The Sony World Photography Awards exhibition is now closed
What you’ll see
This must-see exhibition kickstarts London’s focal point of photography for the Spring season. Showcasing exceptional images from the latest competition and programmes, from awe-inspiring landscapes to sporty shots to powerful portraits, the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition is sure to inspire people of all ages and interests.
What stories will you discover? What images will impress you the most? Immerse yourself in today’s most breathtaking pictures and be enriched by the most exciting international talent photographing today.
Expect to see standout work from the Professional, Open, Student and Youth competitions, plus inspiring imagery from the Alpha Female Award, the National & Regional Awards, and the Latin America Professional Award. Exciting additions to this year’s exhibition include a space dedicated to recent works by Australian photographer Adam Ferguson, who won the 2022 Photographer of the Year for his series Migrantes. Also new for the 2023 exhibition is a spotlight on the winning series of the new Sustainability Prize.
With more than 415,000 images from over 200 countries submitted to the 16th Sony World Photography Awards, this latest exhibition is sure to be one of the most impressive in the Awards’ history.
Rinko Kawauchi Outstanding Contribution to Photography
A special curation of around 20 photographs by the Sony World Photography Awards’ 2023 Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient Japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchi will be on show. Kawauchi is the 16th recipient of the award which honours a person or group that have made a significant impact on the photographic medium.
The display will be a substantial mix from her career, including highlight works from her series Utatane (2001), AILA (2004) and Illuminance (2009) – which all exemplify her idiosyncratic style. The exhibition also features work from Ametsuchi (2013), a series originating from a dream Kawauchi became fascinated by ‘noyaki (burning field)’, a 1000-year old tradition where farmland is burned before replanting.
Opening times and tickets
Tickets
Standard ticket: £15
Concession ticket: £11*
Children under 12 years old and disabled companions: free admission
Group ticket: £13.50 each (must be groups of 10+ people)
Visitors are recommended to book their tickets online in advance. Tickets can be purchased on the Somerset House website or in Seamen’s Hall, located on the ground floor of the South Wing at Somerset House.
Opening times
Weekdays: 11 am to 9 pm
Weekends: 11 am to 8 pm
Bank Holiday (1 May): 11 am to 6 pm
Last entry is one hour prior to closing time.
*Concession tickets eligible for: student (with valid ID); job seeker (with proof of eligibility ID); disabled (with one complimentary companion ticket if required); senior (60+) and child between 12 to 16 years old (with valid ID).
Pre-order your book
Pre-order your exclusive copy of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 book and get a £5.00 discount! A must-have for all photography enthusiasts to add to their library, this hardback book invites its readers to discover the most exciting stories by contemporary photographers from the past year.
With a vibrant collection of photos from the Professional, Open, Student and Youth competitions, there is also an essay dedicated to this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient Rinko Kawauchi. There are also special mentions of the Latin America Professional Awards and Alpha Female Awards winners.
You will have the option to pre-order your discounted book when you have selected your ticket.
Please note, once you have completed your purchase you will receive two tickets: one labelled for the book and one for the exhibition. When you visit the exhibition, please present your book ticket and pick up your copy at the Sony World Photography Award’s Book Shop.
Standard Price: £34.99
Special pre-order price £29.99
Venue
Somerset House is a large Neoclassical building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames.
One of the city’s most spectacular and well-loved spaces, Somerset House is a place where art and culture are imagined, made, and experienced.
Full address
Somerset House has four entrances. You can reach all of our galleries, restaurants and outdoor spaces from any entrance.
Strand, London WC2R 1LA
Public transport
By underground
Temple (Circle & District lines; 250 metres, 5-minute walk)
Covent Garden (Piccadilly line; 650m, 8min)
Charing Cross (Bakerloo & Northern lines; 700m, 10min)
Embankment (Circle & District lines; 700m, 10min)
By bus
Buses 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 87, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, RV1 and X68 all pass along the Strand and/or Aldwych, stopping within 100-200 metres of Somerset House.
Important information
Any questions?
If you have any questions relating to ticket information or are having trouble booking please call Somerset House directly 0333 320 2836.
Lines are open 9am - 9pm
More contact information here.
Press tickets
All requests for press passes to the exhibition must be requested in advance via [email protected]m