Results announcedWorld Photography Organisation

Sony World Photography Awards 2026

Sony World Photography Awards occupies the most prominent ambiguous-policy position in the industry. The post-Eldagsen rules ban AI-generated images outright but use the word 'excessive' as the threshold for AI-assisted manipulation, leaving interpretation to the jury. RAW files are not required at submission; instead Sony relies on a legal warranty model and can revoke awards after the fact. The Series track is a soft check against AI fraud because generating a consistent multi-image series remains hard for current models.

AI: ambiguous policyRAW not required
Deadline
January 5, 2027
Entry fee
Multi-track: Single Image (free), Series, Student, Youth — fee varies by track
Opens
June 1, 2025
Results
April 17, 2026
Official siteRead full rules

Authenticity policy

AI policy

no AI-generated or AI-manipulated images are permitted and... excessive photo manipulation or use of artificial intelligence is prohibited.

RAW files

Images should be no smaller than 1MB and no larger than 5MB. Images should be JPEG files. All images must be saved in the sRGB colour model.

Editing rules

The contest uses a subjective 'excessive' standard rather than an absolute manipulation ban. Sony relies on a legal warranty model and reserves the right to revoke awards post-hoc, as in the 2023 Eldagsen case where a refused-AI award triggered the current rules rewrite.

Verified on June 8, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does Sony World Photography Awards 2026 allow AI-generated images?
No. Sony World Photography Awards 2026 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
Are RAW files required to enter Sony World Photography Awards 2026?
No. Sony World Photography Awards 2026 does not require RAW files.
When is the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 entry deadline?
Entries for Sony World Photography Awards 2026 close on January 5, 2027.
How much does it cost to enter Sony World Photography Awards 2026?
Multi-track: Single Image (free), Series, Student, Youth — fee varies by track
When are the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 results announced?
Sony World Photography Awards 2026 announces its results on April 17, 2026.

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