In a time when images circulate rapidly, photojournalism continues to play a key role in documenting events. Anadolu Ajansı organizes İstanbul Photo Awards to contribute to a reliable visual record of the year and to highlight work that reflects the realities of our time. As Anadolu Ajansı, we are steadfast in our commitment to organizing İstanbul Photo Awards as a definitive record of a year that tested the limits of human endurance and the resilience of the global spirit.
Now in its 12th year, this contest has matured into one of the world’s most prestigious platforms for visual storytelling. In 2026, our international jury, boasting an impressive roster of esteemed figures, faced the daunting task of selecting the year’s most impactful narratives from nearly 19,000 submissions representing 113 countries.
Haitham Imad’s “Gaza, No Hope,” the Photo of the Year, serves as a heart-wrenching anchor for this year’s striking collection of winners. Captured at Nasser Hospital, it is an image that transcends mere reporting; it is a silent cry for humanity that remains under siege. It reminds us that while the geopolitical landscape may shift, the individual cost of conflict remains a constant, harrowing reality that we are duty-bound to document.
This volume, however, is not only a witness to tragedy. It is a testament to the breadth of the human experience around the globe, from reimagining life in Syria and preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage to environmental perspectives ranging from California wildfires to space debris research in Italy. Powerful images also depict dynamic moments such as sports in Chile and a traditional Spanish festival, the dramatic practices of a Kenyan community, human vulnerability in Gaza, an intimate relationship with AI from Japan, and a takeover in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
