Organisers of World Press Photo have announced the winners of the 2026 competition, highlighting the strongest works by photojournalists and documentary photographers from around the world. Among them is Ukrainian photojournalist Yevhen Maloletka, who won in the European region in the Singles category for his work Russian Attack on Kyiv, created for Associated Press.
This year, the competition received entries from 3,747 photographers across 141 countries, submitting more than 57,000 images.
Maloletka’s photograph documents the aftermath of Russian attacks on Kyiv and continues his series of visual testimonies of the war in Ukraine.
The jury statement emphasises that this year’s winning works reflect both global crises and conflicts, as well as themes of resilience, resistance, and cultural identity.
“This is a critical moment — for democracy, for truth, and for what we as a society are willing to see or ignore,” said global jury chair Kira Pollack.
Winners were chosen by an independent jury without hierarchy within categories — all recognised works carry equal weight. Key themes this year include the wars in Sudan and Ukraine, humanitarian crises, protests, as well as everyday life and cultural traditions from different countries.
The announcement of the main award — Photo of the Year — and the two finalists will take place on April 23, 2026, in Amsterdam during the opening of the exhibition at De Nieuwe Kerk. All competition winners, including Yevhen Malolettka, are eligible for the top prize.
The awarded works will be shown to millions of viewers as part of the annual travelling exhibition, which will visit over 60 cities worldwide, including Berlin, Rome, Sydney, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro.
World Press Photo highlights that in times of global instability, the role of independent journalism is more important than ever, and photo documentation remains one of the key tools for recording truth and contemporary history.