2 Filipino photojournalists among winners of 2026 World Press Photo Contest
Two photojournalists from the Philippines were counted among the 42 winners of the World Press Photo Contest for 2026.
Jes Aznar's entry, Scam Hub Under Siege, and Aaron Favila's Wedding in the Flood, were two of the seven winners in Asia-Pacific and Oceania.
According to Yasuyoshi Chiba, the region's jury chair, the winning photos showed "strong news and untold stories. We were looking for photographs that showed what happened in 2025, but were also looking for something extraordinary or unexpected."
Scam hub uncovered
Aznar's photo showed a compound in Myanmar as it was being "liberated" by rebel forces. The hub was used for an underground, elaborate cyber-scamming operation, where many of the "employees" were victims of human trafficking.
"The travel to get inside Myanmar took way longer than taking these pictures—less than three hours," wrote Aznar on social media.
With sporadic gunfire greeting Aznar and his team, he worked quickly.
"Then the sound of gunfire turned into volleys. You knew you already have to move out when you hear mortar explosions closing in on your location," Aznar wrote.
Giving a shoutout to his team, including Hannah Beech, "one of the bravest reporters I know," Aznar did not forget his colleagues in Myanmar.
"I would also like [to] take this opportunity to express my solidarity to media and photojournalist colleagues in Myanmar, who are still currently living under perilous circumstances under the military junta's rule. This award I share with you," Aznar wrote.
Flooded bride
Aaron Favila's entry put on the world stage the defiance of Filipinos in the face of natural calamities. It showed bride Jamaica Aguilar from the back, preparing to wade down the aisle of the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, in floodwater.
"As we navigate these difficult times, I am reminded of the bravery of many photojournalists who tell stories that matter. In a world riddled with disinformation, the truth is at stake more than ever and everybody is affected," wrote Favila on social media.
Thanking God, his wife, children, and family, Favila also expressed gratitude to the Associated Press "for the trust to tell stories of unbearable suffering, the effects of neglect and the constant joys of living."
"Telling stories would have never been possible without the people who shared their lives so we can document them. This one is for you!" Favila added.
Rigorous judging process
An independent jury pored over 57,376 photo entries submitted by 3,747 photographers who hailed from 141 countries. The entries were categorized into six regions: Asia-Pacific and Oceania; Africa; Europe; North and Central America; South America; and West, Central, and South Asia.
Each region had its own jury, with its own jury chairs. Once each regional jury selected entries, they convened into a global jury, composed of all the jury chairs and one additional member. The Global jury then selected 42 winners among the entries.
The judging process involved several rounds of elimination from January to February 2026.
While all the 42 winners share equal rank in each category, one overall winner—the 2026 World Press Photo of the Year—along with two finalists will be announced on April 23.
Each of the 42 winners will receive several prizes, including a monetary prize of €1,000, inclusion of their photo in the annual year-long World Press Photo worldwide exhibition, inclusion in the annual collectible yearbook, and a Fujifilm X Half camera. All the winners will also be invited to the Winner's event in Amsterdam.
