The World Press Photo Contest is the yearly photojournalism and documentary photography award run by World Press Photo, an independent non-profit founded in the Netherlands in 1955.
Photographers submit work in three formats: singles, stories and long-term projects. Six regional juries judge entries by where they were shot, and a global jury picks the Photo of the Year. The 2026 round closed in January; 2027 dates are not yet published.
Benefits & funding
- €1,000 for each winner; the Photo of the Year winner receives an extra €10,000.
- Winning work joins the year-long touring exhibition and the annual yearbook.
- An invitation to the winners’ event in Amsterdam.
- Fujifilm camera gear in the 2026 round, with GFX cameras and lenses for Photo of the Year and two finalists.
- Winners grant World Press Photo unlimited non-exclusive use of the images.
Eligibility
- Professional photographers working in journalism and/or documentary photography, with a dated document proving current professional status (a press card is not required).
- Any nationality; the region is set by where the photos were taken.
- Singles must be shot in the previous year (2025 for the 2026 round); stories hold 4–10 frames, long-term projects 24–30.
- World Press Photo staff, Supervisory Board, International Advisory Committee and that year’s jury cannot enter.
- No AI-generated images or generative fill.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Create a Picter account, register and submit entries free of charge by the deadline (13:00 CET).
- 2Give accurate captions and descriptions in English; entries must follow the code of ethics.
- 3If your entry reaches the final stages, supply the files as recorded by the camera, or it is excluded.
Program timeline
1 Dec 2025
2026 entries opened
17 Jan 2026
Entry deadline, 13:00 CET (the 2026 contest page lists 18 Jan)
Winners announced
9 Apr 2026
Photo of the Year announced
23 Apr 2026