World Food Photography Awards 2026 is open—and this year’s edition is bigger, sharper and tastier than ever. With a £5,000 top prize and a finalist exhibition at London’s Mall Galleries, the competition spotlights food stories across more than 25 themed categories. Entries close on February 8, 2026, so those planning to submit should mark the date early and prepare their best work. If you’re hunting the best photo contests online, this one belongs on your shortlist.
The awards welcome single images and portfolios, with opportunities ranging from an advertising shoot with M&S Food to a £1,000 equipment voucher and publication with the RPS. Fees are straightforward: adults pay £35 to enter up to six images, with additional entries at £7 (students and young photographers have dedicated free categories with capped submissions).
Beyond the headline prize, the event’s structure, judging and show schedule are clear and well-defined. Shortlist notifications arrive in late February, winners are revealed on 2 June 2026, and finalist prints go on display 3–7 June at the Mall Galleries. For photographers working in food & drink photography competitions, this World Food Photography Awards offers a coherent pathway from upload to gallery wall.
Contents
The World Food Photography Awards 2026 Prizes
The overall prize is £5,000, but the competition also offers a wide range of category rewards, industry opportunities and exclusive experiences. Below is the full breakdown:
- Overall Winner
- £5,000 cash prize
- Dedicated winner profile on the awards site
- International press promotion
- Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London
- M&S Food Rising Star (portfolio)
- Invitation to shoot an M&S Food advertising campaign
- Travel and accommodation contribution up to £500 if required
- MPB Award for Innovation
- MPB voucher worth £1,000 for used photo equipment
- Production Paradise Previously Published
- Spotlight Food & Drink Photography + Motion feature
- Directory listing
- RPS Student Food Photographer of the Year
- RPS membership for winner and two runners-up
- Publication opportunity in the RPS Journal/Journal Extra
- Winner also receives a 60-minute one-to-one professional mentoring session
- Jamie Oliver Youth Prize
- Winners in both age groups invited to Jamie Oliver HQ in London
- Travel and accommodation contribution up to £500 per winner if required
- Exhibition & Event Access
- All finalists invited to the VIP Awards Evening at the Mall Galleries (travel and accommodation not included)
- Finalist works exhibited at the Mall Galleries, London
- Special note
- Winners of certain categories (e.g., Wine Photographer of the Year, World of Drinks, RPS Student, Rising Star, Food Stylist, Bimi® Prize, Jamie Oliver Youth Prize) are not eligible for the Overall Winner title
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the World Food Photography Awards 2026
The World Food Photography Awards features a wide range of categories covering every aspect of food photography, from production and family life to advertising and innovation. Here’s the complete list:
- UK for UNHCR Food as Home (new)
- M&S Food Rising Star (portfolio)
- Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year
- Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Photographer
- MPB Award for Innovation
- Food Influencer
- unearthed® Food for Sale
- Bring Home the Harvest
- World of Drinks
- Claire Aho Award for Women Photographers
- Production Paradise Previously Published
- Cake Award
- Cream of the Crop (product shots)
- Street Food
- The Philip Harben Award for Food in Action
- Food for the Family (The Felix Project)
- Politics of Food
- World Food Programme Food for Life
- On the Phone (mobile-only)
- Fortnum & Mason Food at the Table
- Food Portraiture
- Food in the Field
- RPS Student Food Photographer of the Year
- Jamie Oliver Youth Prize (two age groups)
- Bimi® Prize
World Food Photography Awards 2026 Dates and Entry Fees
Please take note of the key dates and submission fees for this competition.
- Opens: 9 September 2025
- Closes: 8 February 2026
- Awards Evening: 2 June 2026
- Exhibition: 3–7 June 2026, Mall Galleries, London
Fees (Adults):
- £35 for up to 6 images
- Additional entries £7 each
- Portfolio categories:
- £35 per portfolio of 5 images (M&S Food Rising Star; Food Stylist)
- Mobile single entries:
- On the Phone at £7 per image (with £2 donated to Action Against Hunger)
- Free entries:
- Young (17 and under) up to 5 images
- RPS Student up to 5 images
- UK for UNHCR Food as Home up to 5 images
How to Enter:
Register an account, log in, upload your images, then assign each to the right category and complete payment. You can upload in batches and enter the same photo into multiple categories by re-uploading it and paying the relevant entry credit. If needed, support is available via the World Food Photography Awards team email.
About the Jury
The World Food Photography Awards 2026 global judging panel is chaired by David Loftus and includes figures from publishing, media, hospitality and photography. Among the named jurors are Tom Athron (Fortnum & Mason), Jussi Brofeldt (Aho & Soldan Foundation), Sophie Collins (MPB), Jamie Oliver, Vicky Lau, Fiona Shields (The Guardian), Rein Skullerud (WFP), Vitalie Taittinger and many others. Judging is multi-round and anonymous, with specialist panels assessing category shortlists before the full jury selects winners.
Why Enter World Food Photography Awards 2026?
Factually, the World Food Photography Awards 2026 combines multiple benefits: a recognised title, a London exhibition, press outreach and tangible extras like cash prizes, exhibition, equipment and publication opportunities. Its broad category map suits different approaches (studio, reportage, commercial, travel and more) making it a credible target for portfolio building and visibility. For readers looking beyond this event, discover other photography challenges and awards curated on Deartline.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the World Food Photography Awards 2026 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Eligibility includes adult (18+) and young (17 and under) entrants; entries are accepted worldwide. Photos may be taken at any time and can be entered into more than one category if they fit the briefs (each submission is charged as a separate entry credit). Images must be free of borders, watermarks or signatures. Post-processing to correct exposure/contrast is allowed, but edits must not alter the integrity of the subject; disqualifications apply if judges consider a breach. Once submitted, images cannot be withdrawn except for permissions issues; payments are non-refundable. The judging process is anonymous and multi-stage (shortlist, finalist, winners). Certain category winners are not eligible for the Overall Winner title; this is specified per category.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains with the photographer. By entering, participants grant a non-exclusive, irrevocable licence for the awards to reproduce and display images in connection with judging, the exhibition, the awards website, press and promotional materials, merchandising and any official publications or interactive elements tied to the event. Where commercial opportunities beyond promotion may arise, the organisers will seek permission and agree terms in advance. Finalist and commended images may appear on the awards website and in catalogues, always credited to the photographer; moral rights are respected.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
