2024 World Press Photo Contest regional winners showcase stories that matter from around the world
Wednesday 3 April 2024 – World Press Photo today announces the regional winners of the 2024 Contest, showcasing a selection of the world’s best photojournalism and documentary photography. The works invite viewers to step outside the news cycle and look more deeply at both prominent and overlooked stories from across the world.
On 18 April 2024 at 11:00 am CEST (Amsterdam time), the four global winners, selected from the regional winners, will be announced at the press opening of the Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and online simultaneously.
Executive Director World Press Photo, Joumana El Zein Khoury said:
Each year, jurors from all over the globe review tens of thousands of photos to find a selection that is visually stunning, tells stories that matter, and represents our shared world. This year’s selection includes stories of desperation, hunger, war, and loss – but also of perseverance, courage, love, family, dreams, and more butterflies than anyone has a right to expect.
There are 24 winning projects and six honorable mentions in total. Additionally, this year, the jury made the exceptional decision to include two special mentions in the selection. The awarded stories will be shown to millions as part of our annual exhibition in over 60 locations around the world. Millions more will see the winning stories online.
The awarded photographs were selected from 61,062 entries by 3,851 photographers from 130 countries. They were judged first by six regional juries, and the winners were then chosen by a global jury consisting of the regional jury chairs plus the global jury chair – Fiona Shields, Head of Photography at The Guardian.
Global jury chair, Fiona Shields, Head of Photography at The Guardian, said:
These final selected works are a tapestry of our world today, centered on images we believe were made with respect and integrity, that can speak universally and resonate far beyond their origins.
This is an opportunity to applaud the work of press and documentary photographers everywhere – made with courage, intelligence, and ingenuity – and to amplify the importance of the stories they are telling, often in unimaginable circumstances.
Some topics included this year
The Israel-Hamas war: The Asia winner in the Singles category shows a Palestinian woman embracing the body of her niece who was killed when an Israeli missile struck their home. It was seen by the jury as an important reminder of the finality of personal loss amidst the statistics of war.
This year, the jury also made the exceptional decision to include two special mentions in the 2024 World Press Photo Contest selection – each showing a single individual (an Israeli and a Palestinian) in the aftermath of a horrific attack.
The climate crisis: The selection shows how photographers are working urgently not only to show the effects of the climate crisis and activism against its causes, but also to document what is being lost. A connection can be made, for example, between young German activists fighting to stop a coal mine from destroying local communities, and a grandfather in Fiji resolutely holding his grandson while chest deep in a rising ocean.
Family: The jury noted in retrospect that many of the stories in their selection revolve around the theme of family. Included are stories of families coping with conditions such as cancer or dementia, the challenges of migration, and trauma due to war, disaster and loss. In each case, the strength of these relationships and the photographers’ care for their subjects are visible in the images.
Notes to editors
On 18 April 2024 at 11:00 am CEST (Amsterdam time), the four global winners – including World Press Photo of the Year – will be announced at the press opening of the Flagship World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and online simultaneously.
The World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 is expected to show at over 60 locations worldwide, including Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Rome, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Taipei, Sydney, Toronto, and Tunis.
World Press Photo prohibits the use of AI images in its contest – both generative fill and fully generated images. A multilayered approach to spotting fake or manipulated images is used. We verify the professionality of all entrants, and the facts behind each story. The images are judged by industry professionals, and the original files are examined by two independent digital analysts. (More information)
In total, there are 33 awarded photographers this year, for 32 projects (including the two special mentions). This includes a winning team entry in the Africa region with two photographers, Felipe Dana and Renata Brito, sharing the prize.
Details about the contest and judging process are available on our website, including information about: Prizes, categories, jury, and judging process.
For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact United Kingdom and European Union and Middle East:
Nicola Jeffs <nj@nicolajeffs.com>
+447794694754
Rest of World:
Alexandra Fanning <alex@alexandrafanning.com>
Please also copy to ensure a swift response: communications@worldpressphoto.org
About the World Press Photo Foundation
Our mission: Connecting the world to the stories that matter.
Founded in 1955, World Press Photo is an independent, nonprofit organization based in the Netherlands. Since then our annual contest has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious photo competitions, rewarding the best in photojournalism and documentary photography from around the world. We will celebrate our 70th anniversary next year.
Our annual and thematic exhibitions reach millions of people in over 80 locations around the world each year, and our online work reaches millions more. Through a range of educational programs we create opportunities for learning, dialogue, and exchange among photography professionals and the general public.
We appreciate the support of our strategic partners, the Dutch Postcode Lottery, PwC, and FUJIFILM Corporation.