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2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR - CAROL GUZY

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR - CAROL GUZY - Distraught girls cling to their father, Luis, as ICE detains him following an immigration hearing. Luis served as the sole breadwinner for his family. New York City, New York, United States, 26 August 2025...Story: In 2025, shifts in US immigration policy transformed courthouses into focal points for mass deportation efforts by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Masked ICE agents detained undocumented migrants immediately following their hearings, often leading to deeply traumatic family separations. These aggressive tactics, coupled with severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the 10th-floor holding facility in the Jacob Javits Federal Building in New York, prompted fierce public protests, class-action lawsuits, and the arrest of local elected officials demanding accountability. (Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS - SABER NURALDIN

Palestinians climb onto an aid truck as it enters the Gaza Strip via the Zikim Crossing in an attempt to get flour, during what the Israeli military called a "tactical suspension" in operations to allow humanitarian aid through. 27 July 2025 - Story: In 2025, famine took hold amid what a UN Commission has concluded is a genocide in Gaza, which Israel disputes. Israeli authorities imposed a complete aid blockade in March, a tactic described by humanitarian organizations as the weaponization of starvation. The UN reports that between 27 May and 31 July at least 1,373 Palestinians seeking food were killed at or near aid distribution sites. Despite a ceasefire agreement in October, more than 75% of the population still face hunger and malnutrition. The photographer was born in Gaza and has documented life there since 1997. (Saber Nuraldin, EPA Images)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS - VICTOR J. BLUE

Dona Paulina Ixpata Alvarado stands with other Achi women outside a Guatemala City court. That afternoon, three ex-civil defense patrollers were found guilty of rape and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 40 years in prison each. Guatemala City, Guatemala, 30 May 2025...Story: For four decades, a group of Indigenous Maya Achi women in Rabinal lived in the same communities as the men who had raped them, sometimes as neighbors. Guatemala's civil war led to the genocide of thousands of Maya Achi people by the military and local state-backed paramilitary forces, who used sexual violence as a systematic weapon to subjugate Indigenous communities. In 2011, 36 women broke their silence, launching and winning a 14-year legal battle against their abusers. Their collective resilience is transforming a legacy of wartime impunity into a historic victory for justice. (Victor J. Blue/The New York Times Magazine)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS - STORIES - CAROL GUZY

Title: ICE Arrests at New York Court..Credit: © Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald..Caption: ​​Distraught girls cling to their father, Luis, as ICE detains him following an immigration hearing. Luis served as the sole breadwinner for his family. New York City, New York, United States, 26 August 2025...Story: In 2025, shifts in US immigration policy transformed courthouses into focal points for mass deportation efforts by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Masked ICE agents detained undocumented migrants immediately following their hearings, often leading to deeply traumatic family separations. These aggressive tactics, coupled with severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the 10th-floor holding facility in the Jacob Javits Federal Building in New York, prompted fierce public protests, class-action lawsuits, and the arrest of local elected officials demanding accountability. (Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS - STORIES - CAROL GUZY

Title: ICE Arrests at New York Court..Credit: © Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald..Caption: Masked federal officers wait outside courtrooms holding target photographs. While ICE claims masks protect the identity of agents and their families, critics argue the practice erodes accountability and public trust. New York City, New York, United States, 8 July 2025...Story: In 2025, shifts in US immigration policy transformed courthouses into focal points for mass deportation efforts by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Masked ICE agents detained undocumented migrants immediately following their hearings, often leading to deeply traumatic family separations. These aggressive tactics, coupled with severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the 10th-floor holding facility in the Jacob Javits Federal Building in New York, prompted fierce public protests, class-action lawsuits, and the arrest of local elected officials demanding accountability. (Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS - STORIES - CAROL GUZY

Title: ICE Arrests at New York Court..Credit: © Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald..Caption: A woman is led in shackles through the Jacob Javits building's 10th floor. A 2025 injunction required ICE to improve “deplorable” conditions at this facility, which was off-limits to inspectors until 19 December 2025. New York City, New York, United States, 2 October 2025...Story: In 2025, shifts in US immigration policy transformed courthouses into focal points for mass deportation efforts by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Masked ICE agents detained undocumented migrants immediately following their hearings, often leading to deeply traumatic family separations. These aggressive tactics, coupled with severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the 10th-floor holding facility in the Jacob Javits Federal Building in New York, prompted fierce public protests, class-action lawsuits, and the arrest of local elected officials demanding accountability.. (Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR FINALISTS - STORIES - CAROL GUZY

