2019 World Press Photo Exhibition

Since 1955 the World Press Photo Contest has recognized professional photographers for the best pictures – presented as singles or in stories – contributing to the past year of visual journalism. For the 62nd edition of the Photo Contest, the World Press Photo Foundation introduced a major new award: the World Press Photo Story of the Year. 

The 2019 World Press Photo Contest is free to enter and drew entries from around the world: 4738 photographers from 128 countries submitted 78801 images. 19% of the Photo Contest entrants were female, an increase over last year (16%).

The jury selected nominees in 8 categories – 43 photographers from 25 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

An independent jury covering a wide range of photography backgrounds– from six global regions, with an equal number of men and women–selected the 2019 World Press PhotoContest nominees. Whitney C. Johnson, vice president, Visuals and Immersive Experiences at National Geographic, is the chair of the 2019 Photo Contest’s general jury. 

Of the nominees this year, 14 photographers (32% of all nominees) are women. A big increase, more than double, from the 2018 Photo Contest, when 12% of the nominees were female photographers.

We have the most thorough verification process of any contest in the world.

The World Press Photo Foundation is supported by its global partner, the Dutch Postcode Lottery. This local exhibition is sponsored by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangkok.