Image description
Charlotte lies with her cow Dolly, keeping cool in the cow barn between events at the 100th State Fair of West Virginia in Lewisburg. Outside, the temperature is upwards of 32°C.
Shortlist
Andreas Kanellopoulos
Encore
Magda, an 86-year-old former actress, sits in her bedroom full of memories.
© Andreas Kanellopoulos, Greece, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Camila de Medeiros Fantinel
Comparsas
Gauchos prepare a traditional barbecue over an open fire. Barbecue cooked over an open fire is one of the greatest traditions of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and dates back to the cattle drovers, who saw in this practice a simple way to have their meals during the long work of conducting cattle.
© Camila de Medeiros Fantinel, Brazil, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Hernan Jaramillo
In the Dressing Room
A group of models get ready for a fashion show in Medellín, Colombia.
© Hernan Jaramillo, Colombia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Sebastian Szczepanowski
Summer Camp, Afternoon
A lazy summer afternoon at a lakeside camp site. Conversations drift, dishes wait to be washed, and time stretches slowly between shade, heat and rest.
© Sebastian Szczepanowski, Poland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Mustafa Shorbaji
From the South
This Sudanese family witnessed the horrors of war and fled, but the conflict left its mark on their young daughters.
© Mustafa Shorbaji, Egypt, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Brian Arancibia
Tradition Continues
A group of riders pass through the streets of a town in Chile during a gathering. A young boy rides alongside the adults, dressed in traditional clothing. This image captures a scene where everyday life, family and cultural tradition intersect, revealing how shared practices and customs are passed down.
© Brian Arancibia, Chile, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Tomek Kozlowski
Green Gold
At dawn in Hokkaido, Japan, small boats harvest kombu, the ‘green gold’ of the northern seas, and a cornerstone of Japanese cooking. Giant kelp sways beneath calm waters around the island, growing for years before it is cut and dried. Each sheet reflects centuries of tradition, and Hokkaido’s enduring coastal identity.
© Tomek Kozlowski, Poland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Anita Clark & Paul Wenham-Clarke
Milk and Muscle
Three young mothers in their rugby kit stand after the final whistle has blown, each breastfeeding her baby. This tableau of strength and nurture, muscle and milk, competition and care shows a sporting world where motherhood isn’t an interruption but part of the playbook.
© Anita Clark Paul Wenham-Clarke, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Ethan Parker
Covered in Paint
A family photographed at the end of J'ouvert, the early-morning opening ceremony of London’s Notting Hill carnival, where colourful powder and paint are thrown at one another. This family was heading to sleep, as they planned to rejoin the carnival later in the day.
© Ethan Parker, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Charlie Clift
Dame Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench in her garden.
© Charlie Clift, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards