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Call for entries World Press Photo Contest 2026 is now open!!
The annual World Press Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year. Entering is free, and prizes include up to €11,000, inclusion in our annual traveling exhibition, and more.
World Press Photo is an independent non-profit organization that champions the power of photojournalism and documentary photography to deepen understanding of the world’s complexities, promote dialogue, and inspire action. Founded in the Netherlands in 1955, our annual contest and thematic exhibitions reach millions of people in over 80 locations worldwide each year, and our online work reaches millions more.
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We showcase compelling stories to create space for reflection in times of urgency. Amid a fast-changing media landscape influenced by censorship, misinformation, and threats to press freedom, we promote standards of accuracy, authenticity, and visual excellence and ensure diverse perspectives are represented. Our education programs support photographers in reaching these standards and help the public explore the profound societal impact of photography. We appreciate the support of our strategic partners, the Dutch Postcode Lottery and FUJIFILM.
Whilst the jury is independent of World Press Photo, the organization provides some criteria to guide and support the jury in the judging process. World Press Photo sets these criteria in order to ensure the selection works towards the organization’s mission of promoting standards of accuracy, authenticity, and visual excellence, while ensuring diverse perspectives are represented.
Without restricting the jury in their deliberations, they ask the jury to consider the following criteria during judging:
- Visual quality: this can include creativity, technical skill and visual style, and the edit of the story (where relevant)
- Story: this refers to the story and/or issues covered in the photographs, its relevance or significance, and the way in which the photographer has chosen to approach the story
- Representation: this refers to the importance of awarding a diverse range of stories and photographers
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The organization recognizes that the jury comprises a diverse group of industry experts who each bring relevant knowledge of their regions and insight into different aspects of photojournalism and documentary photography. Therefore whilst the organization sets these criteria, it also gives the jury the freedom to determine and define what makes an entry worthy of an award.
2026 Contest timeline
- Entries open: 1 December 2025
- Entries close: 17 January 2026, 13.00 CET (Amsterdam time)
- Contest winners announcement: March/April 2026
- Photo of the Year (with two finalists) announcement: April 2026
- Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 opens in Amsterdam: April 2026
Location:
Online
Benefits
Every contest winner receives:
- A monetary prize of €1,000
- Inclusion in the annual World Press Photo year-long worldwide exhibition
- Inclusion in the annual collectible yearbook, available in multiple languages with a worldwide distribution of more than 30,000 copies
- Publication in the online collection and a personal profile on World Press Photo’s website
- Promotion on World Press Photo’s platforms
- Invitation to the Winners’ Program in Amsterdam
- A physical award
In addition, winners are often featured in major publications and invited to speak at public events, exhibition openings, and lectures throughout the year.
42 contest winners will be awarded: three Singles, three Stories and one Long-Term Project per region (Africa; Asia-Pacific and Oceania; Europe; North and Central America; South America; and West, Central, and South Asia).
World Press Photo of the Year winner
Out of the 42 winning entries, the global jury will choose the World Press Photo of the Year with two runners up. In addition to receiving their winning prize, the World Press Photo of the Year winner will also receive:
- An additional monetary prize of €10,000
- FUJIFILM GFX cameras and lenses that will be awarded to the Photo of the Year winner and two runners up
- An additional physical award
Eligibilities
1. The World Press Photo contest is open to professional photographers working in the field of journalism and/or documentary photography. Every entrant needs to provide a document with a valid date that confirms their current professional status. Examples of documents include, but are not limited to:
- press card, stating you are working as a photographer;
OR
- at least 1 proof of publication (for example a tearsheet) from 2024 or 2025, with your name visible as credit, in either online or print format from a recognized media organization or publication;
OR
- journalism union membership card;
OR
- membership document from a recognized photographic association that shows the photographer is a professional member;
OR
- a recent letter of reference (must be from 2024 or 2025) from a photo agency, photo editor, media organization or publication, stating you have worked for them as a photographer;
OR
- if you are not able to provide proof that meets the above criteria, you may register with alternative (multiple) documents so that we can gain a better understanding of your professional status.
We do not consider proof of professional status:
- CVs or cover letters
OR
- diplomas
OR
- samples of photography
The organization reserves the right to ask for additional information to help clarify the entrant’s professional status.
2. Team entries of two or more photographers are allowed. Proof of professional status must be provided for each team member.
3. The photographer(s) must be the author(s) of the photographs submitted in their name.
4. The photographer(s), agent or representative entering on their behalf, must be the copyright holder(s) or have been authorized by the copyright holder(s) to submit the photographs.
5. Entries must comply with the categories, as described here.
6. Entries must meet the technical requirements.
7. Photographs can be submitted whether or not they have been published.
8. Photographs taken at restricted events are not accepted (i.e., events where only photographers commissioned by those organizing the event have access, for example, photographers commissioned by governments, political parties, or corporations).
9. All entries must have accurate captions and descriptions, written in English. If the captions have been translated, please also provide the original caption. Captions must contain all the information described in the guidance on captions.
10. Each entry must include relevant additional information, such as motivation, the type of project (assignment/personal project,) and funding.
11. All entries must comply with the World Press Photo code of ethics.
12. Entries can only be submitted via Picter, the official contest entry platform.
Additional entry rules for the Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects categories
15. A photograph can only be entered once, either as a Single or as part of a Story, or as part of a Long-Term Project.
16. Photographs must not show the name of the photographer, agency, or publication, or any other information (these details can be included in the metadata of the photograph but must not be visible on the photograph itself).
17. All photographs entered into the contest must comply with our rules on manipulation and must not be altered by adding, rearranging, reversing, distorting, or removing people and/or objects from within the frame. Read the rules on manipulation here.
18. Entrants must provide file(s) as recorded by the camera for all images that proceed to the final stages of the contest. These file(s) will be requested and studied confidentially between 26 January and 22 February 2026. Failure to provide these files when requested will lead to the exclusion of the entry.
Eligible Regions: open to professional photographers working in the field of journalism and/or documentary photography.
Application Process
To enter the contest, follow these steps:
- Create your personal Picter account.
- Register for the 2026 World Press Photo Contest on Picter. This requires your personal data as well as your proof of professional status. If you’re a new entrant (have not entered the contest in the last three years), your registration will be reviewed to ensure it meets our entry rules. We reserve the right to ask for additional information to help clarify your professional status.
- While your registration is under review, you can already upload your work, add captions, metadata, and other information.
- Submit your entries before the deadline of 17 January 2026, 13.00 CET.
Application Deadline: January 17, 2026 (24 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
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