information on all of the winners here.
Photographer Of The Year
Citlali Fabián wins for her project Bilha, Stories of my Sisters, which blends carefully crafted photographic portraits with digital illustrations. The series tells the stories of iconic women from Indigenous communities across Oaxaca, Mexico, whose advocacy work generates meaningful impact across a range of spheres: in law, linguistics, the arts and ecology, among others. Conceived as a project to inspire young girls with positive role models, and created through close, sustained collaboration with the women in the photographs, the images in this series highlight their achievements as well as their lived experiences and motivations. The digital drawings applied to the portraits comprise symbols and motifs that reflect the sitters' personal trajectories and celebrate their cultural heritage.
Copyright: © Citlali Fabian, Mexico, Finalist, Professional Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Commenting on her win, Fabián says: ‘It is a massive honour to receive this award for Bilha, Stories of My Sisters, a series that is deeply connected to my heart and my people. I hope this recognition will help to spread the voice not only about my work, but also about the amazing efforts and work of the women in this project. They are truly inspiring and a force of hope for their communities and beyond.’
Commenting on Citlali Fabián’s winning project, Monica Allende, Chair of the 2026 Professional jury says: ‘Through her work, Citlali Fabián reflects on urgent questions of visibility and representation. In many Indigenous cultures, stories are told collectively, shaped by conversation and lived experience rather than by a single voice. Fabián brings this spirit into her photographic practice by working closely with each woman she portrays. Her subjects are not simply photographed, they are active participants in shaping how their stories are told. Through this process, the artist highlights the presence, strength, and achievements of women who have often been overlooked, giving them the visibility and recognition they have long deserved within the wider social and cultural landscape.’
Professional Category Winners
The winning series in the 2026 Professional competition have been selected by a panel of expert judges. Each of the winning photographers displays an original approach to storytelling and outstanding technical ability.
All of the category winners receive Sony Digital Imaging equipment, and were invited to participate in Insights, a day of specialised sessions with industry experts in London. To learn more about this year’s Professional winners and finalists, please visit worldphoto.org.
This year’s winners are:
Architecture & Design
WINNER: Joy Saha (Bangladesh) for Homes of Haor
Copyright: © Joy Saha, Bangladesh, Finalist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place André Tezza (Brazil); 3rd place Chen Liang (China Mainland)
Creative
WINNER: Citlali Fabián (Mexico) for Bilha, Stories of My Sisters
Copyright: © Citlali Fabian, Mexico, Finalist, Professional Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Pablo Ramos (Mexico); 3rd place Ben Brooks (United Kingdom)
Documentary Projects
WINNER: Santiago Mesa (Colombia) for Under the Shadow of Coca
Copyright: © Santiago Mesa, Colombia, Winner, Professional Competition, Documentary Projects, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Colin Delfosse (Belgium); 3rd place Alexandre Bagdassarian (France)
Environment
WINNER: Isadora Romero (Ecuador) for Notes on How to Build a Forest
Copyright: © Isadora Romero, Ecuador, Winner, Professional Competition, Environment, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Matteo Trevisan (Italy); 3rd place Shane Hynan (Ireland)
Landscape
WINNER: Dafna Talmor (United Kingdom) for Constructed Landscapes
Copyright: © Dafna Talmor, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Andreas Secci (Germany), 3rd place Michael Blann (United Kingdom)
Perspectives
WINNER: Seungho Kim (Republic of Korea) for Sunny Side Up: A Portrait of the Most Average K-Parenting Today
Copyright: © Seungho Kim, Korea, Republic Of, Winner, Professional Competition, Perspectives, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Hayate Kurisu (Japan); 3rd place Fredrik Lerneryd (Sweden)
Portraiture
WINNER: Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni (Italy) for The Faithful
Copyright: © Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni, Italy, Winner, Professional Competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Marisa Reichert (Germany); 3rd place Federico Borella (Italy)
Sport
WINNER: Todd Antony (New Zealand) for Buzkashi
Copyright: © Todd Antony, New Zealand, Winner, Professional Competition, Sport, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Morgan Otagburuagu (Nigeria); 3rd place Rob Van Thienen (Belgium)
Still Life
WINNER: Vilma Taubo (Norway) for Talking Without Speaking
Copyright: © Vilma Taubo, Norway, Winner, Professional Competition, Still Life, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Gargi Sharma (India); 3rd place Daniele Vita (Italy)
Wildlife & Nature
WINNER: Will Burrard-Lucas (United Kingdom) for Crossing Point
Copyright: © Will Burrard-Lucas, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional Competition, Wildlife & Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2026
Finalists: 2nd place Anita Pouchard Serra (Argentina); 3rd place Wolfgang Duerr (Germany)
Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Exhibition
Now in their 19th edition, the Sony World Photography Awards set the standard for international photography recognition; an unmissable moment in the global cultural calendar that continues to discover, celebrate and elevate the photographers shaping our visual world. Across this year’s competitions, over 430,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted. Each edition of the Awards brings into focus stories and images with profound resonance, offering an authoritative perspective on the ever-evolving art of photography.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition is on display at Somerset House, London from 17 April – 4 May, presenting over 300 prints and hundreds of images in digital displays, as well as a special presentation by Joel Meyerowitz.
Learn more and see all of the winners at https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards.
