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The world has truly come together for an incredible celebration of photography. The 2026 Sony World Photography Awards National & Regional Winnersare here, and the results are nothing short of stunning. This year, more than 430,000 images poured in from over 200 countries, making it clear that creativity knows no boundaries.
Organized by Sony and Creo, in partnership with the World Photography Organisation, this worldwide event celebrates photographers whose local stories resonate worldwide. The winning images, everything from candid street scenes to sweeping landscapes, capture the full spectrum of photography, showcasing both up-and-coming talent and experienced professionals.
What sets this year apart is its diversity. Drawing on entries from the Open, Professional, and Student competitions, the awards bring together a vibrant mix of viewpoints and personal stories that still strike a universal chord. Each National Award winner and top Regional photographer gains not just recognition, but also Sony Digital Imaging gear to inspire their next creative adventure.
But there’s even more. Some winners will head to London for exclusive workshops, where they’ll meet industry leaders and open doors to new opportunities. For these photographers, the award is just the beginning of their journey.
In a world overflowing with photos, these winners remind us what true storytelling is all about: images that are bold, honest, and impossible to forget.
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1. National Awards 1st Place, Indonesia: "A Girl with a Flower Crown" by R. Eko Hardiyanto
This image combines two photographs: a portrait of a girl and the texture of a dry leaf, blending natural forms into a single visual narrative.
2. National Awards 1st Place, Mongolia: "Mongolian Kazakh" by Jargalsaikhan Bayarkhand
Many Kazakhs migrated to western Mongolia in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, preserving their customs, nomadic lifestyle and traditional clothing. Despite differences with other ethnic groups of the Mongolian steppe, they are hardy and welcoming people.
3. National Awards 1st Place, Myanmar: "Fishing Together" by Kyaw Zayar Lin
The wetland area of Myanmar’s Inle Lake is rich with trees and fish, providing a livelihood for local communities. This photograph shows children fishing in the early morning.
4. National Awards 1st Place, Nigeria: "Untitled" by Obaroh Oghenemairo
Photographed as part of a series titled The Boys Outside, which looks to capture the youthful beauty of its subjects.
5. National Awards 1st Place, Uzbekistan: "Sunset in the Desert" by Boris Nedosekov
A sunset over the Ustyurt Plateau desert, photographed close to the dried-up Sarykamysh Lake in Uzbekistan. The marks seen on the sun in this image are not dust or camera defects, but actual sunspots on the sun’s surface.
6. National Awards 1st Place, Saudi Arabia: "Harmony of Earth and Sky" by Khalid Alsabt
The mountains outside the city of AlUla in northern Saudi Arabia harmonise with their surroundings, day and night. Here, the Milky Way appears alongside a mountain called Muqrat al-Dabbous.
7. National Awards 1st Place, Kuwait: "Lady of the Lake" by Meshaal Alawadhi
Photographed at Lake Bled, Slovenia, this image features three of the area’s iconic buildings: the Church of the Assumption, the Bled Castle and St. Martin’s Parish Church.
8. National Awards 1st Place, Cambodia: "Untitled" by Sam Ang Ourng
A performer of traditional Cambodian Chai Yam dance, in full costume after dancing at a Khmer kite competition in Ponhea Lueu District, Kandal Province, Cambodia.
9. National Awards 1st Place, South Africa: "Stealth" by Greg du Toit
A solitary leopard descends a fallen tree in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, its silhouette merging with the vast, moody sky. Captured from a distance, the image evokes the predator’s grace, and the untamed freedom of its wild home.
10. National Awards 1st Place, Thailand: "Drifting in Two Worlds" by Pattarin Tridboonkrong
A lone jellyfish glides through crystal-clear water, its glowing orange form moving between two realms: the surface above and the calm blue depths below. In this moment, the creature appears suspended between reality and dream, revealing the elegance of life beneath the sea.