Title: ICE Arrests at New York Court..Credit: © Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald..Caption: A security guard breaks down while witnessing a family separation. Security personnel frequently find themselves caught between federal agents, desperate families, and protesters in the increasingly volatile courthouse environment. New York City, New York, United States, 20 August 2025...Story: In 2025, shifts in US immigration policy transformed courthouses into focal points for mass deportation efforts by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Masked ICE agents detained undocumented migrants immediately following their hearings, often leading to deeply traumatic family separations. These aggressive tactics, coupled with severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the 10th-floor holding facility in the Jacob Javits Federal Building in New York, prompted fierce public protests, class-action lawsuits, and the arrest of local elected officials demanding accountability. (Carol Guzy, ZUMA Press, iWitness, for Miami Herald)

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: When Giants Fall..Credit: © Halden Krog, for Daily Mail..Caption: Professional hunters shoot a family of elephants identified for culling. Sango Wildlife Conservancy, Savé Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe, 23 October 2025...Story: In 2025, the government of Zimbabwe authorized the culling (killing for the purpose of population control) of 50 elephants in the Savé Valley Conservancy. This decision followed a 2024 cull of 200. Authorities say the growing population has surpassed what the land can sustain, worsening human-wildlife conflict as drought drives elephants searching for food and water into closer contact with people. Wildlife organizations dispute claims of overpopulation and condemn culling. They have raised concerns including the fracturing of elephant social structures, and the trauma inflicted on surviving animals, which could increase aggression toward humans.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Joburg Ballet School..Credit: © Ihsaan Haffejee, for GroundUp..Caption: Young dancers from the Joburg Ballet School backstage at the Soweto Theatre during their year-end performance. Soweto, South Africa, 7 December 2025...Story: In apartheid South Africa, ballet was the preserve of white culture, inaccessible to people of color. Today, the Joburg Ballet School offers subsidized training to children from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, with locations in Soweto, Alexandra, and Braamfontein. Parents describe seeing their children learn ballet as something they never thought possible.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Children Who Do Not Exist..Credit: © Kiana Hayeri, for The New York Times..Caption: Edith Magomere Ingasiani and her daughter Blessings Iminza (9), at their home. Blessings was born in Saudi Arabia without a birth certificate. Vihiga County, Kenya, 30 August 2025...Story: Tens of thousands of Kenyan women migrate to Saudi Arabia for domestic work, where many endure abusive conditions, including passport confiscation and withheld wages. While working there, Edith Magomere Ingasiani hid her pregnancy; unmarried women who give birth risk arrest. She delivered her daughter Blessings alone in January 2016, raising her in the shadows for years. When Edith tried to return home to Kenya, Blessings' lack of documents trapped them in bureaucratic limbo. In 2024, they finally made it back. “Home is always the answer,” she says. “It took eight years to get there.”

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Sudan's War: A Nation Trapped..Credit: © Abdulmonam Eassa, for Le Monde..Caption: Alhaja Abdallah, a displaced woman from Bara, shows her scars from a fire at Al-Mohad camp. Paramilitary forces have set multiple displacement camps ablaze. El-Obeid, Sudan, 10 December 2025..Story: After a 2019 revolution overthrew decades of dictatorship, Sudan's democratic hopes were crushed by a military coup in 2021. Two years later, the army and paramilitary forces turned on each other, beginning a war that has spiraled into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. As famine spreads and essential services collapse, foreign powers continue to fuel the conflict with weapons. Over 13 million people have been displaced, and at least 150,000 killed. The UN reports that civilian killings more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Sudan's War: A Nation Trapped..Credit: © Abdulmonam Eassa, for Le Monde..Caption: A group of soldiers passes through a damaged market in Sudan's second most populous city, a site of continuous fighting since April 2023. Omdurman, Sudan, 25 October 2024...Story: After a 2019 revolution overthrew decades of dictatorship, Sudan's democratic hopes were crushed by a military coup in 2021. Two years later, the army and paramilitary forces turned on each other, beginning a war that has spiraled into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. As famine spreads and essential services collapse, foreign powers continue to fuel the conflict with weapons. Over 13 million people have been displaced, and at least 150,000 killed. The UN reports that civilian killings more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Sudan's War: A Nation Trapped..Credit: © Abdulmonam Eassa, for Le Monde..Caption: A soldier descends from a building as fighting continues. Frontline images like this are rare, due to heavily restricted access for journalists. Omdurman, Sudan, 1 November 2024...Story: After a 2019 revolution overthrew decades of dictatorship, Sudan's democratic hopes were crushed by a military coup in 2021. Two years later, the army and paramilitary forces turned on each other, beginning a war that has spiraled into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. As famine spreads and essential services collapse, foreign powers continue to fuel the conflict with weapons. Over 13 million people have been displaced, and at least 150,000 killed. The UN reports that civilian killings more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Sudan's War: A Nation Trapped..Credit: © Abdulmonam Eassa, for Le Monde..Caption: Students take exams at the war-damaged Omdurman Islamic University. Schools and universities have been attacked and mostly closed since fighting began. Omdurman, Sudan, 4 December 2025...Story: After a 2019 revolution overthrew decades of dictatorship, Sudan's democratic hopes were crushed by a military coup in 2021. Two years later, the army and paramilitary forces turned on each other, beginning a war that has spiraled into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. As famine spreads and essential services collapse, foreign powers continue to fuel the conflict with weapons. Over 13 million people have been displaced, and at least 150,000 killed. The