The Sony World Photography Awards are a photography competition supported by Sony and first held in 2007, with the aim of contributing to the development of photographic culture.
The Awards consist of four competitions: Professional (10 categories), Open (10 categories), Youth (ages 12 to 19, responding to a monthly brief) and Student (responding to two briefs), and provides platforms catered to every stage and genre of photography. In addition, the Awards recognise a person or a group of people that have made a significant impact on the medium of photography through the Outstanding Contribution to Photography, as well as local photographic talents from around the globe through the National & Regional Awards. All images entered into the Open competition are automatically considered for the National & Regional Awards. To contribute to the further development of photographic culture, the Sony Grant programme provides financial support to selected winners from the Professional and Student competitions to advance their careers.

Winners receive a prize package that includes a cash reward and the latest Sony digital imaging equipment as well as opportunities such as inclusion in international exhibitions and in the Sony World Photography Awards book, and media exposure on a worldwide level.

Over 345,000 images from 203 countries and regions were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2020. This exhibition presents the winning entries, from across the Awardsʼ competitions.

Take a look through our gallery at all the incredible and inspiring highlights from the 2020 competition.

The Sony World Photography Awards 2021 open for entries on 1 July, 2020. For further information, please visit World Photography Organisation website.