The 20th Sony World Photography Awards are open worldwide
The Sony World Photography Awards 2027, run by the World Photography Organisation with Sony, welcome photographers from Morocco and all countries. The competition is free to enter, including dedicated opportunities for students and young creators as well as amateur and established photographers. Winning and shortlisted projects are showcased at Somerset House in London, 15 April–3 May 2027, before travelling and appearing in official publications.
Four categories with separate deadlines
Student — 27 November 2026 at 16:00 GMT: entrants on eligible higher-education photography programmes submit five to ten images in a series responding to 'Journeys', exploring any form of physical or metaphorical journey. Single Image — 5 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT: single photographs taken in 2026, with three entries free across ten subject categories. Additional entry bundles are optional and paid. Youth — 5 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT: photographers aged 19 or younger, entering a selection of single images; the overall winner receives Sony imaging equipment. Series — 12 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT: cohesive photographic series, formerly known as the 'Professional' competition. Different date requirements apply for previously published and unpublished projects.Cash awards and international visibility
The prestigious Photographer of the Year receives USD 25,000, Sony equipment and a dedicated presentation at the following year's London exhibition. The Single Image winner and Sustainability Prize winner each receive USD 5,000. Competition category winners receive Sony digital imaging equipment, media coverage and international exhibition opportunities. Cash awards are only given to designated winners, not all entrants.
How to enter
Apply online through the World Photography Organisation account. For Single Image, upload JPEG files, 1–5 MB, sRGB colour, made in 2026. Check eligibility, subject consent and copyright rules for your chosen track. You may enter both Single Image and Series, but their photographs must come from different bodies of work; do not reuse the same work across those competitions.
Important editorial deadline note
12 January 2027 is the final deadline for the overall programme, not the deadline for every category. Student applications close on 27 November 2026. The time used in the organiser's latest September 2026 announcement is 16:00 GMT.[Official Sony World Photography Awards](https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards) · [Single Image competition guidelines](https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/single-image) · [More arts opportunities](https://culturama.ma/opportunites).