(Zdroj: Klaus Hellmich, Germany, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
The Sony World Photography Awards have announced the winners and shortlists for its 2026 Open Competition, showcasing over 100 standout images from photographers around the globe. Selected from more than 430,000 submissions from over 200 countries and territories, the winning photographs represent a diverse range of styles, and subjects. The awards highlight both established and emerging talent in the photography world, offering a snapshot of contemporary visual storytelling.
Markus Naarttijärvi of Sweden took the top prize in the Architecture category with his image, “Industrial Layers,” a striking nighttime view of a paper mill in Obbola. The photograph captures the interplay of shadows, concrete, clouds, and sky, offering a unique perspective on industrial landscapes.
(Zdroj: Markus Naarttijärvi, Sweden, Winner, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
In the Creative category, Siavosh Ejlali from Iran was awarded first place for “Lost Hope,” a carefully composed portrait utilizing staged and symbolic elements. The image serves as a poignant commentary on the experiences of Iranian women. According to the artist, the black plastic covering much of the woman’s face represents “dark thoughts and imposed beliefs,” although a falling red balloon symbolizes “her lost hope.” The backdrop evokes the urban landscape of Iran, a recent site of demonstrations led by women, with Ejlali noting that “the red clothes and lips are the bloody price women have paid.”
(Zdroj: Siavosh Ejlali, Iran, Islamic Republic Of, Winner, Open Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
J Fritz Rumpf of the United States earned the top spot in the Landscape category with “Shapes and Patterns of the Desert,” a study of the geometric composition and warm colors of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia. The image’s contrasting greens and peach tones, combined with the interplay of light and shadow, create a visually striking and painterly effect.
(Zdroj: J Fritz Rumpf, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Vanta Coda III, also from the United States, won the Lifestyle category with a portrait titled “Charlotte and Dolly,” depicting a young woman and her cow resting in a barn to escape the summer heat in West Virginia. The image captures a quiet moment of companionship and rural life.
(Zdroj: Vanta Coda III, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Lifestyle, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Franklin Littlefield, representing the United States, secured the win in the Motion category with his photograph, “Sailboat,” taken at a punk rock concert. The image captures the energy and dynamism of a live performance.
(Zdroj: Franklin Littlefield, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Klaus Hellmich of Germany was awarded first place in the Natural World & Wildlife category for his image, “Polar Fox in a Snowstorm,” captured on the Varanger Peninsula. The photograph depicts a fox braving harsh winter conditions.
(Zdroj: Klaus Hellmich, Germany, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Robby Ogilvie of the United Kingdom won the Object category with “Divided by Colour,” a photograph of a parked car set against the vividly colored facades of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa.
(Zdroj: Robby Ogilvie, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Elle Leontiev of Australia took the top prize in the Portraiture category with “Barefoot Volcanologist,” depicting a renowned self-taught volcanologist standing barefoot on a piece of solidified lava from the Yasur volcano on Tanna Island, Vanuatu. The image captures the subject in their element.
(Zdroj: Elle Leontiev, Australia, Winner, Open Competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Giulia Pissagroia of Italy won the Street Photography category with “Between the Lines,” an honest depiction of a family marveling at a view from Ørnevegen in Norway.
(Zdroj: Giulia Pissagroia, Italy, Winner, Open Competition, Street Photography, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Megumi Murakami of Japan secured the win in the Travel category with a vibrant photograph capturing the Abare Festival, a 350-year-old tradition in the Noto region. The image depicts men jumping into a river amidst burning torches, believing that the more fiercely they rage, the more pleased the deity will be.
(Zdroj: Megumi Murakami, Japan, Winner, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
Filip Hrebenda of Slovakia was shortlisted in the Travel category with his image, “Palette of Earth.” “When viewed from above, an ordinary landscape can become something extraordinary, as often happens in Iceland. Each lake had a different shade, which reminded the photographer of a painter’s palette. The effect was enhanced by the dramatic lighting conditions after heavy rain,” according to the image description.
(Zdroj: Filip Hrebenda, Slovakia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)
