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A female polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass in the polar pack ice north of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard. 82° North, International Waters, 8 July 2025.

In this winning photo by Roie Galitz, a polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass amid ice drifts. | Credit: © Roie Galitz / World Press Photo

Photographs tell stories that cross language barriers – and the 2026 World Press Photo Contest winners tell the stories of conflict and crisis as well as resistance and resilience.

World Press Photo has announced the winners for the 2026 competition, which recognizes some of the most striking photographs across photojournalism and documentary photography. The contest recognizes photographers across single images, multi-photo stories, and long-term projects across six regions.

The resulting gallery is a collection of more than 100 winning images that create, as the contest organizers describe it, “an urgent portrait of our world today.” World Press Photo will select one Photo of the Year and two finalists from among the award winners on April 23.

“This is a critical moment – for democracy, for truth, for the question of what we as a society are willing to see and call out what we are willing to ignore,” said the contest’s global jury chair for 2026 and Harvard Shorenstein Center fellow Kira Pollack. “The photographers recognized here have done their part. They have made their record. Now it is our turn to look.”

Nearly 3,750 photographers from 141 countries submitted entries to the contests, totalling more than 57,000 photographs.

As a photographer, I’m always awed at the power of photographs to tell stories without words. But the winning images from the 2026 contest tell not just the stories of the world, but the stories of the photographers who persevered through challenging environments.

One photographer watched a polar bear atop a dead sperm whale for two days from a boat. Another has been documenting how war, extremism, and displacement have been denying children the right to education across multiple countries since 2011.

These are some of the most striking images – and stories – from the World Press Photo Contest 2026…

AfricaA soldier descends from a building as fighting continues. Frontline images like this are rare, due to heavily restricted access for journalists. Omdurman, Sudan, 1 November 2024

Sundan’s War: A Nation Trapped, Abdulmonam Eassa, Stories: A soldier descends from a building as fighting continues. Frontline images like this are rare, due to heavily restricted access for journalists. Omdurman, Sudan, 1 November 2024 | Credit: © Abdulmonam Eassa, for Le Monde / World Press Photo

Awady, who was born with asthma, raises pigeons as a hobby. “Every day, I am afraid I won’t be able to play football again,” he says. Alexandria, Egypt, 14 February 2018.

Moon Dust, Mohamed Mahdy, Long-Term Project: “Awady, who was born with asthma, raises pigeons as a hobby. ‘Every day, I am afraid I won’t be able to play football again,’ he says. Alexandria, Egypt, 14 February 2018.” The long-term project follows a community facing toxic dust from a cement factory. | Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program / World Press Photo

Edith Magomere Ingasiani and her daughter Blessings Iminza (9), at their home. Blessings was born in Saudi Arabia without a birth certificate.

Children Who Do Not Exsist, Kiana Hayeri, Singles: “Edith Magomere Ingasiani and her daughter Blessings Iminza (9), at their home. Blessings was born in Saudi Arabia without a birth certificate.” | Credit: © Kiana Hayeri, for The New York Times / World Press Photo

Young dancers from the Joburg Ballet School backstage at the Soweto Theatre during their year-end performance. Soweto, South Africa, 7 December 2025.

Joburg Ballet School, Ihsaan Haffejee, Singles: “Young dancers from the Joburg Ballet School backstage at the Soweto Theatre during their year-end performance. Soweto, South Africa, 7 December 2025.” | Credit: © Ihsaan Haffejee, for GroundUp / World Press Photo

Asia-Pacific and OceaniaA wild giant panda is captured by a camera trap in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve. Sichuan, China, 11 November 2025.

