"Sony Photography Awards of 2026 reveals panel of judges and sets exhibition dates in London"
The Sony World Photography Awards, now in its 19th edition, has announced the jury for its 2026 competition and set deadlines for submissions.
The Professional Competition jury includes Monica Allende (Chair, Independent Curator and Photography Consultant), Daniel Brena (Director, Centro de las Artes de San Agustín, Mexico), Yumi Goto (Independent Curator, Editor, Researcher, and Publisher, Japan), Zack Hatfield (Managing Editor), Paul Ninson, and Bindi Vora. Monica Allende will also be curating the London exhibition.
Ruby Rees-Sheridan will judge the Open and Youth competitions, while Tess Raimbeau will oversee the Student competition.
The Awards opened for submissions in June this year, with professional entries required to be submitted by January 13, 2026. Student entries have a deadline of November 28, 2025, and Open and Youth submissions have a deadline of January 06, 2026.
The Photographer of the Year will receive a cash prize of $25,000, the Open Photographer of the Year will receive a cash prize of $5,000, and the winner of the Sustainability Prize will also receive $5,000. Winners of the Awards will also receive digital imaging equipment from Sony.
The exhibition of the winning images will take place in London at Somerset House from April 17 to May 4, 2026. The exhibition will showcase winning and shortlisted images, as well as special presentations by Zed Nelson, the Photographer of the Year from last year, and the Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient (to be announced in November).
Following the London presentation, the exhibition will tour internationally, starting with spring presentations in Tokyo and an ongoing Milan display until September 28. The exhibition will then travel to Berlin, Germany, from October 16, 2026, to January 18, 2027.
The Sony World Photography Awards is a prestigious platform for photographers, offering international exposure and recognition. Entry to the Awards is free and photographers are judged anonymously by a panel of industry-leading experts. The Awards provide an opportunity for photographers to showcase their work and compete for cash prizes, equipment, and the chance to have their work exhibited in some of the world's most prestigious venues.
