The Sony World Photography Award is one of the most prestigious competitions for lens-based artists. Now in its 19th year, the Open competition recognises the best single images taken in the last year, celebrating the power of an individual photograph to pique curiosity, spark imagination and reveal a wider narrative. The winners and shortlists across 10 categories have now been announced, spanning architecture, landscape, portraiture and travel, and offering a vivid cross-section of contemporary photography from around the world. From meticulously composed cityscapes to fleeting moments of human connection, the selected works highlight both technical excellence and compelling storytelling.
Liping Jiang | Snowfall in the Buddhist Kingdom
The first snow gently falls on the crimson monk quarters, it’s light dusting contrasting with the vermilion walls. Amid the empty spaces left by red and white lies the serenity of the Buddhist realm, delicate flakes collect along the tiled eaves and settle on the worn stone steps. It is a sea of pink buildings, each one with a small window glowing with light, a sign of warmth to contrast the frosty exterior. The Chinese photographer is part of the “travel” category of the award, which sees artists capture awe-inspiring landscapes and cultures worldwide, offering an insight into the beauty to be found beyond our everyday.
Sarah Barlow | Red Balloon
Taken as part of the photographer’s series Red Balloon, this image explores ideas of potential and impermanence. The balloon, reflected on the water, invites contemplation on identity, reproduction and the tenuous line between autonomy and expectation; the stillness of the day suggests both peace and precarity. The artist’s work is shaped by slowness and observation, focusing on moments, gestures and objects that hold meaning beneath the surface. She works through long-form photographic projects, allowing time for ideas, images and meaning to gradually gather and develop.
Jan Goeke | Chromatic Order
Jan Goeke’s practice centres on the formal qualities of the built environment, with a particular focus on geometry and colour. His work isolates architectural details, transforming everyday structures into carefully balanced compositions. Through precise framing and controlled light, he emphasises rhythm, repetition, and spatial clarity. The image Chromatic Order exemplifies this approach, reducing a modern façade to an interplay of line and chromatic harmony. Goeke’s photography reveals abstraction within architecture, inviting viewers to reconsider familiar urban forms in a new light.
Klaus Lenzen | The Red Façade
Self-taught photographer Klaus Lenzen’s minimalist shots focus on shapes, colour and structures in our everyday surroundings. In his shortlisted image in the Architectural category takes the exterior of a Düsseldof hardware store as its focus, capturing the eye-catching façade and bold red colour. He describes his shots as “everyday works of art” that sometimes only reveal themselves at second glace, going from geometric pattern to building with another look. Lenzen often emphasises the minimalism of his images by underlaying them with grey tones, ensuring nothing distracts the viewer from the motif.
Md Tanveer Hassan Rohan | Desert Rose: The National Museum of Qatar
Md. Tanveer Hassan Rohan was born and raised in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The city is a manifestation of the contrast between nature and urbanisation, something that has come to define his photography. His winning image is a striking view of the National Museum of Qatar, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. The photographs shows the impressive structure under a clear blue sky, showcasing its desert rose inspired design with interlocking geometric disks and sweeping architectural forms. Rohan’s work has been exhibited in 45 countries, and was part of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.
The 2026 Sony World Photography Award exhibition opens at Somerset House, London from 17 April – 4 May: somersethouse.org.uk
Words: Emma Jacob
Image Credits:
1&4.© Jan Goeke, Germany, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.
2. © Liping Jiang, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.
3. © Sarah Barlow, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.
5. © Klaus Lenzen, Germany, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.
6. © MD Tanveer Rohan, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.
