Collage of shortlisted photographs - Copyright Various authors, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Everyone's a winner: Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Open Competition

By Tokunbo Salako & Jacob Dutkiewicz

Published on 17/02/2026 - 19:13 GMT+1

The Sony World Photography Awards have announced the winners of this year's Open competition which recognises the best single image taken across ten categories ranging from architecture, lifestyle, wildlife and travel.

Stunning examples of colour, texture, vibrancy and movement are key components among the winners of the Sony World Photography Awards.

To mark its 19th edition, the competition judge, Ruby Rees-Sheridan, Assistant Photography Curator, at Britain's National Portrait Gallery, chose pictures taken in the past year across 10 categories: Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography and Travel.

According to the organisers, each single shot was judged on its "power to pique curiosity, spark imagination, and reveal a wider narrative."

More than 430,000 thousand entries were received from over 200 countries.

The Open Photographer of the Year will be revealed on 16 April at a gala ceremony in London, presented with a €4,000 cash prize and a range of Sony camera equipment.

Check out the winners in each category:

Architecture

An image of a paper mill in Obbola, Sweden, surrounded by layers of shadows, concrete, and clouds on a dark November night. Credit: Markus Naarttijärvi (Sweden) Winner. Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Creative

For Lost Hope: a carefully composed portrait, using staged and symbolic elements in a poignant ode to Iranian women. © Siavosh Ejlali, Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Winner, Open Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Landscape

Shapes and Patterns of the Desert: A study of the geometric composition and the rich, warm colours of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia. Credit: J Fritz Rumpf, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards

Lifestyle

Portrait of Charlotte and Dolly, depicting a young woman and her cow, resting together in a barn to keep cool in summer heat in West Virgin Credit: Vanta Coda III, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Lifestyle, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Motion

Natural World & Wildlife

Object

Colour Divides depicts the juxtaposition of a blue car against bright green and pink buildings of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood in South Africa's Cape Town. Credit: Robby Ogilvie, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Portraiture

The Barefoot Volcanologist: A portrait of Phillip, an internationally recognised, self-taught volcano scientist, standing atop a volcanic rock Credit: Elle Leontiev, Australia, Winner, Open Competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Street Photography

Travel

Japan's lively Abare Festival where men leap into the river as torches blaze, is a traditional celebration passed down through generations. Credit: Megumi Murakami, Japan, Winner, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

A selection of winning and shortlisted images will be shown as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House from 17 April - 4 May 2026, and will then travel to other locations.

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