---
title: "Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Student and Youth shortlists"
description: "The Sony World Photography Awards has announced the 2026 shortlists for its Student and Youth competitions, recognising emerging photographers at the earliest stages of their careers. The Student shortlist features series responding to the theme Together, while the Youth shortlist highlights standout single images by photographers aged 19 and under — offering a snapshot of the next generation of photographic talent."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "PHOTO ESSAY"
author: "Sony World Photography Awards"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/sony-world-photography-awards/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-01-27-sony-world-photography-awards-2026-student-and-youth-shortlists/"
published: "2026-01-27T06:37:31"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 937
---

# Sony World Photography Awards 2026 — Student and Youth shortlists

> The Sony World Photography Awards has announced the 2026 shortlists for its Student and Youth competitions, recognising emerging photographers at the earliest stages of their careers. The Student shortlist features series responding to the theme Together, while the Youth shortlist highlights standout single images by photographers aged 19 and under — offering a snapshot of the next generation of photographic talent.

By Sony World Photography Awards · Published 27 January 2026, 08:37 SAST

## Key points
- The Sony World Photography Awards announces the shortlists of the 2026 Student and Youth competitions, honouring outstanding photographers at the earliest stages of their careers. The Student shortlist celebrates poignant series exploring the theme Together, while the Youth shortlist spotlights the best single images by photographers aged 19 and under. Showcasing the skill and ingenuity of young practitioners exploring and experimenting with the medium, the shortlists offer a glimpse of the photography trailblazers of tomorrow.
- Shortlists announced for the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards, highlighting emerging talent in student and youth categories.
- The Student competition focuses on cohesive series under the theme “Together”, showcasing narratives from budding photographers.
- Youth competition features remarkable single images captured by photographers aged 19 and under, celebrating youthful creativity.
- Both shortlists reflect the innovative spirit and skill of future photography trailblazers pushing artistic boundaries.

## Content

### Student competition shortlist

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/OMp6tKh1KQptAa2G2N8mDNQvOHk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/JubairAhmedArnobBangladeshShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026JubairAhmedArnob_275410.jpg)

*Jubair Ahmed Arnob’s (Bangladesh, Counter Foto - A Center for Visual Arts) series The Place Where I Used To Play is imbued with a sense of nostalgia, charting the rapidly changing landscape in the Green Model Town in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: Jubair Ahmed Arnob, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/s3eQ0SWznc1CjCHRprzLpmBlNig=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/JubairAhmedArnobBangladeshShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026JubairAhmedArnob2_903221.jpg)

*Another photo by Jubair Ahmed Arnob in the series The Place Where I Used To Play. (Photo: Jubair Ahmed Arnob, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/U-ai8JJK-3s0M4ay_-ewvHhyZ78=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/CiSongChinaMainlandShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026CiSong_904998.jpg)

*Ci Song (China Mainland, Drexel University, USA) photographs communities in West Philadelphia, as their neighbourhoods are transformed by gentrification. (Photo: Ci Song, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/iVw3P_C0E8YRVRtiU2_1LKmxp4c=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/CiSongChinaMainlandShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026CiSong2_128957.jpg)

*Another image by Ci Song. (Photo: Ci Song, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/CQ3WLCv9boAtklCmbDrSnJoDjw0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/AakashGulzarIndiaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026AakashGulzar_708824.jpg)

*Aakash Gulzar (India, MERC, University of Kashmir) invites viewers into the intimate world of pigeon keepers, highlighting the special connection between humans and these gentle birds. (Photo: Aakash Gulzar, India, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/yOR1PObIdPbwmW35-9x3ZTw1Bq8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/AakashGulzarIndiaShortlistStudentCompetitionTogetherSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026AakashGulzar_892795.jpg)

*Part of Aakash Gulzar’s series. (Photo: Aakash Gulzar, India, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/U-iCqv99RVej1k1Z-oEpUB_zC1k=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TeresaHalbreiterGermanyShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026TeresaHalbreiter_890268.jpg)

*Teresa Halbreiter’s (Germany, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences) series Stillgestanden (‘Attention!’) opens a dialogue around femininity and individuality in the male-dominated institution of the German Armed Forces. (Photo: Teresa Halbreiter, Germany, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ipK2LOIkiWhBHb-c1lL4tG-Ob_k=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TeresaHalbreiterGermanyShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026TeresaHalbreiter2_962865.jpg)

*From Teresa Halbreiter’s (Germany, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences) series Stillgestanden. (Photo: Teresa Halbreiter, Germany, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dDgtErumDGymOL3-p7WZWZ1afXM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/JulianCabralArgentinaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026JulianCabral_828436.jpg)

*Julian Cabral’s (Argentina, Universidad Nacional de San Martín) project Triplets tells the story of the photographer and his two brothers, reflecting their close familial bond. (Photo: Julian Cabral, Argentina, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/EwAqvugigE-IJAWP9McoVRGQO_E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/JulianCabralArgentinaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026JulianCabral2_454140.jpg)

*Julian Cabral, Argentina, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026. (Photo: Julian Cabral)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Bf2XoiQRtBIczYJCTqkA7evodRM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/YulaiXuChinaMainlandShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026YulaiXu2_127431.jpg)

*Yulai Xu (China Mainland, University of the Arts London, UK) explores the intricacies of family relationships in the series Fish Tail. (Photo: Yulai Xu, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/98y5Lx79Tp7jDuI0dDTPAyyOh9k=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/YulaiXuChinaMainlandShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026YulaiXu_327134.jpg)

*Another image from Yulai Xu’s series Fish Tail. (Photo: Yulai Xu, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/18tgA8ngEMihndhidIjTPpGxpEs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/MatteDixonAustraliaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026MatteDixon_991153.jpg)

