The World Sports Photography Awards (WSPA) has officially announced the winners of its 2026 competition, concluding a year that saw the prestigious contest achieve unprecedented global reach and participation. The awards celebrate the technical skill, artistic vision, and dramatic storytelling inherent in the world’s finest athletic imagery.
Record-Breaking Global Participation
The 2026 edition of the WSPA shattered previous benchmarks for submissions, confirming its status as the premier international platform for sports photographers. The competition received a staggering 23,130 photographs, submitted by 4,120 photographers representing 123 countries worldwide.
This massive influx of entries underscores the growing competitive intensity and the universal appeal of capturing defining moments in sport, making the 2026 selection process one of the most rigorous in the awards’ history.
Grand Prix Honorees Revealed
While the overall Grand Prix winner is set to receive the highest accolade, the judges recognized several exceptional images in the supporting categories, highlighting diverse talent from across the globe.
The Grand Prix Silver prize was awarded to Beatrice Ryder da Costa for her compelling photograph, titled *The Underworld*. The image was praised by the judging panel for its dramatic composition and its ability to convey the hidden intensity and effort beneath the surface of elite competition.
Securing the Grand Prix Bronze award was Richard Heathcote for his intricate work, *India v England layers*. Heathcote’s photograph was noted for its visual complexity and its successful layering of action and atmosphere, capturing a pivotal moment in the high-stakes rivalry between the two nations.
Showcase and Partnership
The winning images, which collectively represent the pinnacle of sports photography captured over the past year, will be showcased to a vast international audience. The WSPA continues its vital partnership with BBC Sport, ensuring that the artistry and technical mastery of the world’s top sports photographers receive widespread exposure and recognition.
