The Sony World Photography Awards has announced its laureates for this year—at a gala ceremony in London, which I attended in person, the jury revealed the winners of ten categories as well as the most prestigious title, Photographer of the Year.

It is one of the largest and most respected competitions in the world—according to the organizers, 430,000 photographs from 200 countries and territories were submitted this year. Renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz Joel Meyerowitz was honoured as 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient

More information about this year’s winners and finalists can be found at worldphoto.org.

Photographer of the Year: Citlali Fabián and Bilha, Stories of my Sisters

The prestigious Photographer of the Year 2026 title was awarded to Citlali Fabián for her series Bilha, Stories of my Sisters. Citlali Fabián is an artist from the Mexican indigenous Yalalteca community. Her winning series of black-and-white photographs captures portraits of various women from her circle who are actively involved in solving the challenges of today’s world.

“I wanted them to participate in the creation of my portraits,” she explains, describing her photographs and their subjects at the Somerset House gallery in central London, where the photos will be exhibited to the public starting Friday. “I always let them choose the location, but also the overall feel of the photographs, which must always have a connection to what their communities are experiencing,” she adds. Outside, the sun is shining brightly, and the photographs in the intimate setting of the gallery appear truly captivating. They undeniably achieve what the photographer/artist strived for: to be a powerful testimony to the life of this specific community.

These are not traditional photographs, but a mixed media technique. “The foundation consists of black-and-white shots taken on a medium format camera,” she explains. She then enhanced them during post-processing with additional graphic elements—such as human figures or the circular flight patterns of cicadas.

As Monica Allende, the chair of the 2026 professional jury, stated at the press conference, Citlali Fabián’s work “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”

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY WINNERS

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

WINNER: Joy Saha (Bangladesh) for Homes of Haor
Finalists: 2nd place André Tezza (Brazil); 3rd place Chen Liang (China Mainland)

CREATIVE

WINNER: Citlali Fabián (Mexico) for Bilha, Stories of My Sisters
Finalists: 2nd place Pablo Ramos (Mexico); 3rd place Ben Brooks (United Kingdom)

DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS

WINNER: Santiago Mesa (Colombia) for Under the Shadow of Coca
Finalists: 2nd place Colin Delfosse (Belgium); 3rd place Alexandre Bagdassarian (France)

ENVIRONMENT

WINNER: Isadora Romero (Ecuador) for Notes on How to Build a Forest
Finalists: 2nd place Matteo Trevisan (Italy); 3rd place Shane Hynan (Ireland)

LANDSCAPE

WINNER: Dafna Talmor (United Kingdom) for Constructed Landscapes
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
Finalists: 2nd place Hayate Kurisu (Japan); 3rd place Fredrik Lerneryd (Sweden)

PORTRAITURE

WINNER: Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni (Italy) for The Faithful
Finalists: 2nd place Marisa Reichert (Germany); 3rd place Federico Borella (Italy)

SPORT

WINNER: Todd Antony (New Zealand) for Buzkashi
Finalists: 2nd place Morgan Otagburuagu (Nigeria); 3rd place Rob Van Thienen (Belgium)

STILL LIFE

WINNER: Vilma Taubo (Norway) for Talking Without Speaking
Finalists: 2nd place Gargi Sharma (India); 3rd place Daniele Vita (Italy)

WILDLIFE & NATURE

WINNER: Will Burrard-Lucas (United Kingdom) for Crossing Point
Finalists: 2nd place Anita Pouchard Serra (Argentina); 3rd place Wolfgang Duerr (Germany)

OPEN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The Open competition is a celebration of the photographic image in all its power; standout images are chosen for the way they distil a moment into something that resonates far beyond it. The Open Photographer of the Year 2026 is Elle Leontiev (Australia).

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY

The prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2026 is awarded to acclaimed photographer Joel Meyerowitz. Meyerowitz’s practice is marked by his observant eye, finely tuned to the currents and textures of life. His work shows a fascination with life happening around him, and a remarkable instinct for framing images that are at once revealing and enigmatic, imbued with beauty and wit.

Category Winners at the Press Conference

Note: The gallery features shots directly from the press conference where the photographers presented their work. These are mobile snaps, so please excuse the quality (and the occasional tilted horizon). Given the tight schedule, it was the only way to capture the moment on the fly.