Mountain Resident of Wangland by Rob G. Green, Singles: “A wild giant panda is captured by a camera trap in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve. Sichuan, China, 11 November 2025.” | Credit: © Rob G. Green, National Geographic Society, Henry Luce Foundation / World Press Photo

Mr Wong cries out in anguish as fire engulfs the Tai Po housing complex he calls home. Moments earlier, he phoned his wife, who was trapped in the building, and they exchanged their final words

A Desperate Plea by Tyrone Siu, Singles: “Mr Wong cries out in anguish as fire engulfs the Tai Po housing complex he calls home. Moments earlier, he phoned his wife, who was trapped in the building, and they exchanged what would be their final words. Hong Kong, 26 November 2025.” | Credit: © Tyrone Siu, Reuters / World Press Photo

Zhizhi and Huihui carry their father’s portrait during his funeral procession. Wu Jingzhou passed away in late 2022, leaving the 72-year-old Sheng Hailin to raise their teenage daughters alone

Motherhood at 60, Wu Fang, Long-Term Project: “Zhizhi and Huihui carry their father’s portrait during his funeral procession. Wu Jingzhou passed away in late 2022, leaving the 72-year-old Sheng Hailin to raise their teenage daughters alone. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 8 December 2022.” The long-term project follows a family over 15 years, telling the story of a woman who chose to become a mother again at age 60 through IVF after her only child died | Credit: © Wu Fang / World Press Photo

The newlyweds share a kiss as guests cheer. The couple have been together for ten years. According to Verdillo, “This is just one of the struggles that we’ve overcome.”

Wedding in the Flood, Aaron Favila, Stories: “When Typhoon Wipha hit the Philippines and flooded Barasoain Church, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar faced a difficult decision: should they cancel their wedding or proceed with the marriage? The couple carried on despite high waters, a testament to love and resilience in the face of severe weather. Located on a delta, Bulacan province is vulnerable to more frequent and extreme floods caused by aging drainage systems, dredging projects, overextraction of groundwater, and climate change.” | Credit: © Aaron Favila, Associated Press / World Press Photo

EuropeValeria Syniuk (65) sits near her badly damaged home. She was asleep when a Russian missile destroyed the building opposite hers. Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 April 2025.

Russian Attack on Kyiv, Evgeniy Maloletka, Singles: “Valeria Syniuk (65) sits near her badly damaged home. She was asleep when a Russian missile destroyed the building opposite hers. Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 April 2025.” | Credit: © Evgeniy Maloletka, Associated Press / World Press Photo

A female polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass in the polar pack ice north of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard. 82° North, International Waters, 8 July 2025

Polar Bear on Sperm Whale, Roie Galitz, Singles: “A female polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass in the polar pack ice north of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard. 82° North, International Waters, 8 July 2025” | Credit: © Roie Galitz / World Press Photo

Waltraud talks with Emma, a social robot that recognizes faces and remembers past conversations. Though skeptical at first, Waltraud says she felt connected to Emma over time.

Emma the Social Robot, Paula Hornickel, Singles: “Waltraud talks with Emma, a social robot that recognizes faces and remembers past conversations. Though skeptical at first, Waltraud says she felt connected to Emma over time.” | Credit: © Paula Hornickel / World Press Photo

A man fights a wildfire with a branch in Cualedro, Spain. When resources are stretched, residents use whatever is available to extinguish flames, including branches, farming tools, and water hoses

Burned Land, Brais Lorenzo, Stories: “A man fights a wildfire with a branch in Cualedro. When resources are stretched, residents use whatever is available to extinguish flames, including branches, farming tools, and water hoses.” | Credit: © Brais Lorenzo, EFE, Revista 5W, El País / World Press Photo

North and Central AmericaA woman is led in shackles through the Jacob Javits building’s 10th floor. A 2025 injunction required ICE to improve “deplorable” conditions at this facility

Ice Arrests at New York Court, Carol Guzy, Stories: “A woman is led in shackles through the Jacob Javits building’s 10th floor. A 2025 injunction required ICE to improve ‘deplorable’ conditions at this facility.” | Credit: © Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald / World Press Photo

Officers from the DHS and other agencies clash with demonstrators outside an ICE processing center. The intense summer protests centered on opposing the administration’s escalating mass deportation

Portland Protests ICE, Jan Sonnenmair, Singles: “Officers from the DHS and other agencies clash with demonstrators outside an ICE processing center. The intense summer protests centered on opposing the administration’s escalating mass deportation” | Credit: © Jan Sonnenmair / World Press Photo

Barnard College alumna Jesse Pearce is arrested outside Columbia University’s commencement ceremony. Along with current students, alumni protested the institution’s ongoing financial ties to Israel.

