DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – October 7, 2025 — The World Sports Photography Awards (WSPA), the world’s leading celebration of sports photography, has officially opened entries for its 2026 edition, naming Canon as the Official Imaging Partner.
The awards honour the world’s finest sports photographers, recognizing images that capture the emotion, energy, and excellence at the heart of athletic performance.
Canon Joins as Official Imaging Partner
“If there’s one name synonymous with sports photography, it’s Canon,” said Simon Burton, Co-Founder of the World Sports Photography Awards. “We couldn’t be more honoured or excited to welcome Canon to WSPA 2026. It’s been an incredible year for sport globally, and we are eager to see this year’s submissions across disciplines and regions.”
Canon has a longstanding legacy in sports photography, empowering generations of photographers to capture iconic moments in sport. A key highlight of the 2026 edition is the introduction of the ‘Canon Emerging Talent’ award, a new category celebrating photographers under the age of 30 for their creativity and skill in capturing the beauty and drama of sport.
Richard Shepherd, Product Marketing Senior Manager, Imaging at Canon Europe, noted:
“Canon has a proud legacy of supporting professional sports photographers and helping them capture some of the most iconic moments in history. The ‘Canon Emerging Talent’ award reflects our commitment to nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers.”
A Record Year and a Growing Global Platform
The 2025 edition of the World Sports Photography Awards saw a record-breaking 2,200 photographers from 97 countries submitting entries across more than 50 sports. Extensive international coverage and participation from leading sports organisations have helped solidify the awards’ reputation as the world’s largest celebration of sports photography.
Entries for the 2026 awards are open to photographers worldwide. Participants can submit up to 10 images captured between December 2024 and November 2025 across 24 sports categories. Submissions are free of charge, with a deadline of November 24, 2025.
Key Details
- Entries Open: October 1, 2025
- Submission Deadline: November 24, 2025
- Eligibility: Up to 10 images taken between December 2024 – November 2025
- Categories: 24
- Cost: Free
For full details, visit the World Sports Photography Awards website.