UN reports that civilian killings more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Farīsāt: Gunpowder's Daughters..Credit: © Chantal Pinzi, Panos Pictures..Caption: Ghita Jhiate manages her unruly stallion. Long forbidden by her father to participate in Tbourida, she finally realized her dream of riding alongside pioneer Zahia Aboulait in 2025. Sidi Rahal, Morocco, 6 August 2025...Story: Tbourida is a UNESCO-recognized Moroccan equestrian tradition dating back to the 16th century. Troupes gallop in unison, firing rifles in a choreographed performance of cavalry warfare. Historically excluded, female riders have fought for inclusion since Morocco's 2004 family code reforms strengthened women's legal rights. Today, seven all-female troupes now ride among some 300. These farīsāt (horsewomen) bear significant personal costs, funding their own horses, costumes, and gunpowder permits. Their perseverance stands as a powerful claim to women's rightful place in Moroccan cultural heritage.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Farīsāt: Gunpowder's Daughters..Credit: © Chantal Pinzi, Panos Pictures..Caption: A portrait of Bouchra Nabata's troupe. Her determination as one of Tbourida's first female riders helped pave the way for the seven all-female troupes that exist today. Rabat, Morocco, 13 August 2025...Story: Tbourida is a UNESCO-recognized Moroccan equestrian tradition dating back to the 16th century. Troupes gallop in unison, firing rifles in a choreographed performance of cavalry warfare. Historically excluded, female riders have fought for inclusion since Morocco's 2004 family code reforms strengthened women's legal rights. Today, seven all-female troupes now ride among some 300. These farīsāt (horsewomen) bear significant personal costs, funding their own horses, costumes, and gunpowder permits. Their perseverance stands as a powerful claim to women's rightful place in Moroccan cultural heritage.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Farīsāt: Gunpowder's Daughters..Credit: © Chantal Pinzi, Panos Pictures..Caption: Noura attempts to control her horse after firing, the most dangerous part of the performance. Riders risk injury from gunpowder or falling and being trampled. Sidi Rahal, Morocco, 8 August 2025...Story: Tbourida is a UNESCO-recognized Moroccan equestrian tradition dating back to the 16th century. Troupes gallop in unison, firing rifles in a choreographed performance of cavalry warfare. Historically excluded, female riders have fought for inclusion since Morocco's 2004 family code reforms strengthened women's legal rights. Today, seven all-female troupes now ride among some 300. These farīsāt (horsewomen) bear significant personal costs, funding their own horses, costumes, and gunpowder permits. Their perseverance stands as a powerful claim to women's rightful place in Moroccan cultural heritage..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Farīsāt: Gunpowder's Daughters..Credit: © Chantal Pinzi, Panos Pictures..Caption: A Tbourida festival where only one of the performing troupes was made up of women. Sidi Rahal, Morocco, 8 August 2025...Story: Tbourida is a UNESCO-recognized Moroccan equestrian tradition dating back to the 16th century. Troupes gallop in unison, firing rifles in a choreographed performance of cavalry warfare. Historically excluded, female riders have fought for inclusion since Morocco's 2004 family code reforms strengthened women's legal rights. Today, seven all-female troupes now ride among some 300. These farīsāt (horsewomen) bear significant personal costs, funding their own horses, costumes, and gunpowder permits. Their perseverance stands as a powerful claim to women's rightful place in Moroccan cultural heritage.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Madagascar's Gen Z Protests..Credit: © Luis Tato, Agence France-Presse ..Caption: A student holds the flag adopted by Gen Z protesters globally. The symbol comes from the Japanese manga One Piece, in which pirates stand up to corrupt rulers. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 9 October 2025...Story: In September 2025, students began protesting across Madagascar over failing public services, corruption, and economic hardship. When President Andry Rajoelina dissolved his government but refused to resign, demonstrations intensified. On 11 October, the CAPSAT military unit defected to join the protesters, the same force that had installed Rajoelina in a 2009 coup. Days later, the military seized power, promising elections within two years. In a pattern seen across Gen Z uprisings in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bulgaria, Madagascar's youth forced regime change, but were excluded from shaping the political transition that followed.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Madagascar's Gen Z Protests..Credit: © Luis Tato, Agence France-Presse ..Caption: Members of the Malagasy Gendarmerie drag a severely beaten protester during clashes that killed at least 22 people and injured more than 100 others. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 9 October 2025...Story: In September 2025, students began protesting across Madagascar over failing public services, corruption, and economic hardship. When President Andry Rajoelina dissolved his government but refused to resign, demonstrations intensified. On 11 October, the CAPSAT military unit defected to join the protesters, the same force that had installed Rajoelina in a 2009 coup. Days later, the military seized power, promising elections within two years. In a pattern seen across Gen Z uprisings in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bulgaria, Madagascar's youth forced regime change, but were excluded from shaping the political transition that followed.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Madagascar's Gen Z Protests..Credit: © Luis Tato, Agence France-Presse ..Caption: Members of the CAPSAT military unit ride a pickup truck as protesters celebrate their arrival, following clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 11 October 2025...Story: In September 2025, students began protesting across Madagascar over failing public services, corruption, and economic hardship. When President Andry Rajoelina dissolved his government but refused to resign, demonstrations intensified. On 11 October, the CAPSAT military unit defected to join the protesters, the same force that had installed Rajoelina in a 2009 coup. Days later, the military seized power, promising elections within two years. In a pattern seen across Gen Z uprisings in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bulgaria, Madagascar's youth forced regime change, but were excluded from shaping the political transition that followed.