On the occasion of their 20th anniversary, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate two decades of putting photographers from around the world in the spotlight and continue their commitment to photography stronger than ever. As always, the competition is completely free to enter and open to all photographers, regardless of their level of experience or the equipment used to take the images.
Several important changes were introduced this year to mark the 20th anniversary. After two decades of existence, some competitions were renamed to better reflect their character:
The Professional competition is now called Series.
The Open competition is now called Single Image.
In addition, two new categories have been introduced:
Stories (Series)
Animal portraits (Single Image)
For the first time, photographers can also take part in both the Series and Single Image competitions, provided that different works are submitted.
The most important prizes include:
Prize money of up to US$25,000
Work showcased in the London and international exhibitions of the Sony World Photography Awards
A solo exhibition at the next edition of the Awards in London
State-of-the-art digital imaging products from Sony
International recognition through global media coverage
and numerous other opportunities to further your photographic career
Application deadline: January 5, 2027