Food photography does more than tempt your appetite; it tells stories. From family kitchens to bustling markets and quiet cafeterias, these images capture moments where people come together over food. That’s what makes the 2026 World Food Photography Awards truly special.
This acclaimed event gathers top food photography worldwide, inviting both professionals and enthusiasts. Winners from 27 categories were announced at London’s Mall Galleries by chef and writer Gennaro Contaldo, uniting the food and art worlds.
Out of hundreds of entries, one image stood out. British photographer Jo Kearney won overall for ‘A Woman Eats in the Canteen of the Soviet-era Sanatorium.’ Shot at the Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium in Tajikistan’s mountains, the photo offers an intimate look at daily life. Guests dine together on soup, tea, fruit, and local dishes, surrounded by Soviet-era architecture and healing hot springs.
This year’s winning photos resonate for their honesty. They capture not just food, but farmers, families, traditions, and survival. As Dave Samuels of Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini said, food connects communities everywhere. These 30 images show that every meal tells a story.
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#1
British photographer Jo Kearney has been crowned Overall Winner of the World Food Photography Awards and awarded the prize of £5,000 ($6,700) for her tender image ‘A Woman Eats in the Canteen of the Soviet-era Sanatorium’.
#2
Squid drying in the sun in the fishing village of Ine, Kyoto, Japan. Winner of the Cream of the Crop categeory. | Albert González/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#3
Noodles. Winner of the Food Influencer category. | Maja Lewicz/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#4
Twin bridesmaids enjoy canapes at a U.K. wedding. Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Photographer. | Emma Stoner/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#5
Bengali fishermen at work at sunrise. Winner of Bring Home the Harvest category. | Marco Rutten/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#6
A Mid-Century Man and his Cake. Winner of the Cake Award. | Claudia Anton/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#7
Gourmet food festival in China. Winner of the Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration category. | Pingyao Song/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#8
Dusty Journey. Winner of Food in the Field category. | Serkan Dogus/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#9
Stacked Morning. Hotel Art Group Food Stylist Award | Styling: Sarah Ghijselinck | Photo: Sandra Declercq/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#10
Raw ingredients of a wine pairing. Hotel Art Group Food Stylist Award | Styling: Sarah Ghijselinck | Photo: Sandra Declercq/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#11
A moment of respite from the line at Hadja Marley, an authentic Senegalese eatery in Brooklyn. This portrait captures the daily rhythm of life on Fulton Street, focusing on the steady presence of the staff and the traditional West African flavours that bring the local community together. The James Beard Foundation Photography Award | Daniel D Kwak/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#12
Point-of-view shot from inside a traditional kvevri during the 2025 grape harvest in Georgia. Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year – Produce. | Luke Carver/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#13
The Hidden Vineyard. Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year – Places. | Chris Elfes/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#14
A wine tank cleaner in Spain. Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year – Overall Winner (and People). | Juan Miguel Ortuño Martinez/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#15
Four friends on a day out in England. Winner of the On the Phone in support of Action Against Hunger category. | Maggie Jary/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#16
Pocached mackrel in broth. Production Paradise Previously Published. | Erik Lafontaine/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#17
A large vegetable market in Mahasthangarh, Bangladesh. Winner of unearthed® Food for Sale category. | Kazi Mohammad Golam Quddus/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#18
Dipping Bread into Stew. Winner of the M&S Food Rising Star category. | Sarah-Vanessa Schneider/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#19
Portrait of a female miller after processing grains into cornmeal. At Vocational Training Center Irebero, single women are trained as millers. Winner of Politics of Food category. | Glenn Vanderbeke/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#20
Little Asilbek touching the hot bread, straight out of the family tandoor in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). Food for the Family supported by The Felix Project. | Michela Balboni and Federico Borella/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#21
Campari Barmen, Milan. Winner of World of Drinks category. | Marie-Louise Moutafchieva/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#22
Jelly with a Cherry. Winner of Food Portraiture category. | Danielle Marie/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#23
Granny’s Welcoming Gift of Love. Granny’s Welcoming Gift of Love. | Kellie Carter/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#24
Candied Pear. Winner of The Bimi® Prize. | Anne Mason-Hoerter/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#25
Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Japan. Winner of the Street Food category. | Kara Baird/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#26
An eggplant family portrait. MPB Award for Innovation. | Hussam Sleiby/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#27
An open-air restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, serving low price food to daily laborers. Winner of World Food Programme Food for Life category. | Mithail Afrige Chowdhury/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#28
Proven Recipe. The Philip Harben Award for Food in Action. | Lehóczki Balázs/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#29
Red Cocktail. RPS Student Food Photographer of the Year. | Lara Zeh/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
#30
A Moment in the Kitchen. Winner of the UK for the UNHCR Food as Home category. | Sadia Sikandar/World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®
FAQs:
What are the World Food Photography Awards?
The World Food Photography Awards is a prestigious international competition celebrating outstanding food photography. It welcomes both professional and amateur photographers, recognizing images that capture food, culture, farming, cooking, traditions, and human stories from around the globe.
Who won the overall award in 2026?
British photographer Jo Kearney won the Overall Winner title with her photograph A Woman Eats in the Canteen of the Soviet-era Sanatorium. The image was taken in Tajikistan and beautifully captures a quiet moment centered around food and community.
Why is food photography important?
Food photography goes beyond showcasing meals. It documents traditions, cultures, livelihoods, and shared experiences. Great food photographs tell stories that connect people emotionally, helping viewers understand the role food plays in communities around the world.
What makes the winning photograph special?
Jo Kearney’s winning image stands out because of its simplicity and emotional depth. Rather than focusing on elaborate dishes, it highlights a genuine human moment, showing how food can provide comfort, nourishment, connection, and routine in everyday life.
What themes are featured in the award-winning photos?
The winning photographs explore a wide range of themes, including farming, harvesting, cooking, eating, family traditions, cultural celebrations, street food, and community life. Together, they reveal how food shapes identities, preserves heritage, and brings people together.