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Madagascar's Gen Z Protests..Credit: © Luis Tato, Agence France-Presse..Caption: Protesters cheer and wave flags outside City Hall as members of the CAPSAT military unit ride on an armored vehicle. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 11 October 2025...Story: In September 2025, students began protesting across Madagascar over failing public services, corruption, and economic hardship. When President Andry Rajoelina dissolved his government but refused to resign, demonstrations intensified. On 11 October, the CAPSAT military unit defected to join the protesters, the same force that had installed Rajoelina in a 2009 coup. Days later, the military seized power, promising elections within two years. In a pattern seen across Gen Z uprisings in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bulgaria, Madagascar's youth forced regime change, but were excluded from shaping the political transition that followed.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Dust on the floor of a Moon Valley home. If windows are left open for just half an hour, nearly one centimeter of dust accumulates. Alexandria, Egypt, 18 March 2018...Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Amal holds an X-ray of her lungs. She moved to Moon Valley at three years old and developed asthma within months. Alexandria, Egypt, 31 January 2018...Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Ahmed (11), photographed with his father Saeed, was born with asthma and uses a ventilator three times a day. He plays goalkeeper in football as it requires less physical strain. Alexandria, Egypt, 31 January 2017. ..Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Awady, who was born with asthma, raises pigeons as a hobby. “Every day, I am afraid I won't be able to play football again,” he says. Alexandria, Egypt, 14 February 2018...Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Plastic bags cover windows throughout Moon Valley, a common measure residents take to prevent cement dust from entering their homes. Alexandria, Egypt, 11 December 2025...Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Abdelrahman prepares to have fluid removed from his lungs. Funds for his treatment were raised through this project. Alexandria, Egypt, 9 January 2018...Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Ahmed (now 20) and Saaed. They won their lawsuit after years of legal battles – a rare victory and the first environmental case won in Egyptian courts. Alexandria, Egypt, 13 December 2025...Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Moon Dust..Credit: © Mohamed Mahdy, Arab Documentary Photography Program..Caption: Abdelrahman (42) speaks with his lawyer after winning his two lawsuits. He received 200,000 Egyptian pounds (about Ä3,640) in compensation after years of illness and legal struggle. Alexandria, Egypt, 11 December 2025. ..Story: More than 30,000 residents of Wadi El-Qamar, also known as Moon Valley, in western Alexandria, Egypt, live less than 15 meters from a cement factory that fills their homes with toxic dust. Children are born with asthma. Families suffer from lung disease and irreversible respiratory damage. In 2016, the photographer – who lives nearby and has asthma himself – began documenting their stories and ongoing legal battles.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Bondi Beach Terror Attack..Credit: © Edwina Pickles, The Sydney Morning Herald..Caption: An overwhelmed police officer leans over near the bodies of Boris (69) and Sofia (61) Gurman. During the Bondi Beach Terror Attack, the couple were killed while attempting to disarm one of the shooters. Sydney, Australia, 14 December 2025...Story: During Bondi Beach's “Chanukah by the Sea,” a community event celebrating the Jewish holiday, two armed men motivated by ISIS ideology attacked participants, killing 15 people. The victims included 10-year-old Matilda and 87-year-old Ukrainian Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the mass shooting an antisemitic attack and the deadliest terrorist incident on Australian soil ever. The shooting has prompted a significant re-evaluation of public security and religious freedom protections in Australia.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: A Desperate Plea..Credit: © Tyrone Siu, Reuters..Caption: Mr Wong cries out in anguish as fire engulfs the Tai Po housing complex he calls home. Moments earlier, he phoned his wife, who was trapped in the building, and they exchanged what would be their final words. Hong Kong, 26 November 2025...Story: A massive fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po claimed 168 lives, becoming Hong Kong's deadliest fire since 1948. While no official cause has been reported, investigations by Hong Kong authorities found that bamboo scaffolding, construction netting, and flammable Styrofoam boards on windows acted as accelerants for the fire, trapping residents inside. More than 2,000 firefighters were involved in rescue efforts, killing one and injuring twelve.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Wedding in the Flood..Credit: © Aaron Favila, Associated Press..Caption: Bride Jamaica Aguilar prepares to enter the flooded Barasoain Church for her wedding. The Barasoain Church, a national landmark, is situated in a region where nearly 75% of the population is exposed to flooding hazards. Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines, 22 July 2025...Story: When Typhoon Wipha hit the Philippines and flooded Barasoain Church, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar faced a difficult decision: should they cancel their wedding or proceed with the marriage? The couple carried on despite high waters, a testament to love and resilience in the face of severe weather. Located on a delta, Bulacan province is vulnerable to more frequent and extreme floods caused by aging drainage systems, dredging projects, overextraction of groundwater, and climate change.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Wedding in the Flood..Credit: © Aaron Favila, Associated Press..Caption: Inside the church, young guests look on attentively. The intensity of tropical cyclones and associated rainfall that has hit the Philippines has significantly increased since 2012. Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines, 22 July 2025...Story: When Typhoon Wipha hit the Philippines and flooded Barasoain Church, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar faced a difficult decision: should they cancel their wedding or proceed with the marriage? The couple carried on despite high waters, a testament to love and resilience in the face of severe weather. Located on a delta, Bulacan province is vulnerable to more frequent and extreme floods caused by aging drainage systems, dredging projects, overextraction of groundwater, and climate change.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Wedding in the Flood..Credit: © Aaron Favila, Associated Press..Caption: Groomsmen and guests wearing barong tagalog, the national dress of the Philippines, stand knee-deep in floodwaters. Local advocates increasingly link flooding to systemic failures in infrastructure and resource management. Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines, 22 July 2025...Story: When Typhoon Wipha hit the Philippines and flooded Barasoain Church, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar faced a difficult decision: should they cancel their wedding or proceed with the marriage? The couple carried on despite high waters, a testament to love and resilience in the face of severe weather. Located on a delta, Bulacan province is vulnerable to more frequent and extreme floods caused by aging drainage systems, dredging projects, overextraction of groundwater, and climate change.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Wedding in the Flood..Credit: © Aaron Favila, Associated Press..Caption: The newlyweds share a kiss as guests cheer. The couple have been together for ten years. According to Verdillo, “This is just one of the struggles that we've overcome.” Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines, 22 July 2025...Story: When Typhoon Wipha hit the Philippines and flooded Barasoain Church, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar faced a difficult decision: should they cancel their wedding or proceed with the marriage? The couple carried on despite high waters, a testament to love and resilience in the face of severe weather. Located on a delta, Bulacan province is vulnerable to more frequent and extreme floods caused by aging drainage systems, dredging projects, overextraction of groundwater, and climate change.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Scam Hub Under Siege..Credit: © Jes Aznar, for The New York Times..Caption: Offices in Shunda Park were left in disarray after a surge of fighting between the Myanmar military and the opposition militia nearby. Some parts of the complex resembled professional executive suites; others trapped workers in a “Sisyphean loop” of 12-hour shifts. Min Let Pan, Myanmar, 5 December 2025...Story: On 21 November 2025, the Karen National Liberation Army captured Shunda Park, a massive cyber-scam compound in Myanmar's Karen State. As the country's civil war intensifies, lawless border regions have become hubs for a lucrative online scam industry. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have been trafficked into Southeast Asia and forced into labor for these illegal enterprises. When rebel forces ousted the junta-allied militia guarding the park, thousands of workers from 30 nations were stranded in Myanmar.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Scam Hub Under Siege..Credit: © Jes Aznar, for The New York Times..Caption: Photographs and props used to fake online personas and build relationships with victims. Min Let Pan, Myanmar, 5 December 2025...Story: On 21 November 2025, the Karen National Liberation Army captured Shunda Park, a massive cyber-scam compound in Myanmar's Karen State. As the country's civil war intensifies, lawless border regions have become hubs for a lucrative online scam industry. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have been trafficked into Southeast Asia and forced into labor for these illegal enterprises. When rebel forces ousted the junta-allied militia guarding the park, thousands of workers from 30 nations were stranded in Myanmar.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Scam Hub Under Siege..Credit: © Jes Aznar, for The New York Times..Caption: Stranded workers at a makeshift shelter near the Moei River. Many workers had their documents and passports seized by the scam center bosses and could not cross the border into Thailand. Min Let Pan, Myanmar, 5 December 2025...Story: On 21 November 2025, the Karen National Liberation Army captured Shunda Park, a massive cyber-scam compound in Myanmar's Karen State. As the country's civil war intensifies, lawless border regions have become hubs for a lucrative online scam industry. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have been trafficked into Southeast Asia and forced into labor for these illegal enterprises. When rebel forces ousted the junta-allied militia guarding the park, thousands of workers from 30 nations were stranded in Myanmar.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Scam Hub Under Siege..Credit: © Jes Aznar, for The New York Times..Caption: A Karen National Liberation Army soldier patrols the Shunda Park compound. Approximately 900 Chinese employees remained barricaded here for weeks after the raid, fearing that repatriation could lead to immediate arrest by Chinese authorities. Min Let Pan, Myanmar, 5 December 2025...Story: On 21 November 2025, the Karen National Liberation Army captured Shunda Park, a massive cyber-scam compound in Myanmar's Karen State. As the country's civil war intensifies, lawless border regions have become hubs for a lucrative online scam industry. Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have been trafficked into Southeast Asia and forced into labor for these illegal enterprises. When rebel forces ousted the junta-allied militia guarding the park, thousands of workers from 30 nations were stranded in Myanmar.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: The Last Dolphin Hunters..Credit: © Matthew Abbott, Oculi, for The New York Times..Caption: Fanalei Island has been reduced to a narrow strip of sand and coral by rising seas. Residents believe the settlement, once home to dozens of families, will become uninhabitable in the near future. South Malaita, Solomon Islands, 6 February 2025. ..Story: Fanalei, a low-lying island in the Solomon Islands, stands at a crossroads between contested tradition and a changing economy. For generations, dolphin hunting provided food and income, with dolphin teeth used as ritual currency for bride-price and other forms of local exchange. Today, as rising sea levels displace the community and threaten its future, seaweed farming is providing an economic alternative to the seasonal hunt. As seaweed farming expands, fewer people are available for the collective efforts upon which dolphin hunting depends. This story captures a community reshaped by environmental pressure and shifting traditions.