The Sony World Photography Awards have announced the shortlists of the 2026 Student and Youth competitions for photographers at the earliest stages of their careers.
Two images from the portfolio of Matte Dixon, the sole Australian entrant shortlisted for this year’s Student competition in the Sony World Photography Awards. © Matte Dixon.
The Student shortlist celebrates poignant series exploring the theme Together, while the Youth shortlist spotlights the best single images by photographers aged 19 and under. The 19th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards received more than 430,000 entries from over 200 countries and territories around the world. Above all, Together evokes interpretations centered around human connection, with some entries being mainly autobiographical, while others focus on a sense of place and highlight changing landscapes and neighbourhoods and the people within them. Among the projects that concentrate upon the shared experiences that bind communities is Australian photographer, Matte Dixon’s Suspiria de Profundis (2025) series aims to explore how unease can invite reflection on the human condition and turn audiences towards a shared understanding. Matte studies at Griffith University in Queensland.
The Youth competition shortlist comprises single images by 10 photographers aged 19 and under. This year the entrants were invited to share their best images through an Open Call. The overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open and Professional competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 will be announced on 16 April 2025. Click here for more information about this year’s Sony World Photography Awards.