11. National Awards 1st Place, Taiwan: "Her Hands are the Past, Mine are the Continuation" by Wei-Cheng Tsai
This image captures a quiet moment in Taitung, Taiwan. The afternoon light falls softly as a mother guides her daughter’s hands, each stitch like a memory written into the fabric. Without a stage or audience, tradition survives in silence, shaped by patience, presence and time.
12. National Awards 1st Place, Nepal: "Spirit of Yartung" by Ajay Maharjan
A rider charges forward with intensity and grace during the Yartung Festival in Manang, Nepal. This vibrant celebration of tradition and skill reveals the deep bond between horse and rider in the high Himalayas.
13. National Awards 1st Place, Qatar: "Harbour Market" by Mohamed Nageeb
This photograph captures the harmony and rhythm of daily life, highlighting the energy and vibrancy of a beachside market.
14. National Awards 1st Place, Kazakhstan: "Celebrity" by Nelya Rachkova
A praying mantis photographed on a thistle flower in the soft morning light.
15. National Awards 1st Place, Egypt: "Happiness Seller" by Yousef Naser
A ‘happiness seller’ waits for worshippers to leave the mosque after Eid prayers in Old Cairo, Egypt.
16. National Awards 1st Place, Malaysia: "V" by Eng Tong Tan
Using the underside of a bridge to create a strong vanishing point, this photograph draws the viewer’s eye towards the horizon, where structure, water and city converge. The narrowing lines emphasise depth and scale, transforming the bridge into a visual pathway between the urban landscape and fading light.
17. National Awards 1st Place, Vietnam: "Adrift in the Sea of Weeds" by Hieu Linh Nguyen
Photographed from above, a small boat drifts through dense underwater vegetation, surrounded by shifting currents and light. The image reflects the fragility of human presence within a vast, living seascape.
18. National Awards 1st Place, Sri Lanka: "Dawn Over the Wetlands" by Lahiru Iddamalgoda
Taken in the east of Sri Lanka at dawn, this aerial photograph presents a calm moment of daily life, as a herd of buffalo cross a shallow lagoon.
19. National Awards 1st Place, Bangladesh: "Threads of Life" by Pinu Rahman
This portrait of a jute labourer carrying bundles of raw jute from the river to a warehouse captures the resilience and hardship behind Bangladesh’s jute industry. The tones of the fibres merge with the subject’s beard and face, symbolising the weight and intensity of his work.
20. National Awards 1st Place, United Arab Emirates: "Untitled" by Salem Alsawafi
Photographed from above in Cappadocia, Turkey, a dramatic moment unfolds as a horseman charges through a cloud of dust, trying to lead a powerful herd. The dust and movement convey a scene of chaos and control, speed and symmetry, which captures the timeless bond between human and horse.
21. National Awards 1st Place, Philippines: "The End of the Day" by Rafael Salvador Ybañez
As the sun sets, a local fisherman brings his boat and the day’s catch to shore on Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines.
22. National Awards 1st Place, Pakistan: "Twilight" by Muhammad Asmar Hussain
A cold morning in the Katpana Desert in Skardu. The first light of day pierces the blue hour.
23. National Awards 1st Place, Singapore: "The Eye: Window to the Soul" by Chung Cheong Wong
Blakiston’s fish owl is a nocturnal bird of prey that relies on its keen hearing and sight for hunting. This carefully timed photograph captures one of the owl’s eyes, revealed through its flight feathers.
24. Latin America Regional Awards 1st Place: "Atelopus seminiferus" by Juan Jacobo Castillo Barrera
The Upper Amazon Stubfoot Toad is one of the world’s most impressive amphibians. Having travelled thousands of kilometres and walked for several hours, the photographer encountered this male toad trying to attract a female in with his song, in San Martin, Peru.
25. Latin America Regional Awards 2nd Place: "Hermanas" by Livier Miroslava Ultreras
This photograph pays homage to the Chicano style, the Virgin Mary and Frida Kahlo’s painting The Two Fridas.
26. Latin America Regional Awards 3rd Place: "Eyes of the Mountain" by Nicolas Aguiar
‘In Patagonia, our eyes are the mountains.’ Taken at Cerro Piltriquitron in El Bolsón, Argentina.
27. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Memoria" by Camila Belén González Camarero
This self-portrait was made with the help of three friends, recreating an image of the photographer’s grandmother that was taken 69 years ago. She passed away a couple of months before this photograph was made, and restaging it became a way of honouring her memory and keeping her presence alive.
28. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Penda" by Camila Gattamelati
Photographed in an open field in Costa Brava, this portrait captures its subject in a quiet moment. Something in her gaze caught the photographer’s attention, and the exposure was made at the brief, striking moment when their eyes met.
29. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Yolanda" by María Candelaria Rivera
Yolanda is a photographic series born from the photographer’s encounter with a domestic worker of the same name. Through intimate, direct portraits it seeks to reveal the strength and dignity that sustain Yolanda’s days, reflecting both her own life and that of many women in Latin America who support other households while carrying their own dreams and struggles.
30. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Hunting Game" by Fabiana Fregonesi
A Galápagos sea lion swims through a dense school of black salema fish. Captured during a dive in the Galápagos Islands, the image reveals the predator’s agility against the fluid patterns of the fish, providing a raw look at the survival instincts, and the high-energy interactions that define this unique volcanic ecosystem.
31. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Bodies of Water" by Johan Garrido Rivera
This photograph presents an intimate act of communion with water, the source that nourishes life. Memory and the present merge, reminding the viewer that within its depths lies the force that sustains the land.
32. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Symmetry" by Alvaro Cubero Vega
A common murre faces the lens, its perfect symmetry reflecting the precision of nature.
33. Latin America Regional Awards Shortlist: "Untitled" by Sergio Vila
Inti Raymi is an important annual celebration in Andean culture that takes place on 24 June in Cusco, Peru. Dance plays a central and symbolic role, representing the worship of the sun (Inti) and the renewal of the agricultural cycle, capturing the connection with nature.
34. National Awards 1st Place, Korea: "Konco Wingking: Strength in Silence" by Heun Jung Kim
‘Konco wingking,’ meaning ‘friend behind,’ reflects the traditional role of Javanese women supporting their husbands. While women’s roles have evolved, many still quietly shape family life. This portrait explores tradition, identity, and strength through the contrast of the subject’s hijab and her husband’s coat.
35. National Awards 2nd Place, Korea: "Flora" by Hanhoon Lee
This photograph anthropomorphises the angelica flower, revealing its radiant symmetry against a stark black background. The delicate branching forms resemble a graceful being extending outward, evoking movement and life. Through monochrome tones and precise detail, the image transforms a simple botanical subject into a poetic figure.
36. National Awards 3rd Place, Korea: "Rest" by Nakheo Choi
Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, South Korea, is a sanctuary for workers in the concrete jungle. When the stream finally opened for the first time in 20 years, people cast aside their urban restraint and embraced the raw, healing power of the water.
FAQs
What are the Sony National & Regional Awards?
The Sony National & Regional Awards honor exceptional photographers from different countries and regions. By shining a spotlight on local talent, these awards give photographers the chance to be recognized globally through the Sony World Photography Awards.
How many entries were submitted in 2026?
In 2026, photographers from over 200 countries and territories submitted more than 430,000 images. This incredible turnout makes it one of the world’s biggest and most diverse photography contests.
Who organizes the Sony World Photography Awards?
The World Photography Organisation, together with Sony and Creo, runs the awards to help photographers at all levels of their careers gain recognition and support worldwide.
What do winners receive?
Winners get Sony camera gear, worldwide exhibition exposure, and the chance to meet and learn from industry professionals, helping them grow creatively and professionally.
Are there opportunities beyond winning?
Yes! Some winners, including both Professional and Student finalists, are invited to London for special workshops. These events offer hands-on mentorship, valuable networking, and learning opportunities with top industry experts.
Why are these awards important?
These awards bring together unique perspectives from around the world, support both up-and-coming and experienced photographers, and give storytellers a powerful way to share their vision and connect cultures through photography.
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