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: The Last Dolphin Hunters..Credit: © Matthew Abbott, Oculi, for The New York Times..Caption: A young man drags a dolphin toward the shore in Walande. While Fanalei struggled this season, the larger sister community of Walande successfully landed a catch to share across the Surodo Lagoon. Maramasike Island, 11 February 2025...Story: Fanalei, a low-lying island in the Solomon Islands, stands at a crossroads between contested tradition and a changing economy. For generations, dolphin hunting provided food and income, with dolphin teeth used as ritual currency for bride-price and other forms of local exchange. Today, as rising sea levels displace the community and threaten its future, seaweed farming is providing an economic alternative to the seasonal hunt. As seaweed farming expands, fewer people are available for the collective efforts upon which dolphin hunting depends. This story captures a community reshaped by environmental pressure and shifting traditions.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: The Last Dolphin Hunters..Credit: © Matthew Abbott, Oculi, for The New York Times..Caption: Paralyzed for the past two years, Eddie Sua is confined to a hut that floods during high tides. He notes that without food and income from dolphin teeth, the community would starve. Fanalei Village, Fanalei Island, 16 February 2025...Story: Fanalei, a low-lying island in the Solomon Islands, stands at a crossroads between contested tradition and a changing economy. For generations, dolphin hunting provided food and income, with dolphin teeth used as ritual currency for bride-price and other forms of local exchange. Today, as rising sea levels displace the community and threaten its future, seaweed farming is providing an economic alternative to the seasonal hunt. As seaweed farming expands, fewer people are available for the collective efforts upon which dolphin hunting depends. This story captures a community reshaped by environmental pressure and shifting traditions.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: The Last Dolphin Hunters..Credit: © Matthew Abbott, Oculi, for The New York Times..Caption: Crowds in Fouele discuss seaweed farming with MP Rick Houenipwela. This new source of income offers a path away from the traditional but controversial dolphin hunt, providing families with a more reliable means of supporting themselves. Fouele Village, Maramasike Island, 12 February 2025...Story: Fanalei, a low-lying island in the Solomon Islands, stands at a crossroads between contested tradition and a changing economy. For generations, dolphin hunting provided food and income, with dolphin teeth used as ritual currency for bride-price and other forms of local exchange. Today, as rising sea levels displace the community and threaten its future, seaweed farming is providing an economic alternative to the seasonal hunt. As seaweed farming expands, fewer people are available for the collective efforts upon which dolphin hunting depends. This story captures a community reshaped by environmental pressure and shifting traditions.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Sheng Hailin prepares for delivery at a hospital in Hefei. At 60 years old and over seven months pregnant, she faced pain, hemorrhaging, and other physical hardships to bring her twin daughters into the world. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 25 May 2010...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Returning from a work trip, Sheng Hailin is greeted by her daughter, Huihui. To support her young family, the retired doctor went back to work, traveling across China giving lectures on health. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 5 March 2012...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Zhizhi with her father, Wu Jingzhou, at kindergarten. The couple's decision to have children in their 60s sparked debates online over the ethics and responsibilities of elderly parenthood. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 7 September 2013...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Sheng Hailin combs her daughters' hair before school. As the girls grew, Sheng Hailin faced the increasing challenge of managing their daily needs while navigating her own diminishing physical capabilities. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 21 May 2018...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Zhizhi and Huihui attend dance training. The cost of the girls' education and extracurricular activities placed a significant financial burden on the aging family. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 23 May 2021...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Zhizhi and Huihui carry their father's portrait during his funeral procession. Wu Jingzhou passed away in late 2022, leaving the 72-year-old Sheng Hailin to raise their teenage daughters alone. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 8 December 2022...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Zhizhi and Huihui celebrate their 15th birthday. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 12 June 2025...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Motherhood at 60..Credit: © Wu Fang..Caption: Sheng Hailin presents her daughters with flowers after completing their high school entrance exams. At 75, Sheng Hailin continues to document her life online to support her family's future. Hefei, Anhui Province, China, 16 June 2025...Story: After the death of her only child, retired doctor Sheng Hailin sought in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) and gave birth to twin girls named Zhizhi and Huihui at the age of 60. This story follows Sheng Hailing's family over 15 years, offering a portrait that is both extraordinary and mundane, but always filled with enduring love. In China, Sheng Hailin is only one of many shīdú, parents who have lost their only child born during China's one-child policy era.