Global Photography: War, Resilience, and Women's Leadership
World Press Photo Contest Winners
The 2026 World Press Photo Contest winners capture powerful stories from across the globe, spanning conflict, migration, climate change, and cultural transformation.
"I'm Afraid" — Elise Blanchard captures a woman in Afghanistan's Daikundi province who gave birth at home. Halted U.S. aid has shut over 400 health facilities.
'Separated by ICE' (Carol Guzy for Miami Herald): Depicts a family separation in a New York court.
'Joburg Ballet School Performance' (Ihsaan Haffejee for GroundUp): Shows young ballet students in Johannesburg. Ballet was historically restricted under apartheid.
'Name the Absence' (Ferley A. Ospina): Portrays a single-mother household in Colombia. The photographer's father was killed in 1999.
'When Giants Fall' (Halden Krog): Documents elephant culling in Zimbabwe in response to human-elephant conflict.
'A Syrian City Rebuilds, Still Divided' (Nicole Tung for The New York Times): Shows a shepherd by the Euphrates in Deir Al Zour, Syria, amid ongoing post-war hazards.
'Territory of Hope' (Priscila Ribeiro): Depicts a grandmother and grandchildren in an informal settlement in Colombo, Brazil, lacking basic services.
'Emergency in Gaza' (Saber Nuraldin for EPA Images): Shows Palestinians crowding an aid truck in Gaza during an aid blockade.
'Hijacked Education' (Diego Ibarra Sánchez): From a project on girls' education under Taliban influence in Pakistan.
'Wedding in the Flood' (Aaron Favila for Associated Press): A couple kissing during their wedding in floodwaters caused by Typhoon Wipha in Bulacan, Philippines.
'Fārīsāt: Gunpowder's Daughters' (Chantal Pinzi for Panos Pictures): A female rider in Morocco's Tbourida tradition. Women were allowed to join after 2004.
International Women's Day Projects
International Women's Day, observed on March 8, commemorates a Russian protest on February 23, 1917 (Julian calendar), where women demanded "bread and peace." That four-day strike contributed to the Czar's abdication and women's suffrage in Russia.
The United Nations' theme for this year: "Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls."
The Everyday Projects, a global photography and storytelling network, featured portraits of women improving lives worldwide.
Cultural Preservation in Malaysia
Annice Lyn documented Jean, a 72-year-old Chinese opera performer in Kuala Lumpur. The photograph, taken in August 2024, aims to acknowledge her discipline and cultural legacy.
Sanitation Advocacy in South Africa
Tshepiso Mabula documented Nkgono Selina Mosima from Thaba Nchu, Free State. Mosima, who lacked proper sanitation, advocated for the digging of a pit toilet, which she eventually afforded. This picture was taken in 2020.
Women's American Football in Russia
Kristina Brazhnikova's project "Mighty Girls" (2018-2021) documented an American football league for women in Russia. Participants from various backgrounds joined, learning rules independently and covering their own equipment and travel costs. The league ceased operations in 2022.
Searching for Missing Relatives in Mexico
James Rodríguez photographed Hilaria Arzaba Medran, 57, a member of Solecito, an organization of 250 individuals searching for missing relatives. In February 2018, Medran searched a suspected clandestine grave site in Veracruz for her son, Oscar Contreras Arzaba, who disappeared in 2011.
Housing Rights in Brazil
Luca Meola documented Janaina Xavier, a community leader in São Paulo who advocates for housing rights near the Cracolândia district. Xavier is a council member for the Coordination of Policies for the Homeless Population. She, her family, and other low-income residents have occupied empty buildings to secure housing and access services. In 2025, they faced eviction.
Community Leadership in Madagascar
Photojournalist Aina Zo Raberanto documented "Reny Mahomby" (mother leaders) in Amboasary Sud. These women lead community changes related to hygiene, child education, and small businesses. Raberanto observed their welcoming dance during a training session in November 2021.
Sex Workers' Rights in Brazil
Luca Meola documented the Puta Davida collective during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in February. This feminist collective, established in the early 1990s, advocates for the recognition of sex work as legitimate labor and for the protection of sex workers' human and labor rights.
In 2026, a Carnival organization dedicated its parade to sex workers, providing a platform for the collective to challenge stigma and assert their rights.