The 2026 World Press Photo Contest is now accepting submissions from professional photographers, offering a platform to showcase urgent and compelling images from the past year.
Why Enter the 2026 World Press Photo Contest
The World Press Photo Contest has long been recognized as a prestigious platform for photojournalists and documentary photographers globally. Entry is free and provides unmatched visibility, credibility, and career opportunities.
Worldwide Exhibition Exposure
Winning photos will be featured in the annual World Press Photo traveling exhibition, reaching an audience of over 4 million people in 80+ cities worldwide.
Global Yearbook Publication
Photography will be published in the World Press Photo Yearbook, printed in six languages and distributed to more than 30,000 readers, including editors, curators, and visual storytelling professionals.
Digital Reach
Winning work will be showcased across World Press Photo’s digital platforms, reaching over 2 million followers and exposing portfolios to a global audience.
What You Could Win
Awards include:
- €1,000 for each winner
- An additional €10,000 for the World Press Photo of the Year winner
- Cutting-edge FUJIFILM GFX cameras and lenses for the Photo of the Year winner and two finalists
- A fully hosted invitation to Amsterdam for the winners’ event
- A physical award recognizing your achievement
- Global recognition alongside influential photographers
Who Should Apply?
The contest encourages submissions from professional photojournalists covering breaking news or long-form stories, photographers documenting community life, storytellers amplifying underrepresented narratives, and visual witnesses to change. Photojournalism encompasses both frontline conflict coverage and thoughtful documentation of everyday life.
Key Dates to Remember
- Entries open: 1 December 2025
- Entries close: 17 January 2026 at 13:00 CET
- Winners announced: March–April 2026
- Photo of the Year announced: April 2026
- Exhibition opens in Amsterdam: April 2026
Submissions are simple and free through the contest portal.
The images submitted have the potential to spark debate, inspire empathy, or influence policy. The contest seeks work that captures the defining moments of our time.
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