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Russian Attack on Kyiv..Credit: © Evgeniy Maloletka, Associated Press..Caption: Valeria Syniuk (65) sits near her badly damaged home. She was asleep when a Russian missile destroyed the building opposite hers. Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 April 2025...Story: On 24 April 2025, Russia launched one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Hours after international peace negotiations stalled again, missiles and drones struck at least five residential neighborhoods, killing 13 people and wounding 90. Russia's intensifying air campaign continues to devastate life across the country, systematically targeting infrastructure, hospitals, and educational institutions. By December 2025, at least 14,775 civilians had been killed since the invasion began. April 2025 was the worst month for child casualties in nearly three years..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Emma the Social Robot..Credit: © Paula Hornickel..Caption: Waltraud talks with Emma, a social robot that recognizes faces and remembers past conversations. Though skeptical at first, Waltraud says she felt connected to Emma over time..Albershausen, Germany, 3 July 2025...Story: Germany's care homes are facing two crises: staff shortages and loneliness. A 2023 study found that one in five residents aged 80 and older describe themselves as “severely lonely.” This reality has prompted trials of social robots like Emma, developed by a Munich-based startup. Waltraud, a resident of Haus im Wiesengrund in Albershausen, had her doubts but over time formed a bond with Emma. “When she tells her jokes, that's really good. That's my kind of humor,” says Waltraud, though she emphasizes that human contact is always preferable.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Polar Bear on Sperm Whale..Credit: © Roie Galitz..Caption: A female polar bear feeds on a sperm whale carcass in the polar pack ice north of the Norwegian archipelago, Svalbard. 82° North, International Waters, 8 July 2025...Story: Polar bears are primarily seal predators, but as ice retreats in the summer and hunting becomes harder, they increasingly rely on opportunistic scavenging. Near Svalbard, the ice-free season has lengthened by 20 weeks in the last 30 years. Sperm whales typically avoid ice-covered polar waters, so this carcass was a rare sight. Scientists speculate that after dying, the male sperm whale drifted north, carried by winds and currents. The photographer spent two days observing the scene from a small boat, capturing it by drone to reveal a scale difficult to grasp from sea level..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Drone Wars..Credit: © David Guttenfelder, The New York Times..Caption: A soldier from Ukraine's 93rd Brigade scans for Russian FPV drones while speeding through Kostyantynivka, a strategic gateway to Ukraine's last major defensive belt in Donetsk. Kostyantynivka, Ukraine, 19 June 2025...Story: Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion is reshaping modern combat. Hobby drones are being repurposed into remote-controlled weapons, and mass-produced first-person-view (FPV) drones are piloted from kilometers away with deadly precision. These developments have triggered an unrelenting drone arms race and turned vast areas of Ukraine into “kill zones”. Civilians are targeted and displaced, and soldiers spend most of their time in underground bunkers or basements, unable to be resupplied or casualty-evacuated. This story documents Ukraine's efforts to advance its drone capabilities, and the impact of Russian drone attacks on civilians..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Drone Wars..Credit: © David Guttenfelder, The New York Times..Caption: Yulia Vasiakina embraces Kamelia, her 20-year-old horse, killed when Russian long-range drones struck their neighborhood and destroyed most of the surrounding city block. Odesa, Ukraine, 11 July 2025...Story: Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion is reshaping modern combat. Hobby drones are being repurposed into remote-controlled weapons, and mass-produced first-person-view (FPV) drones are piloted from kilometers away with deadly precision. These developments have triggered an unrelenting drone arms race and turned vast areas of Ukraine into “kill zones”. Civilians are targeted and displaced, and soldiers spend most of their time in underground bunkers or basements, unable to be resupplied or casualty-evacuated. This story documents Ukraine's efforts to advance its drone capabilities, and the impact of Russian drone attacks on civilians..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Drone Wars..Credit: © David Guttenfelder, The New York Times..Caption: Ukrainian civilians, their identities concealed behind masks, assemble FPV drones in a basement factory. Both Ukraine and Russia now manufacture millions of battlefield drones a year. Central Ukraine, 6 September 2024...Story: Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion is reshaping modern combat. Hobby drones are being repurposed into remote-controlled weapons, and mass-produced first-person-view (FPV) drones are piloted from kilometers away with deadly precision. These developments have triggered an unrelenting drone arms race and turned vast areas of Ukraine into “kill zones”. Civilians are targeted and displaced, and soldiers spend most of their time in underground bunkers or basements, unable to be resupplied or casualty-evacuated. This story documents Ukraine's efforts to advance its drone capabilities, and the impact of Russian drone attacks on civilians..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Drone Wars..Credit: © David Guttenfelder, The New York Times..Caption: A Ukrainian soldier, known by the call sign “Ara,” uses his partially amputated arm to steady a drone being fitted with a grenade. Wounded in 2022, he now trains recruits in drone operations. Donetsk region, Ukraine, 5 August 2024...Story: Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion is reshaping modern combat. Hobby drones are being repurposed into remote-controlled weapons, and mass-produced first-person-view (FPV) drones are piloted from kilometers away with deadly precision. These developments have triggered an unrelenting drone arms race and turned vast areas of Ukraine into “kill zones”. Civilians are targeted and displaced, and soldiers spend most of their time in underground bunkers or basements, unable to be resupplied or casualty-evacuated. This story documents Ukraine's efforts to advance its drone capabilities, and the impact of Russian drone attacks on civilians.

