TEHRAN – The Sony World Photography Awards, organized by the World Photography Organization, has revealed the shortlisted photographers in its Open competition 2026, with two Iranians in the list.

Two photos by Iranian photographers Shabnam Maleki and Ali Zolghadri are in the shortlist of the Creative category, Digiato reported.

“Flying Carpet” is the title of the photo by Shabnam Maleki, which depicts a Persian carpet of a thousand patterns set against white snow. The warmth of the carpet’s traditional patterns creates a striking contrast with the silence and cold of nature.

Ali Zolghadri’s photo is titled “The Space In Between”. The photograph was captured in a modern architectural space in Tehran. The final image is composed of three photographs, all taken on location, and later merged.

The Open competition recognizes the best single images to have been taken in the previous year, celebrating the power of an individual image to pique curiosity, spark imagination, and reveal a wider narrative. 

Entrants shared their strongest images from 2025, and the shortlists represent a diverse range of photographs, from striking landscapes to thoughtful portraits, and both captivating and humorous scenes from nature.

Unlike the other competitions within the Sony World Photography Awards, where entrants submit a series of photographs, the Open competition is all about a single image, so the photographer gets just one chance to impress.

This year's Open competition was judged by Ruby Rees-Sheridan, Assistant Curator of Photography at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK.

The Sony World Photography Awards is now in its 19th year, and over 430,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted across this year’s competitions.

The Open Photographer of the Year will be announced at the Awards’ ceremony in London on April 16 and will receive a $5,000 cash prize as well as a range of Sony Digital Imaging equipment. 

A selection of winning and shortlisted images will be shown as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House from April 17 to May 4, and will then travel to other locations.

World Photography Organization is a leading global platform dedicated to the development and advancement of photographic culture. Its programming and competition initiatives provide valuable opportunities for artists working in photography and help broaden the conversation around their work.

The Sony World Photography Awards is the World Photography Organization’s principal program. Established in 2007, it is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious photography competitions, celebrating the work of leading and emerging practitioners and attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually to its exhibitions worldwide.

Photo: “Flying Carpet” by Shabnam Maleki

SS/SAB