Each year, World Press Photo's competition recognizes the most powerful and relevant photographic work produced over the past twelve months. Entries are welcome from all genres—from nature and environmental stories to sports and social issues, as well as political events and moments of extraordinary human strength.

The competition will again follow the regional judging model that has proven successful in recent years. Submissions are first evaluated in six global regions by independent juries, each comprised of experts who live or work in the respective region. This model ensures that images are judged within a culturally, politically, and socially appropriate context. The best regional entries are then presented to a global jury, consisting of the chairs of the regional juries and the global jury president.

The 2026 global jury will be chaired by renowned photo editor and creative director Kira Pollack. She is considered one of the most influential voices in visual storytelling and brings extensive experience from leadership positions at Vanity Fair and TIME. As a current Walter Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School Shorenstein Center, she is also deeply involved in issues surrounding the preservation of photojournalistic archives. Pollack's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including two Emmy Awards, a Lucie Award, and several National Magazine Awards. She emphasizes that visual journalism plays a crucial role in fostering understanding and providing orientation, especially in a time when truth is increasingly contested.

Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of World Press Photo, also underscores the importance of the competition. She explains that the contest is far more than a traditional photography competition, as it invites photographers worldwide to tell stories that need to be seen. The diversity of the submitted works makes a vital contribution to making global developments comprehensible and amplifying voices that are often overlooked.