A photo of singer Sam Ryder playing an impromptu gig in a railway carriage is the overall winner of the 12th annual Event Photography Awards.

Over 250 guests attended the ceremony at the Central Hall Westminster in London, UK, and were able to enjoy a display of around 140 shortlisted shots before and after the ceremony.

The Event Photography Awards (EPA) is a not-for-profit competition founded to highlight the importance of great photography to the international events industry.

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Over 2,300 images of events held all around the world were entered in the Event Photography Awards 2026, from photographers in over 20 countries.

The EPAs comprise 18 core categories, and a new Black & White Award – sponsored by Digital Camera magazine – that was introduced for 2026.

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Another new feature was the Event Photographer of the Year accolade, bestowed in conjunction with the Best Portfolio award.

Train to Glastonbury by David Parry (pictured above), captured Sam Ryder singing on board a train service travelling from Paddington to Glastonbury, ahead of his Saturday set at the music festival in 2025.

His surprise performance was part of the ‘I came by train’ campaign supported by train and coach booking app Trainline, which encouraged sustainable travel to the festival.

Parry, last year’s overall runner-up, was presented with a check for £1,000 (approximately US$1,350 / AU$1,880) by Philip Atkins, CEO of event staffing and recruitment agency Off To Work, who founded the EPAs in 2014.

Inaugural Event Photographer of the Year crowned


Headless Chicken by Marc James – a performer gets relief from the heat of an event and their mascot costume by cooling off in a back of house refrigeration truck (Image credit: Marc James / EPA 2026)

There was a triple celebration for first-time entrant Marc James – the overall runner-up – who was crowned Event Photographer of the Year.

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He topped the Behind the Scenes category with his photo Headless Chicken (pictured above) and the Conferences & Corporate Events category with Old Friends… and went home with a check for £1,000.

Black & White Award

This new award went to German photographer Afra Gethoeffer-Gruetz for a close-up photo of Evan Seinfeld of the band Biohazard.

The category was judged by the editorial team of Digital Camera World magazine.


(Image credit: Afra Gerthoeffer Gruetz / EPA 2026)

Other noteworthy winners were Luke Dyson, an event and live music photographer and the only person to win the overall prize twice: he won the Brand Activations & Experiential Events and Music Events – Concerts categories.

The sought-after Best Amateur trophy was won outright by Anthony Black, who was one of the joint winners last year and entered a commendable range of excellent images across several categories.

The Peoples’ Choice Awards, which is voted for guests at the awards event, was won by Mac Praed’s Leap of Faith, which was also runner-up in the Music Events – Audiences category.

Event Photography Awards 2026 category winners

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Photograph taken at the Amazon Influencer Program in Iceland for the BRYANT brand, by Luke Dyson. It shows guests exploring a glacier cave illuminated from within.

(Image credit: Luke Dyson / EPA 2026)

‘Beneath the Glacier’ by Luke Dyson

Winner, Brand Activations & Experiential Events category

Taken at the Amazon Influencer Program in Iceland for the BRYANT brand, it shows guests exploring a glacier cave illuminated from within.

You can find out more about the awards at the Event Photography Awards website.

Photograph titled Three Waiters, taken by Clare Hannan. It shows three waiters weaving their way through seated guests with starter plates during dinner service at The British Museum in London, UK.

(Image credit: Clare Hannan / EPA 2026)

‘Three Waiters’ by Clare Hannan

Winner of the Catering, Food & Drink category

Three waiters weaving their way through seated guests with starter plates during dinner service at The British Museum in London, UK.

Photograph titled The Boogie Lights Express, taken by Jack Boskett. It's a dedicated disco train that runs on the Severn Valley Railway in England, UK.

(Image credit: Jack Boskett / EPA 2026)

‘The Boogie Lights Express’ by Jack Boskett

Winner, Christmas Parties & Seasonal Events category

The Boogie Lights Express is a dedicated disco train that runs on the Severn Valley Railway in England, UK. The event takes place over two weeks in February and March each year. and every carriage has a different era of music for passengers to dance to.

Photograph of two older gentlemen with a hand on each other's shoulder, reuniting from an old friendship. Taken at the Georgian Group Architecture Awards night in London, UK, by Marc James.

(Image credit: Marc James / EPA 2026)

‘Old Friends’ by Marc James

Winner, Conferences & Corporate Events category

Two gentlemen with a hand on each other’s shoulder, reuniting from an old friendship. Taken at the Georgian Group Architecture Awards night in London, UK.

Photograph of the Red Arrows display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2025, at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, in July 2025. Taken by Paul Nicholls.

