Saudi photographer Khalid Alsabt has won the Open Competition’s landscape category at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026, capturing a night scene outside AlUla in northern Saudi Arabia. His image, titled Harmony of Earth and Sky, shows the Milky Way alongside a mountain called Muqrat al-Dabbous. The Sony World Photography Awards made the announcement on March 17, 2026, in Riyadh.
“An honor that affirms the journey and the stories behind every frame.”
Khalid Alsabt, Saudi Photographer and 2026 Open Competition Landscape Winner
About the Winning Image
Alsabt photographed the winning image outside the city of AlUla, where the mountains interact with their surroundings across day and night cycles. The image captures the Milky Way appearing alongside Muqrat al-Dabbous mountain. AlUla, located in northern Saudi Arabia, has become a notable destination for landscape and astrophotography in recent years.
Khalid Alsabt and the 2026 Open Competition
The Open Competition recognises the best single images from 2025, drawing entries from over 30 countries. National and Regional Award winners from the Open competition receive Sony Digital Imaging equipment. Moreover, all single-country National Award winners are featured in the annual exhibition at Somerset House, London, running from April 17 to May 4, 2026.
This year’s competition received over 430,000 images from more than 200 countries and territories. Winners were selected across the Open, Professional, and Student competitions, covering a range of career stages. The overall competition winners will be announced on April 16, 2026.
Professional and Student Competition Highlights
In the Professional competition, Citlali Fabian of Mexico won 1st Place in the Latin America Professional Award for Bilha, Stories of my Sisters. The series blends portraits and digital illustrations to document the stories of women in southern Mexico. Additionally, the inaugural India National Award went to Avijit Ghosh for Keepers of Mangroves, which documents conservation efforts by women in Dayapur, India.
Japan’s Hayate Kurisu won the Japan National Award for Living Photographs, a series exploring grief and time following the loss of a child. In the Student competition, Teresa Halbreiter of Germany won the inaugural European Student Award for Stillgestanden, a project examining femininity and individuality within the German Armed Forces.
New Awards and Exhibition Details
The 2026 edition introduced two new awards: the European Student Award and the India National Award. The Sony World Photography Awards, now in its 19th year, is produced by Creo under the World Photography Organisation. Furthermore, the 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Photography award goes to photographer Joel Meyerowitz.
The annual photography exhibition at Somerset House in London opens on April 17, 2026, and runs through May 4, 2026. The exhibition will feature works from winning and shortlisted photographers across all competition categories. Visitors can view the full list of winners and shortlisted photographers through the World Photography Organisation’s official channels.
Modern Electronics, the exclusive distributor of Sony products in Saudi Arabia and part of the Al Faisaliah Group, operates 11 Sony World stores across the Kingdom. The company has distributed Sony products in Saudi Arabia since 1970. Sony Middle East and Africa FZE, a 100% subsidiary of Sony Corporation, serves as the regional headquarters covering more than 40 countries.