The Sony World Images Awards, put collectively by the World Images Organisation, are actually of their nineteenth 12 months and for the 2026 contest acquired a large 430,000 photographs from greater than 200 nations and territories throughout 4 totally different competitions. Right here, the Open competitors focuses on the energy of a single picture taken sooner or later in the course of the 12 months, and because the class suggests, welcomes entries from photographers of all ranges.
The Open Photographer of the 12 months will likely be introduced on April 16, with this class’s exhibition on present in London from April 17 to Could 4. It’s going to then hit the highway as a touring exhibition.
For 2026, judges chosen a shortlist and 10 class winners throughout themes together with structure, road images, journey and wildlife. Right here, we spotlight a few of our favorites from the pure world. That features the quilt picture named “Celestial Dance”, taken by shortlisted prize contender Lorea Hausheer from Switzerland, which stars a younger Lusitano stallion shifting freely throughout a images session, capturing its uncooked energy and beauty.
Arctic Fox in Blizzard
Klaus Hellmich/Sony World Images Awards 2026
This beautiful picture could at first seem like it is AI-generated, but it surely’s 100% genuine. Snapped by German photographer Klaus Hellmich, it is the winner of the Pure World & Wildlife class. Whereas it might resemble a white Arctic fox, it is really a blue morph Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), with the sunshine and publicity making its brown fur look silver and otherworldly. It was shot on the Varanger Peninsula in Norway.
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Tim Munsey/Sony World Images Awards 2026
We will forgive the photographer, Tim Munsey from the UK, for not providing up a title for this picture – because it speaks for itself. The shortlisted snap captures a griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in a fierce battle with a golden jackal (Canis aureus) within the mountains of Bulgaria.
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Paolo Dellepiane/Sony World Images Awards 2026
Shortlisted Italian Paolo Dellepiane additionally missed out on the possibility of nice title for his shot, “recognizing” a canine with a piebald coat, just like that of the horse it had sat close to, throughout an equestrian occasion on a seashore in Imperia.
On the Edge
Wouter van Hofwegen/Sony World Images Awards 2026
Wouter van Hofwegen’s picture of a polar bear standing by itself, close to the place ice meets water – described as “an emblem of resilience within the face of a altering local weather” – is a robust one and well-deserving of getting the Dutch photographer a shortlist place within the Pure World & Wildlife class.
The Eye: Window to the Soul
Chung Cheong Wong/Sony World Images Awards 2026
Shortlisted photographer Chung Cheong Wong from Singapore captured probably the most attention-grabbing photographs within the Pure World & Wildlife class, with the symmetrical magnificence hitting you earlier than you surprise what the hell this animal is. So that can assist you on the market, it is a Blakiston’s fish owl (Ketupa blakistoni)), a nocturnal fowl of prey. It is also the most important dwelling owl species on the planet. This completely timed snap captures one of many owl’s eyes, watchful via its feathers.
For a lot of extra highlights from the profitable and shortlisted photographs throughout a spread of classes, take a look at our gallery. You may see then why it was so troublesome to spotlight only a couple right here.
Supply: Sony World Photography Awards
