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World Sports Photography Awards 2026 is open—and this edition lands with a headline partnership: Canon joins as official imaging partner. If you shoot sport, this is one of the best photography competitions to enter right now, with free submissions and a global stage that culminates in January 2026 announcements. The awards recognise images made between December 2024 and November 2025, across 24 sports categories, and introduce a new “Canon Emerging Talent” award for photographers under 30. Twice a year the same phrase trends for a reason: these are true sports photography awards.
Entry is free, up to 10 images per photographer, and judging is handled by senior names from sport, media, brands, and photography. The deadline is 24 November 2025 (13:00 New York, 18:00 London). Winners are announced on 15 January 2026. Prize packages are provided by sponsors, and recognition spans overall, category, shortlist, and the new emerging talent spotlight.
The World Sports Photography Awards 2026 Prizes
Prizes are awarded at multiple levels, reflecting the breadth of sport covered.
Overall Winner — The top accolade chosen from all category winners.
Category Winners — One winner per sports category, from Football (Soccer) to Winter Sports.
Shortlisted Photographers — A published shortlist following the close of entries.
Canon Emerging Talent — A new award highlighting outstanding photographers under 30 for skill, creativity, and storytelling in sport.
Sponsor Awards — Additional prize items supplied by partners (details confirmed by the organisers during the cycle).
Other Free Contests
The Categories of the World Sports Photography Awards 2026
The competition spans 24 sports categories, including:
- American Football,
- Aquatic
- Athletics
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Equestrian
- Football (Soccer)
- Formula 1
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Ice Hockey
- Martial Arts
- Motor Sports
- Racquet Sports
- Rugby
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
- Urban & Extreme
- Venues & Views
- Winter Sports
This breadth makes it a natural fit for sports photography contests watchers and overlaps with styles like photojournalism, portrait photography (athlete portraits), and events photography depending on the moment captured.
World Sports Photography Awards 2026 Dates and Entry Fees
- Entries Open: Now.
- Deadline: 24 November 2025 (13:00 New York / 18:00 London / 19:00 Amsterdam / 03:00 Tokyo on 25 Nov / 05:00 Sydney on 25 Nov).
- Winners Announced: 15 January 2026.
- Eligibility Window: Images shot between December 2024 and November 2025.
Cost: Free to enter.
How to Enter:
Create an account on the online entry platform, complete your profile, and upload up to 10 images. Assign each image to a category and include required image details. Submit low-res files within the stated upload limit during entry; shortlisted photographers will later be asked for high-resolution files.
About the Jury
The jury features leaders across sport, media, brands, and photography. Recent panels have included figures such as Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Claire Williams, Ben Liebenberg (NFL), Lee Martin (Getty Images), Ben Jones (The Times), and Victoria Haydn, among others. Judging is anonymous and impartial, and conflicts of interest are actively managed.
Why Enter World Sports Photography Awards 2026?
It’s free to submit, globally recognised, and tightly focused on sports storytelling. The 24-category structure means niche specialties sit alongside mainstream sports, while a large, cross-industry jury helps the best work surface regardless of affiliation. The new under-30 recognition creates a clear pathway for early-career talent. For photographers mapping a year of opportunities, this sits alongside sports photography awards listings and complements broader calendars of photography challenges and contests you can track on Deartline.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the World Sports 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
Entries are digital only, with a limit of up to 10 images per photographer. The awards are free to enter. Images must be made within the eligibility window, assigned to one of the 24 categories, and submitted via the official platform. Winners are selected by a panel following anonymous, impartial judging. Shortlisted entrants have two weeks to supply a high-resolution file.
Image integrity is critical. Composites, stitched panoramas, and content-altering edits are not allowed. Adjustments for tone, colour, and grayscale are permitted only when they do not obscure or remove information. AI-generated images and AI upscaling tools (for example, Super Resolution) are prohibited.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains with the photographer. By entering, photographers grant the organisers the right to use submitted images for awards administration and promotional purposes in connection with the competition, in line with the terms and FAQs.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
