Canon becomes official partner of the World Sports Photography Awards 2026

Canon celebrates the art of sports photography and becomes the Official Imaging Partner of the World Sports Photography Awards 2026, the world's most prestigious sports photography competition.

The new partnership also marks the start of participation in the 2026 Awards, a platform that annually presents the best images from international sports photographers.

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Platform for emerging talent

The World Sports Photography Awards have become the most important platform for sports photographers in recent years. More than 2.200 participants from 97 countries submitted their work, capturing emotional, athletic, and passionate moments in over 50 sports.

The competition is supported by leading sports organizations and media brands. The jury is international and consists of experts from the fields of sports, Media, photography, brand management and creative industries.

Simon Burton, co-founder of the awards, emphasizes: "If there's one name inextricably linked with sports photography, it's Canon. We're honored and thrilled to welcome Canon as a partner this year. 2025 was an impressive year for sports. We look forward to this year's submissions from a wide range of sports and regions."

Canon promotes young talent with new talent award

Canon has stood for decades for Innovation in photo technology and is indispensable in professional sports photography.

As part of the new partnership, the “Canon Emerging Talent Award” will be presented for the first time – a special category for young photographers under 30 years of age.

Michael Willenborg, Country Director of the Imaging Technologies & Communications Group (ITCG) at Canon, explains: “The new category celebrates the creativity of young talent and demonstrates our continued commitment to providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.”

Competition start and conditions of participation

From now until November 24, 2025, photographers worldwide can submit their best sports photos free of charge.

Each participant may upload up to ten images. Images taken between December 2024 and November 2025 are permitted.

Photos submitted in the previous year are excluded. Further information can be found at worldsportsphotographyawards.com.

Conclusion

The World Sports Photography Awards 2026 celebrate the power of images, the emotions of sport, and the people who make these moments visible.

The competition is not only a stage for established professionals, but also a springboard for young creatives who, with passion and technical skill, open up new perspectives on the sport.

Sierks Media / © Photo: Austin Pacheco, Unsplash