National and Regional Awards: Winners and Shortlists Announced
It’s the penultimate announcement of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 - the National & Regional Awards! Celebrating exceptional talent across countries and regions, this special initiative brings outstanding photographers into the spotlight, both locally and on the world stage.
Expanding its global reach, this year sees the introduction of two exciting new accolades: the European Student Award, honouring exceptional series captured by photography students across the region, and the India National Award, dedicated to celebrating the work of photographers based in the country.
Discover some of our highlights below, and don’t miss the chance to see them at the 2026 exhibition, open 17 April - 4 May at Somerset House, London.
To see the full shortlists, click here.
Single Images (Open competition)
Selected from more than 30 countries, these photographers were recognised for the best single images of 2025, spanning everything from sweeping landscapes and intimate portraits to breathtaking glimpses of the natural world.
To explore the full National & Regional Awards (Single images), chosen from entries to the Open competition, click here.
European Student Award
Congratulations to Teresa Halbreiter (Germany) for being the inaugural winner of the European Student Award for her series Stillgestanden (‘Attention!’).
Commenting on her win, Teresa Halbreiter says: ‘I was shocked and couldn’t quite believe that my work was selected as the winner of the European Student Award. I know so many amazing photographers studying photography in Germany – and to be selected for an international competition of this scale feels great and very rewarding.’
Set up by Sony Europe and Creo, the European Student Award recognises outstanding student projects, spotlighting the best emerging voices from across Europe. The Award was established to collaborate with leading universities across the region, offering their students the best platform for starting a career in photography.
Explore the full European Student Award winner and shortlist gallery
Japan National Award
Congratulations to Hayate Kurisu for winning this year’s Japan National Award for their series Living Photographs, which documents the experience of the photographer and his wife following the loss of a child to stillbirth, and the days spent together as a family before the cremation.
Explore the full Japan National Award winner and shortlist gallery
India National Award
Congratulations to Avijit Ghosh for winning the inaugural India National Award for his series Keepers of Mangroves which captures the conservation efforts of ‘tiger widows’ in Dayapur, India, where women who have lost their husbands to tiger attacks are helping to restore the tigers’ mangrove ecosystems, to try to alleviate conflict with the animals.
Explore the full India National Award winner and shortlist gallery
Latin America Professional Award
Congratulations to Citlali Fabián (Mexico) for winning 1st Place in the Latin America Professional Award for their series Bilha, Stories of my Sisters that blends portraits and digital illustrations to bring to life the stories of inspiring women in southern Mexico.
Explore the full Latin America Professional Award winner and shortlist gallery
Latin America Regional Awards
Congratulations to Juan Jacobo Castillo Barrera (Colombia) for winning 1st Place in the Latin America Regional Awards for his striking portrait of the Upper Amazon Stubfoot Toad.
Explore the full Latin America Regional Awards winners and shortlist gallery
What's next?
The overall winners and the Photographer of the Year will be announced on 16 April at the Awards ceremony in London. Discover their works alongside over 300 images at the exhibition at Somerset House from 17 April - 4 May. Tickets now on sale.