*Matte Dixon’s (Australia, Griffith University) Suspiria de Profundis (2025) series aims to explore how unease can invite reflection on the human condition and turn audiences towards a shared understanding. (Photo: Matte Dixon, Australia, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/h2Fa77nNm1EpLQ4uBhUFnVM4WXg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/MatteDixonAustraliaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026MatteDixon2_918233.jpg)

*Another photo from Matte Dixon's series Suspiria de Profundis. (Photo: Matte Dixon, Australia, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026.)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/qjypfgYc1x3hbNv4GFWpp03Ajg8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/LauraAnnaRossaBelgiumShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026LauraAnnaRossa2_286765.jpg)

*Laura Anna Rossa (Belgium, LUCA School of Arts Sint Lukas, Brussels) befriends Patrick, a resident at De Vallei, a long-term psychiatric ward in the Belgian countryside, and documents their time together. (Photo: Laura Anna Rossa, Belgium, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/VjBc_ADwoq_8F3-runidnaetiMo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/LauraAnnaRossaBelgiumShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026LauraAnnaRossa_586504.jpg)

*Another image by Laura Anna Rossa. (Photo: Laura Anna Rossa, Belgium, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mq5pfK6QxVnaZGKmZeSa8Ev8ORc=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ChanelGroblerSouthAfricaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026ChanelGrobler_696175.jpg)

*Chanel Grobler (South Africa, Open Window Institute) looks at the shared places which hold quiet traces of human presence. (Photo: Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/xMzQgMNru0TfuXTJ9mQ7jeFP2yM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ChanelGroblerSouthAfricaShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026ChanelGrobler2_182436.jpg)

*Another image by Chanel Grobler. (Photo: Chanel Grobler, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/8CaHDp3I74Ur_QLroxbeoHGkbjI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ZifanZhangChinaMainlandShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026ZifanZhang2_668117.jpg)

*Zifan Zhang’s (China Mainland, Danish School of Media and Journalism \[DJMX\] Denmark) series documents the everyday lives of young Latvians, as they come of age, taking on various roles to reshape their country’s future. (Photo: Zifan Zhang, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/q7tI9kSeYNFs9pTpSoGwfhZEUpo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/ZifanZhangChinaMainlandShortlistStudentCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026ZifanZhang_568398.jpg)

*Another image by Zifan Zhang. (Photo: Zifan Zhang, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

### Youth competition shortlist

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/PMwkZykWXvos5y2DaQbjhpyHMI0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/RileyShickleUnitedKingdomShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026RileyShickle_408988.jpg)

*Riley Shickle (UK, 19 years old) photographed Mount Fuji, framed by bright red autumn leaves near Lake Kawaguchi, Japan. (Photo: Riley Shickle, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/BEs-FPzVSL1uNTkQSyb8Nktn1WU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/AbdallahIslamEgyptShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026AbdallahIslam_256652.jpg)

*Abdallah Islam’s (Egypt, 19 years old) photograph of a triangular sculpture as it frames the Great Pyramid in Egypt, shows the harmony between the stark lines of the contemporary sculpture and ancient architecture. (Photo: Abdallah Islam, Egypt, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/4hOR8TugZ3wzPdfnldUpnE1coTk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/DoaErgnTrkiyeShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026DoaErgn_326045.jpg)

*Doğa Ergün (Turkey, 15 years old) depicts a moment of symmetry as a horse and rider enter the sea, showing above and below the waterline in a single frame. (Photo: Doğa Ergün, Türkiye, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dcMmYlCAKB5xBRtxcu01CC71EZ8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/JeirinAntonSriLankaShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026JeirinAnton_379881.jpg)

*Jeirin Anton (Sri Lanka, 16 years old) captures the regal aura of the peacock as it dominates a glowing golden landscape. (Photo: Jeirin Anton, Sri Lanka, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9-Frt3xglEmW9Oj2Grf_D7QJW68=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/KeiraPereiraCanadaShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026KeiraPereira_439848.jpg)

*Keira Pereira (Canada, 17 years old) encountered a red-eyed tree frog in the Costa Rican rainforest, perched motionless on a narrow leaf. (Photo: Keira Pereira, Canada, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/wljGKYY-6qucdeZzhjw0BGME6fM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/AydenFeagleUnitedStatesShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026AydenFeagle_947279.jpg)

*Ayden Feagle (United States, 16 years old) captured teamwork in action during a soccer match in Lake Wales, United States. (Photo: Ayden Feagle, US, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/KP7l8VJMmkCyZSyv1UscZ2nQGRk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/PhilipKangasSwedenShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026PhilipKangas_147483.jpg)

*Philip Kangas (Sweden, 16 years old) photographed a moment of collaboration between two firefighters as they carried an artwork out of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm during a fire. (Photo: Philip Kangas, Sweden, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/E3c_p8BYijzZu06DnbXWED3HQ0k=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/JaneMozziArgentinaShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026JaneMozzi_279927.jpg)

*Jane Mozzi (Argentina, 15 years old) captures the split second a BMX rider performing a backflip overlaps with an airplane flying past in the background. (Photo: Jane Mozzi, Argentina, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026)*

![sony-photography-2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ejL7wX8NfJ8_LRAacN-NbUkWBpI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/RuohanWangChinaMainlandShortlistYouthCompetitionSonyWorldPhotographyAwards2026RuohanWang_120749.jpg)

*Ruohan Wang’s (China Mainland, 19 years old) portrait creatively uses shadow to obscure the sitter’s face, drawing the viewer’s gaze to their eyes. (Photo: Ruohan Wang, China Mainland, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2026) DM*