These are the 10 best photos this year according to the Sony World Photography Awards – what do you think?

Photograph titled Shapes and Patterns of the Desert, a study of the geometric composition and the rich, warm colours of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia, captured by J Fritz Rumpf (United States), winner of the Landscape category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Landscape category: 'Shapes and Patterns of the Desert', a study of the geometric composition and the rich, warm colours of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia. (Image credit: © J Fritz Rumpf, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

The Sony World Photography Awards has just revealed the category winners and shortlisted photographers in its Open competition 2026.

The Open competition recognizes the best single images to have been taken in the last year.

Unlike the other competitions within the Sony World Photography Awards, where entrants submit a series of photographs, the Open competition is all about a single image, so the photographer gets just one chance to impress.

This year's Open competition was judged by Ruby Rees-Sheridan, Assistant Curator of Photography at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK.

"The winners and shortlists represent a diverse range of photographs," says awards producer Creo, "from striking landscapes to thoughtful portraits, and both captivating and humorous scenes from nature."

The Sony World Photography Awards is now in its 19th year and over 430,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted across this year’s competitions.

Scroll down to enjoy the 10 Open competition category winners…

Photograph of the paper mill in Obbola, Sweden, taken by Markus Naarttija&#776;rvi from Sweden, the winner of the Architecture category in the Open competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Architecture category: the paper mill in Obbola, Sweden. (Image credit: © Markus Naarttijärvi, Sweden, Winner, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph of a woman carrying a red heart balloon standing in front of a tower block and titled Lost Hope. Captured by Siavosh Ejlali from the Islamic Republic of Iran, this photograph won the Creative category in the Open competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Creative category: 'Lost Hope', a carefully composed portrait using staged and symbolic elements in a poignant ode to Iranian women. (Image credit: © Siavosh Ejlali, Iran, Islamic Republic Of, Winner, Open Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph titled Charlotte and Dolly, depicting a young woman and her cow resting together in a barn to keep cool in the summer heat in West Virginia, United States. Captured by Vanta Coda III of the United States, and the winner of the Lifestyle category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Lifestyle category: Charlotte and Dolly rest together in a barn to keep cool during the summer heat in West Virginia, United States. (Image credit: © Vanta Coda III, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Lifestyle, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph of a punk concert in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, using motion blur to capture the dynamism of the moment. Taken by Franklin Littlefield of the United States and the winner of the Motion category in the Open competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Motion category: Franklin Littlefield uses motion blur to capture the dynamism of the moment during a a punk concert in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. (Image credit: © Franklin Littlefield, United States, Winner, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph of a blue arctic fox in the Varager Peninsula of Norway, captured by Klaus Hellmich of Germany and the winner of the Natural World &amp; Wildlife category in the Open competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Natural World & Wildlife category: a blue arctic fox in the Varager Peninsula of Norway. (Image credit: © Klaus Hellmich, Germany, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph titled Colour Divides, depicting the juxtaposition of a blue car against bright green and pink buildings of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood in Cape Town, South Africa. Captured by Robby Ogilvie of the United Kingdom and the winner of the Object category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Object category: 'Colour Divides', captured in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood in Cape Town, South Africa. (Image credit: © Robby Ogilvie, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph titled 'The Barefoot Volcanologist' and depicting Phillip, an internationally recognised, self-taught volcano scientist, standing atop a volcanic rock bomb on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. Winner of the Portraiture category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Portraiture category: 'The Barefoot Volcanologist'. Internationally recognized, self-taught volcano scientist Phillip stands atop a volcanic rock bomb on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. (Image credit: © Elle Leontiev, Australia, Winner, Open Competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph titled Between the Lines, a candid, comedic black and white picture of a family at &Oslash;rnevegen (Eagle Road) in Norway, showing their humorous facial expressions as they admire the view. Captured by Giulia Pissagroia of Italy and the winner of the Street Photography category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Street Photography category: 'Between the Lines', a candid, comedic black and white picture of a family at Ørnevegen (Eagle Road) in Norway. (Image credit: © Giulia Pissagroia, Italy, Winner, Open Competition, Street Photography, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

Photograph depicting men leaping into the river at the Abare Festival in Japan as torches blaze. This is a traditional celebration that has been passed down for over three centuries in the Noto region of Japan. Taken by Megumi Murakami of Japan and the winner of the Travel category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Winner of the Travel category: Men leaping into the river as torches blaze at the Abare Festival in the Noto region of Japan. (Image credit: © Megumi Murakami, Japan, Winner, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)

One of these 10 category winners will be crowned Open Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony in London on April 16.

They will receive a US$5,000/£3,670/AU$7,100 cash prize as well as taking home a range of Sony digital imaging equipment.

Find out more about the Open competition category winners and shortlists at the Sony World Photography Awards website.

SWPA's London show starts on April 17

Photograph of galleries in Somerset House in London, where the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 exhibition is taking place — The Sony World Photography Awards exhibition takes place in London's Somerset House (pictured above during the 2024 show) (Image credit: Future)

A selection of winning and shortlisted images from the Open competition will be displayed at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition in London's Somerset House.

This runs from April 17 to May 4 before going on to tour other countries.

Read more:

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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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