Columbia University Pro-Palestine Protests, Alex Kent, Singles: “Barnard College alumna Jesse Pearce is arrested outside Columbia University’s commencement ceremony. Along with current students, alumni protested the institution’s ongoing financial ties to Israel.” | Credit: © Alex Kent, for The New York Times / World Press Photo

A man walks past a business ruined by fire. The Eaton Fire heavily impacted working-class neighborhoods, where many underinsured homeowners now face gentrification and displacement

Los Angeles on Fire, Ethan Swope, Stories: “A man walks past a business ruined by fire. The Eaton Fire heavily impacted working-class neighborhoods, where many underinsured homeowners now face gentrification and displacement.” | Credit: © Ethan Swope, for Associated Press / World Press Photo

South AmericaPolice detain Father Jorge “Chueco” Romero during a pensioners’ protest. Members of the “Opción por los Pobres” (Option for the Poor) clergy have joined weekly demonstrations against pension freezes

Milei’s Argentina, Tadeo Bourbon, Singles: “Police detain Father Jorge ‘Chueco’ Romero during a pensioners’ protest. Members of the ‘Opción por los Pobres’ (Option for the Poor) clergy have joined weekly demonstrations against pension freezes.” | Credit: © Tadeo Bourbon, for Revista Mu / World Press Photo

Valeria (5) plays behind a curtain at her aunt’s house. She is raised solely by her mother. In her region, 30% of households are headed exclusively by women

Name the Absence, Ferley A. Ospina, Stories: “Valeria (5) plays behind a curtain at her aunt’s house. She is raised solely by her mother. In her region, 30% of households are headed exclusively by women.” | Credit: World Press Photo

Maribella Alexandra Duarte (centre) was born with congenital malformations. Her family lives 30 meters from soybean fields. Entre Ríos, Argentina, 22 November 2014.

The Human Cost of Agrotoxins, Pablo E. Piovano, Long-Term Project: “Maribella Alexandra Duarte (centre) was born with congenital malformations. Her family lives 30 meters from soybean fields. Entre Ríos, Argentina, 22 November 2014.” | Credit: © Pablo E. Piovano, Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation, Philip Jones Griffiths Foundation, Lawen.doc / World Press Photo

West, Central, and South AsiaGirls attend an informal open-air school in Chaparhar District. The ban on girls attending school continues to undermine the right to education, affecting nearly 2.2 million students

Hijacked Education, Diego Ibarra Sánchez, Long-Term Project: “Girls attend an informal open-air school in Chaparhar District. The ban on girls attending school continues to undermine the right to education, affecting nearly 2.2 million students.” The photographer has been telling this story with his photos since 2012. | Credit: © Diego Ibarra Sánchez / World Press Photo

Fire and smoke engulf Singha Durbar after protesters stormed and set the government complex alight during violent demonstrations. Kathmandu, Nepal, 9 September 2025

Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising, Narendra Shrestha, Singles: “Fire and smoke engulf Singha Durbar after protesters stormed and set the government complex alight during violent demonstrations. Kathmandu, Nepal, 9 September 2025” | Credit: © Narendra Shrestha, EPA Images /World Press Photo

Palestinians climb onto an aid truck as it enters the Gaza Strip via the Zikim Crossing in an attempt to get flour, during what the Israeli military called a “tactical suspension” in operations

Aid Emergency in Gaza, Saber Nuraldin, Singles: “Palestinians climb onto an aid truck as it enters the Gaza Strip via the Zikim Crossing in an attempt to get flour, during what the Israeli military called a ‘tactical suspension’ in operations.” | Credit: © Saber Nuraldin, EPA Images / World Press Photo

Find the full gallery of winning images at World Press Photo.

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