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Columbia University Pro-Palestine Protests..Credit: © Alex Kent, for The New York Times..Caption: ​​Barnard College alumna Jesse Pearce is arrested outside Columbia University's commencement ceremony. Along with current students, alumni protested the institution's ongoing financial ties to Israel. New York City, New York, United States, 21 May 2025...Story: Facing intense political pressure to limit pro-Palestine demonstrations, many US universities became focal points in a national conflict over free speech and institutional independence. At Columbia University, the Trump administration suspended $400 million in federal funding to force a crackdown on campus protests, causing severe administrative upheaval. The students were caught in this institutional crossfire, but many members of the graduating class of 2025 as well as alumni chose to exercise their first amendment rights in protests and demonstrations..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Portland Protests ICE..Credit: © Jan Sonnenmair..Caption: ​​Officers from the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies clash with demonstrators outside an ICE processing center. The intense summer protests centered on opposing the administration's escalating mass-deportation agenda. Portland, Oregon, United States, 24 June 2025...Story: In 2025, the Trump administration shifted its immigration enforcement from the border to the US interior, aiming for 3,000 arrests per day and abandoning protections for schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship. In response, Portland, a “sanctuary city” that prohibits its own state and local law forces to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, became a flashpoint for resistance. During the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations in June, localized protests escalated into nightly clashes outside the city's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Los Angeles on Fire..Credit: © Ethan Swope, for Associated Press..Caption: A senior center resident evacuates as the Eaton Fire approaches. Wildfires release massive amounts of toxic particles and carbon monoxide, causing severe respiratory issues that linger for weeks. Altadena, California, United States, 7 January 2025...Story: In January 2025, severe drought and 100-mph (roughly 160-kph) Santa Ana winds fueled 14 devastating wildfires across Los Angeles, destroying over 18,000 buildings and displacing 200,000 residents. While officials reported 31 direct fatalities, public health studies estimate 440 excess deaths linked to toxic smoke and disrupted medical care. In the disaster's aftermath, a stark wealth divide has defined recovery efforts, with lower-income residents facing displacement while wealthier communities leverage private resources to rebuild..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Los Angeles on Fire..Credit: © Ethan Swope, for Associated Press..Caption: The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds. The Los Angeles blazes inflicted between $28 and $53.8 billion in property damage, disrupting thousands of local businesses. Los Angeles, California, United States, 7 January 2025...Story: In January 2025, severe drought and 100-mph (roughly 160-kph) Santa Ana winds fueled 14 devastating wildfires across Los Angeles, destroying over 18,000 buildings and displacing 200,000 residents. While officials reported 31 direct fatalities, public health studies estimate 440 excess deaths linked to toxic smoke and disrupted medical care. In the disaster's aftermath, a stark wealth divide has defined recovery efforts, with lower-income residents facing displacement while wealthier communities leverage private resources to rebuild..

2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR CONTEST - REGIONAL WINNERS

Title: Los Angeles on Fire..Credit: © Ethan Swope, for Associated Press..Caption: A man walks past a business ruined by fire. The Eaton Fire heavily impacted working-class neighborhoods, where many underinsured homeowners now face gentrification and displacement. Altadena, California, United States, 8 January 2025...Story: In January 2025, severe drought and 100-mph (roughly 160-kph) Santa Ana winds fueled 14 devastating wildfires across Los Angeles, destroying over 18,000 buildings and displacing 200,000 residents. While officials reported 31 direct fatalities, public health studies estimate 440 excess deaths linked to toxic smoke and disrupted medical care. In the disaster's aftermath, a stark wealth divide has defined recovery efforts, with lower-income residents facing displacement while wealthier communities leverage private resources to rebuild..