Application Deadline:
Student competition closes 28 November 2025, 13:00 (GMT)
Youth competition closes 6 January 2026, 13:00 (GMT)
Open competition (including National & Regional Awards and Alpha Female Award) closes 6 January 2026, 13:00 (GMT)
Professional competition (including Latin America Professional Award, Japan National Award, and Sustainability Prize) closes 13 January 2026, 13:00 (GMT)
LOCATION: USA
The objective of the Sony World Photography Awards is to establish a platform for the continuous development of photographic culture. The Awards do this by recognizing great contributions to photography in the past through the Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize as well as finding new talents of the future and providing them with the opportunity to be promoted and exhibited around the world.
ELIGIBILITY:
Student competition: Providing a platform for photography students worldwide.
Free to enter for anyone aged from 18 to 30 years-old undertaking a photography programme
Students answer a set brief with 5 to 10 images
Up to 10 shortlisted photographers
One overall winner receives the Student Photographer of the Year title
Deadline for entries is 28 November 2025 at 13:00 (GMT)
Youth competition: Open to photographers aged 19 and under. Entry is free.
The competition runs from 1 June 2025 to 6 January 2026
Photographers can enter up to three images relating to a theme
Judges will select a shortlist of up to 10 photographers
Shortlist compete for Youth Photographer of the Year title
Overall winner receives Youth Photographer of the Year title and Sony digital imaging kit
Please see ‘Rules’ below for full image eligibility criteria
Deadline for entries is 6 January 2026 at 13:00 (GMT)
Open competition: Free to enter and open to anyone submitting single images taken in 2025
Enter up to three single images for free
Ten diverse categories to enter
Awards for category winners plus up to 15 shortlisted photographers per category
One overall winner receives the Open Photographer of the Year title
Please see ‘Rules’ below for full image eligibility criteria
Deadline is 6 January, 2026 at 13.00 GMT
Professional competition: Free to enter
Open to anyone submitting a series of 5 to 10 images per category
Ten diverse categories to enter
Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place photographers plus up to 7 shortlisted photographers per category
One overall winner receives the Photographer of the Year title
Please see ‘Rules’ below for full image eligibility criteria
Photographer of the Year is rewarded with a solo presentation of their work as part of the Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition the following year
Deadline is January 13 2026 at 13.00 GMT
BENEFIT:
Student competition: Prizes include top Sony Digital Imaging equipment, inclusion in the London exhibition and the annual book – plus more!
Youth competition: You could win top Sony Digital Imaging equipment, inclusion in the London exhibition and the annual book—plus more!
Open competition: Win $5,000 (USD)
Professional competition: Win $25,000 (USD)
YouthExpat 