Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Exhibition to be Held at Tokyo Photographic Art Museum and Sony Imaging Gallery

Sony is pleased to announce that an exhibition of works from the "Sony World Photography Awards 2026," one of the world's largest photography contests supported by Sony, will be held at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (Meguro-ku, Tokyo) and the Sony Imaging Gallery (Chuo-ku, Tokyo). Admission to both venues is free.

The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum will showcase award-winning photographs from the contest, as well as works by Joel Meyerowitz, who is honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award for his significant contributions to the photographic community.

The Sony Imaging Gallery will present the unique perspectives and expressions of photographers selected as finalists and shortlisted artists in the contest.

About the Sony World Photography Awards:

Established in 2007 and supported by Sony Corporation, this is the world's largest photography competition aimed at fostering the continuous development of photographic culture. It provides an opportunity for both emerging and established photographers to gain global recognition and a springboard for their careers.

The awards are structured across four categories: "Professional" (formerly "組写真部門"), "Open" (formerly "単写真部門"), "Youth" (for ages 19 and under), and "Student." This platform caters to a wide range of career stages and genres of photographic work.

In addition, the awards include the "Outstanding Contribution to Photography" award, which honors individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the field; the "Sustainability Award," which recognizes photographers addressing themes such as environmental issues, accessibility, and social inclusion, advocating for a sustainable and equitable future through their work; and the "National & Regional Awards," which celebrate outstanding works selected from entries in the Professional and Open categories on a country or regional basis.

Official Website: https://www.worldphoto.org/ja

Sony World Photography Awards 2026 Exhibition Overview:

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

© María Fernanda García Freire, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Organizer: Sony Corporation

Co-organizer: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for Arts and Culture)

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, June 20, 2026 – Monday, July 20, 2026 (National Holiday)

*Closed: Mondays (If a Monday is a national holiday, the museum will be open and closed the following weekday)

Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, B1 Exhibition Room

Address: 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, within Ebisu Garden Place

Admission Fee: Free

Official Website: https://topmuseum.jp/exhibition/5474/

Exhibition Content:

The exhibition will feature award-winning works from the contest, organized around three themes: "Absence," "Humans in the Stories," and "Conflicted Territories." Intersecting with the visual and material elements that constitute photography—such as light and shadow, form, color, texture, tone, and composition—the exhibition highlights the diverse expressive methods photographers employ to bring their stories to life. Additionally, it will showcase the work of this year's "Outstanding Contribution to Photography" recipient, Joel Meyerowitz, known as a pioneer of color photography.

Sony Imaging Gallery

© Hans-Juergen Burkard, Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Exhibition Dates: Friday, June 19, 2026 – Thursday, July 2, 2026

Venue: Sony Imaging Gallery

Address: 5-8-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Ginza Place 6th Floor

Admission Fee: Free

Official Website: https://www.sony.jp/camera/imaging-gallery/detail/260619/

Exhibition Content:

Following four themes: Animals, Humans, Places, and Movement, the exhibition will introduce the unique perspectives and expressions of photographers selected as finalists and shortlisted artists in this contest.

Following the exhibition period at the Sony Imaging Gallery, a portion of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 will be presented in a touring exhibition at the α Plaza gallery spaces within Sony Stores in four locations nationwide (Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tenjin Fukuoka).

Official Website: https://www.sony.jp/ichigan/plaza/