12 Winning Shots From The 2026 World Sports Photography Awards
Photographing an athlete mid-play demands real skill: the photographer must track movement, energy, and action while maintaining a strong overall composition. Powerful sports imagery tells a story, capturing moments of joy, tension, heartbreak, or hope, where technical talent and artistic vision come together to reveal what sport is really about.
This year, the world’s leading professional sports photographers took part in the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards. The overall winning image was a striking shadow shot of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz’s racket perfectly connecting with the ball. Edgar Su’s photograph, “Carlos’ Shadow Hits A Ball,” claimed the top prize in this record-breaking edition of the competition. He captured the moment during Alcaraz’s fourth-round match against Britain’s Jack Draper at the 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia.
In total, 23,130 images were submitted by 4,120 photographers from 123 countries. The winning photograph headlines a collection spanning 24 categories, including Motorsports, Wrestling, Basketball, Cycling, Athletics, Equestrian, and Winter Sports. The outstanding quality and range of this year’s entries prove that, despite rapid advances in technology, the photographer’s eye and craftsmanship remain essential. Around the globe, sports photographers continue to innovate, inspire, and push the creative boundaries of the medium.
More info: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
#1
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#2 Tobizaru sticks a finger up the nose of Takayasu as they fight during the final day of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall on October 19th 2025, in London, England.
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#3
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#4 RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 24: Meital Maayan Sumkin of Israel competes with the ball during the Individual Ball Final of the Rhytmic Gymnastics World Championships at Carioca Arena on August 24, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
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#5 XTERRA World Championship 2025
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#6
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#7
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#8
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#9 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 10: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Seattle Mariners takes batting practice prior to game five of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
Image Source: WorldSportsPhotographyAwards
#10 Grégoire Munster and Louis Louka in a Ford Puma Rally1 compete in the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown at Sleeping Warrior on 19th March 2025.
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#11 Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; xxx during a semifinal of the men’s 2025 NCAA tournament at Alamodome.
Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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#12
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