National and Regional Awards: Winners and Shortlists Introduced

It’s the penultimate announcement of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 – the National & Regional Awards! Celebrating distinctive expertise throughout international locations and areas, this particular initiative brings excellent photographers into the highlight, each regionally and on the world stage.

Expanding its world attain, this 12 months sees the introduction of two thrilling new accolades: the European Student Award, honouring distinctive collection captured by images college students throughout the area, and the India National Award, devoted to celebrating the work of photographers based mostly within the nation.

Discover a few of our highlights under, and don’t miss the prospect to see them on the 2026 exhibition, open 17 April – 4 May at Somerset House, London.

To see the complete shortlists, click on right here. 

Single Images (Open competitors)

Selected from greater than 30 international locations, these photographers have been recognised for the very best single photos of 2025, spanning every thing from sweeping landscapes and intimate portraits to breathtaking glimpses of the pure world.

To discover the complete National & Regional Awards (Single photos), chosen from entries to the Open competitors, click on right here.
 

European Student Award

Congratulations to Teresa Halbreiter (Germany) for being the inaugural winner of the European Student Award for her collection Stillgestanden (‘Attention!’).

Commenting on her win, Teresa Halbreiter says: ‘I was shocked and couldn’t fairly imagine that my work was chosen because the winner of the European Student Award. I do know so many superb photographers finding out images in Germany – and to be chosen for a world competitors of this scale feels nice and really rewarding.’

Set up by Sony Europe and Creo, the European Student Award recognises excellent scholar initiatives, spotlighting the very best rising voices from throughout Europe. The Award was established to collaborate with main universities throughout the area, providing their college students the very best platform for beginning a profession in images.

Explore the complete European Student Award winner and shortlist gallery

Japan National Award

Congratulations to Hayate Kurisu for profitable this 12 months’s Japan National Award for his or her collection Living Photographs, which paperwork the expertise of the photographer and his spouse following the loss of a kid to stillbirth, and the times spent collectively as a household earlier than the cremation.
 

Explore the complete Japan National Award winner and shortlist gallery

India National Award

Congratulations to Avijit Ghosh for profitable the inaugural India National Award for his collection Keepers of Mangroves which captures the conservation efforts of ‘tiger widows’ in Dayapur, India, the place girls who’ve misplaced their husbands to tiger assaults are serving to to revive the tigers’ mangrove ecosystems, to attempt to alleviate battle with the animals.

Explore the complete India National Award winner and shortlist gallery

Latin America Professional Award

Congratulations to Citlali Fabián (Mexico) for profitable 1st Place within the Latin America Professional Award for his or her collection Bilha, Stories of my Sisters that blends portraits and digital illustrations to convey to life the tales of inspiring girls in southern Mexico.

Explore the complete Latin America Professional Award winner and shortlist gallery

Latin America Regional Awards

Congratulations to Juan Jacobo Castillo Barrera (Colombia) for profitable 1st Place within the Latin America Regional Awards for his putting portrait of the Upper Amazon Stubfoot Toad.

Explore the complete Latin America Regional Awards winners and shortlist gallery

What’s subsequent?

The general winners and the Photographer of the Year might be introduced on 16 April on the Awards ceremony in London. Discover their works alongside over 300 photos on the exhibition at Somerset House from 17 April – 4 May. Tickets now on sale.

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