On December 10, I published a text on a photograph that, to my eyes, could stand without difficulty among the best of the year. Not long after, I encountered another article presenting the final selection for the World Press Photo Exhibition 2026. The photograph in question was among them. What remains now is a single doubt. Whether it will ultimately be chosen as Photo of the Year.

In that same announcement, World Press Photo stated that the winner would be revealed on April 23. The selected image would receive an additional €10,000. The winner, together with the two finalists, would also be awarded a FUJIFILM GFX100 II camera, including two NP-W235 batteries and a BC-W235 charger, along with the option of choosing either two FUJINON GF lenses or a fixed-lens digital camera, the FUJIFILM GFX100RF, paired with a FUJINON GF lens.

Executive director Joumana El Zein Khoury noted: “I have deep respect for the thoughtful process behind every story we award. I believe that the jury’s intentionality is—and will continue to be—the source of the public’s trust in World Press Photo.”

From 57,376 photographs submitted by 3,747 photographers across 141 countries, only 42 projects were awarded. The works engage central themes such as global conflict, the far-reaching impact of the climate crisis, civic action, and the struggle for rights. They move between broad perspectives and close, interior views of war, crisis, and the fragility of human life, while holding space for survival, resistance, resilience, and the persistence of hidden traditions.

Thirty-one of the 42 winners are photographers working within the regions they document. Compared to the 2025 edition, participation increased by 11% in South America and 14% in Asia-Pacific and Oceania. Women and non-binary photographers accounted for 22% of total entries, reflecting a steady rise since the introduction of the regional contest model.

The selection process unfolded in two stages. An initial evaluation conducted by six independent regional juries was followed by a final decision entrusted to a global jury composed of the regional jury chairs and a global jury chair.

The 2026 global jury was chaired by Kira Pollack, a fellow at the Harvard Shorenstein Center whose work explores archival innovation through emerging technologies. She previously held senior editorial roles at TIME, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times Magazine. Reflecting on the moment, she stated: “This is a critical moment—for democracy, for truth, for the question of what we as a society are willing to see and call out, and what we are willing to ignore. The photographers recognized here have done their part. They have made the record. Now it is our turn to look.”

Exhibition

The awarded projects will be presented internationally as part of the World Press Photo Exhibition, which will travel to more than 60 cities. The opening exhibition will take place in Amsterdam at De Nieuwe Kerk. Additional venues will be confirmed throughout the year and incorporated into the official calendar.

Here is a selection of the shortlisted photographs:
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A female polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass in the polar pack ice north of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard. 82° North, International Waters, 8 July 2025. Polar Bear on Sperm Whale © Roie Galitz, Europe, Singles.
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Palestinians at Al-Mawasi displacement camp wait for a meal. Local charity kitchens were one of the only food sources for many of Gaza’s displaced. Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, 21 September 2025. Witnessing Gaza © Saher Alghorra, for The New York Times, West, Central and South Asia, Stories.
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The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds. The Los Angeles blazes inflicted between $28 and $53.8 billion in property damage, disrupting thousands of local businesses. Los Angeles, California, United States, 7 January 2025. Los Angeles on Fire © Ethan Swope, for Associated Press, North and Central America, Stories.
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A soldier from Ukraine’s 93rd Brigade scans for Russian FPV drones while speeding through Kostyantynivka, a strategic gateway to Ukraine’s last major defensive belt in Donetsk. Kostyantynivka, Ukraine, 19 June 2025. Drone Wars © David Guttenfelder, The New York Times, Europe, Stories.
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Waltraud talks with Emma, a social robot that recognizes faces and remembers past conversations. Though skeptical at first, Waltraud says she felt connected to Emma over time. Albershausen, Germany, 3 July 2025. Emma the Social Robot © Paula Hornickel, Europe, Singles.
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Amal holds an X-ray of her lungs. She moved to Moon Valley at three years old and developed asthma within months. Alexandria, Egypt, 31 January 2018. Moon Dust © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program, Africa, Long-Term Projects.
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Noura attempts to control her horse after firing, the most dangerous part of the performance. Riders risk injury from gunpowder or falling and being trampled. Sidi Rahal, Morocco, 8 August 2025. Farīsāt: Gunpowder’s Daughters © Chantal Pinzi, Panos Pictures, Africa, Stories.
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Female students attend class at their school, which was attacked by the Taliban on 21 December 2012 as part of a campaign to prevent girls from accessing education. Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 4 June 2013. Hijacked Education © Diego Ibarra Sánchez, Long-Term Projects, Diego Ibarra Sanchez.
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Members of the CAPSAT military unit ride a pickup truck as protesters celebrate their arrival, following clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 11 October 2025. Madagascar’s Gen Z Protests © Luis Tato, Agence France-Presse, Africa, Stories.

More photographs here

Program schedule and major events