Call for entries: World Press Photo Contest 2026

Entries for the 2026 World Press Photo Contest are open until January 17, 2026.

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.

Why should you enter? 

Entering the World Press Photo Contest is free and open to all professional photographers working in the field of photojournalism and/or documentary photography.

As a winner, your work will be:

• Included in our annual traveling exhibition seen by over 4 million visitors, shown around the world in over 80 cities
• Published on our website and social platforms with over 2 million followers
• Included in our annual yearbook, available in six languages with a worldwide distribution of more than 30,000 copies

You will also receive:

• €1,000 for each of the winners and an additional €10,000 for the World Press Photo of the Year winner
• FUJIFILM GFX cameras and lenses will be awarded to the World Press Photo of the Year winner and two finalists
• An invitation to a winners’ event in Amsterdam for all winners
• A physical award for all winners 

2026 Contest timeline

• Entries open: 1 December 2025
• Entries close: 17 January 2026, 13.00 CET (Amsterdam time)
• Contest winners announcement: 9 April 2026
• Photo of the Year (with two finalists) announcement: 23 April 2026
• Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 opens in Amsterdam: April 2026

Ambassadors

Do you need a second opinion or some advice about a story you’d like to submit? The ambassadors are independent industry experts and former World Press Photo Contest jury members, who will be available to support first time entrants to our annual contest.

The 2026 Contest Ambassadors are:

• Andreas Trampe, Germany, co-founder Hamburg Portfolio Review
• Andrew Esiebo, Nigeria, artist and storyteller
• Ezra Acayan, Philippines, photojournalist
• Maíra Gamarra, Bolivia/Brazil, curator, educator and editor
• Rena Effendi, Azerbaijan, photographer, writer, filmmaker

The ambassadors can be contacted directly on instagram and will be able to offer advice on a first come, first served basis.

Enter now

Do you want to be notified about any upcoming announcements regarding the 2026 Contest? Sign up here.

View the original call here.