(Image credit: Paul Nicholls / EPA 2026)

‘Touching Distance’ by Paul Nicholls

Winner, Cultural Events category

Taken during the Red Arrows display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2025, at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, in July 2025.

Slayer fans photographed at their Finsbury Park show in London, UK, by Brian Robinson.

(Image credit: Brian Robinson / EPA 2026)

‘Slayer Fans’ by Brian Robinson

Winner, Music Events – Audiences category

Front-row fans photographed at 2025’s Slayer show in Finsbury Park, London, UK.

Photograph of The Brand New Heavies at London's Royal Albert Hall, by Luke Dyson. The venue was transformed by a canopy of mirror-ball reflections, all from one mirror ball, to look like a night sky.

(Image credit: Luke Dyson / EPA 2026)

‘Albert Hall Constellations’ by Luke Dyson

Winner, Music Events – Concerts category

The Brand New Heavies at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The venue was transformed by a canopy of mirror-ball reflections, all from one mirror ball, to look like a night sky.

Montage of two photos showing performing musicians: Yukina, the singer of the band Hanabie, by Afra Gerthoeffer-Gruetz (left) and Benson Boone by Javier Bragado.

(Image credit: Afra Gerthoeffer-Gruetz & Javier Bragado / EPA 2026)

‘Deep Growl – Yukina’ and ‘Benson Boone’

Joint winners, Music Events – Performers

Yukina, the singer of the band Hanabie, by Afra Gerthoeffer-Gruetz (left) and Benson Boone by Javier Bragado (right).

Photo titled Chaotic Energy, taken at a fancy dress party at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland, by Chris Morgan.

(Image credit: Chris Morgan / EPA 2026)

‘Chaotic Energy’ by Chris Morgan

Winner, Portraits category

Taken at a fancy dress party at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland.

Photo titled Between Generations, taken by Fran Hales. It shows a tender moment between a grandfather and his grand-daughter at a Silk's Day lunch in London's legal district, UK.

(Image credit: Fran Hales / EPA 2026)

‘Between Generations’ by Fran Hales

Winner, Private Events category

A tender moment between a grandfather and his grand-daughter at a Silk’s Day lunch in London’s legal district, UK.

Photo titled Neck-craning Royals at Trooping the Colour, by Samir Hussein: the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

(Image credit: Samir Hussein / EPA 2026)

‘Neck Craning Royals at Trooping the Colour’ by Samir Hussein

Winner, Royal Occasions category

The Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, on the Buckingham Palace balcony, London, UK.

Photo titled Err... Not Sure?! by Valeriia Milenina. A speaker stuck for words during a talk at the Zorky London event, captured in a spontaneous and amusing moment on stage.

(Image credit: Valeriia Milenina / EPA 2026)

‘Err… Not Sure?!’ by Valeriia Milenina

Winner, Speakers category

A speaker stuck for words during a talk at the Zorky London event, captured in a spontaneous and amusing moment on stage.

Photo titled Cheering on a Winner, taken by Andrew Matthews. Racegoers react whilst watching the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

(Image credit: Andrew Matthews / EPA 2026)

‘Cheering on a Winner’ by Andrew Matthews

Winner, Sporting Events category

Racegoers react whilst watching the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in the UK.

Photo titled Pluck, taken by Alistair Veryard. During a much-needed Wellness Experience at the BIBA conference in Manchester, UK, a cheeky little Labrador takes the opportunity to acquire a new toy.

(Image credit: Alistair Veryard / EPA 2026)

‘Pluck’ by Alistair Veryard

Winner, Trade Shows & Exhibitions category

During a much-needed Wellness Experience at the BIBA conference in Manchester, UK, a cheeky little Labrador takes the opportunity to acquire a new toy.

Photo titled Pavorotti’s Place, taken by Stephen Cain. It shows the Municipal Theatre of Modena in Italy. In 2007, the theatre was named after the famous Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

(Image credit: Stephen Cain / EPA 2026)

‘Pavorotti’s Place’ by Stephen Cain

Winner, Venues category

The Municipal Theatre of Modena in Italy. In 2007, the theatre was named after the famous Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Photo taken by Steve Grogan and titled Bounce! It shows a bride and groom bouncing on space hopper inflatables during their wedding at Owen House Barn in Cheshire, UK.

(Image credit: Steve Grogan / EPA 2026)

‘Bounce!’ by Steve Grogan

Winner, Weddings category

A bride and groom bouncing on space hopper inflatable toys during their wedding at Owen House Barn in Cheshire, UK.

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