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"I can't believe my eyes, it's Jesus Christ Superstar on a train!" Overall winner of Event Photography Awards 2026 bags US$1,350 with shot of singer Sam Ryder on train to Glastonbury Festival
A photo of singer Sam Ryder playing an impromptu gig in a railway carriage is the overall winner of the 12th annual Event Photography Awards.
Over 250 guests attended the ceremony at the Central Hall Westminster in London, UK, and were able to enjoy a display of around 140 shortlisted shots before and after the ceremony.
The Event Photography Awards (EPA) is a not-for-profit competition founded to highlight the importance of great photography to the international events industry.
Over 2,300 images of events held all around the world were entered in the Event Photography Awards 2026, from photographers in over 20 countries.
The EPAs comprise 18 core categories, and a new Black & White Award – sponsored by Digital Camera magazine – that was introduced for 2026.
Another new feature was the Event Photographer of the Year accolade, bestowed in conjunction with the Best Portfolio award.
Train to Glastonbury by David Parry (pictured above), captured Sam Ryder singing on board a train service travelling from Paddington to Glastonbury, ahead of his Saturday set at the music festival in 2025.
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His surprise performance was part of the 'I came by train' campaign supported by train and coach booking app Trainline, which encouraged sustainable travel to the festival.
Parry, last year's overall runner-up, was presented with a check for £1,000 (approximately US$1,350 / AU$1,880) by Philip Atkins, CEO of event staffing and recruitment agency Off To Work, who founded the EPAs in 2014.
Inaugural Event Photographer of the Year crowned
Headless Chicken by Marc James – a performer gets relief from the heat of an event and their mascot costume by cooling off in a back of house refrigeration truck (Image credit: Marc James / EPA 2026)
There was a triple celebration for first-time entrant Marc James – the overall runner-up – who was crowned Event Photographer of the Year.
He topped the Behind the Scenes category with his photo Headless Chicken (pictured above) and the Conferences & Corporate Events category with Old Friends… and went home with a check for £1,000.
Black & White Award
This new award went to German photographer Afra Gethoeffer-Gruetz for a close-up photo of Evan Seinfeld of the band Biohazard.
Other noteworthy winners were Luke Dyson, an event and live music photographer and the only person to win the overall prize twice: he won the Brand Activations & Experiential Events and Music Events – Concerts categories.
The sought-after Best Amateur trophy was won outright by Anthony Black, who was one of the joint winners last year and entered a commendable range of excellent images across several categories.
The Peoples' Choice Awards, which is voted for guests at the awards event, was won by Mac Praed's Leap of Faith, which was also runner-up in the Music Events – Audiences category.
The Boogie Lights Express is a dedicated disco train that runs on the Severn Valley Railway in England, UK. The event takes place over two weeks in February and March each year. and every carriage has a different era of music for passengers to dance to.
(Image credit: Marc James / EPA 2026)
'Old Friends' by Marc James
Winner, Conferences & Corporate Events category
Two gentlemen with a hand on each other's shoulder, reuniting from an old friendship. Taken at the Georgian Group Architecture Awards night in London, UK.
(Image credit: Paul Nicholls / EPA 2026)
'Touching Distance' by Paul Nicholls
Winner, Cultural Events category
Taken during the Red Arrows display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2025, at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, in July 2025.
(Image credit: Brian Robinson / EPA 2026)
'Slayer Fans' by Brian Robinson
Winner, Music Events – Audiences category
Front-row fans photographed at 2025's Slayer show in Finsbury Park, London, UK.
(Image credit: Luke Dyson / EPA 2026)
'Albert Hall Constellations' by Luke Dyson
Winner, Music Events – Concerts category
The Brand New Heavies at London's Royal Albert Hall. The venue was transformed by a canopy of mirror-ball reflections, all from one mirror ball, to look like a night sky.
(Image credit: Afra Gerthoeffer-Gruetz & Javier Bragado / EPA 2026)
'Deep Growl – Yukina' and 'Benson Boone'
Joint winners, Music Events – Performers
Yukina, the singer of the band Hanabie, by Afra Gerthoeffer-Gruetz (left) and Benson Boone by Javier Bragado (right).
(Image credit: Chris Morgan / EPA 2026)
'Chaotic Energy' by Chris Morgan
Winner, Portraits category
Taken at a fancy dress party at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland.
(Image credit: Fran Hales / EPA 2026)
'Between Generations' by Fran Hales
Winner, Private Events category
A tender moment between a grandfather and his grand-daughter at a Silk's Day lunch in London's legal district, UK.
(Image credit: Samir Hussein / EPA 2026)
'Neck Craning Royals at Trooping the Colour' by Samir Hussein
Winner, Royal Occasions category
The Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, on the Buckingham Palace balcony, London, UK.
(Image credit: Valeriia Milenina / EPA 2026)
'Err... Not Sure?!' by Valeriia Milenina
Winner, Speakers category
A speaker stuck for words during a talk at the Zorky London event, captured in a spontaneous and amusing moment on stage.
(Image credit: Andrew Matthews / EPA 2026)
'Cheering on a Winner' by Andrew Matthews
Winner, Sporting Events category
Racegoers react whilst watching the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in the UK.
(Image credit: Alistair Veryard / EPA 2026)
'Pluck' by Alistair Veryard
Winner, Trade Shows & Exhibitions category
During a much-needed Wellness Experience at the BIBA conference in Manchester, UK, a cheeky little Labrador takes the opportunity to acquire a new toy.
(Image credit: Stephen Cain / EPA 2026)
'Pavorotti’s Place' by Stephen Cain
Winner, Venues category
The Municipal Theatre of Modena in Italy. In 2007, the theatre was named after the famous Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
(Image credit: Steve Grogan / EPA 2026)
'Bounce!' by Steve Grogan
Winner, Weddings category
A bride and groom bouncing on space hopper inflatable toys during their wedding at Owen House Barn in Cheshire, UK.
Niall is the editor of Digital Camera Magazine, and has been shooting on interchangeable lens cameras for over 20 years, and on various point-and-shoot models for years before that.
Working alongside professional photographers for many years as a jobbing journalist gave Niall the curiosity to also start working on the other side of the lens. These days his favored shooting subjects include wildlife, travel and street photography, and he also enjoys dabbling with studio still life.
On the site you will see him writing photographer profiles, asking questions for Q&As and interviews, reporting on the latest and most noteworthy photography competitions, and sharing his knowledge on website building.
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