Canon named official imaging partner of the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards

The World Sports Photography Awards, the world’s leading celebration of sports photography, has announced Canon as the Official Imaging Partner for the 2026 edition. The free-to-enter competition honors the finest sports photographers who capture the raw emotion, athleticism, and intensity that define sport.

The 2025 awards marked a record-breaking year, with over 2,200 photographers from 97 countries submitting work across more than 50 sports. Judged by experts from sport, media, photography, branding, and the creative industries, the competition has firmly established itself as the largest global platform for sports photography.

Canon partnership introduces new category for emerging photographers

Canon’s partnership underscores its long-standing legacy in sports photography. For 2026, the awards will introduce the ‘Canon Emerging Talent’ category, dedicated to photographers under 30 who display exceptional creativity and skill in capturing sports moments. Richard Shepherd, Product Marketing Senior Manager, Imaging at Canon Europe, said this new category builds on Canon’s heritage by supporting the next generation of visual storytellers.

Simon Burton, co-founder of the World Sports Photography Awards, expressed excitement over the partnership, noting that Canon’s name is “synonymous with sports photography” and that this collaboration reflects the awards’ growing global influence.

You May Also Like: Surfshark boosts VPN speeds with new 100Gbps bandwidth servers

2026 entries now open for photographers worldwide

Entries for the 2026 competition are officially open. Participants can submit up to 10 images taken between December 2024 and November 2025 across 24 sports categories. Submissions are free of charge and close on 24 November 2025. This year’s competition invites photographers to showcase their work on one of the world’s most celebrated stages for sports imagery.

The World Sports Photography Awards continue to honor the art and impact of sports photography, spotlighting the photographers and images that inspire audiences across the globe.