Canon partners with World Sports Photography Awards as 2026 entries open

News
By published

The world’s premier celebration of sports photography returns, introducing a new category for emerging talent under 30

World Sports Photography Awards
The Ouch Factor (Image credit: Darren Burns)

The World Sports Photography Awards has announced Canon as its Official Imaging Partner for the 2026 edition.

The awards recognise the best images that capture the emotion, intensity, and skill of sport, bringing together photographers from across the globe. The 2025 competition set new records, attracting more than 2,200 photographers from 97 countries, submitting work across over 50 sports.

Speaking on the partnership, Simon Burton, Co-Founder of the World Sports Photography Awards, said, "If there’s one name synonymous with sports photography, it’s Canon. We couldn’t be more honoured or excited to welcome Canon to World Sports Photography Awards. It’s been an incredible year for sport around the world, and we are eager to see the images submitted this year across sports and geographies".

Sliding Tackle (Image credit: Yip Lampson Karmin)

Canon’s involvement extends the brand’s long-standing legacy in sports photography. The 2026 awards will also introduce a new category, the Canon Emerging Talent Award, dedicated to photographers under 30. The category aims to highlight the next generation of sports photographers and recognise their creativity, skill, and passion.

"Canon has a proud legacy of supporting professional sports photographers and helping them capture some of the most iconic moments in sporting history. With the introduction of the ‘Canon Emerging Talent’ award, we’re building on that heritage by extending our support to the next generation of visual storytellers. This new category celebrates the creativity and passion of up-and-coming photographers and reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the tools and opportunities they need to thrive," said Richard Shepherd, Product Marketing Senior Manager, Imaging at Canon Europe.

The 2026 awards are now open for entries. Photographers can submit up to ten images captured between December 2024 and November 2025 across 24 sports categories. Submissions are free of charge, and the deadline is November 24, 2025.

Full details and rules can be found on the official competition website.

Zebra Crossing (Image credit: Anton Anestiev)

you may also like

Check out our guides to the best camera for sports photography and the best Canon cameras.

TOPICS
Kalum Carter
Kalum Carter
Staff Writer

Kalum is a photographer, filmmaker, creative director, and writer with over 10 years of experience in visual storytelling. With a strong focus on photography books, curation, and photo editing, he blends a deep understanding of both contemporary and historical works.

Alongside his creative projects, Kalum writes about photography and filmmaking, interviewing industry professionals, showcasing emerging talent, and offering in-depth analyses of the art form. His work highlights the power of visual storytelling, fostering an appreciation for the impact of photography.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.