Summary
- Entries opened on 9 September 2026 and close on 23 November 2026
- Entry is free and each photographer can submit up to 10 images
- Eligible photographs must have been taken between December 2025 and November 2026
- The competition includes 24 sports categories
- The Canon Emerging Talent Award for 2027 is open to photographers under 25
Event Details
Entries opened on 9 September for the World Sports Photography Awards 2027, with Canon continuing its partnership with the international competition for a second year.
Photographers can submit up to 10 images free of charge, taken between December 2025 and November 2026, with the deadline set for 23 November 2026, while photographs previously entered in the 2026 competition are not eligible.
The new edition is particularly relevant both because entry remains free and because the Canon Emerging Talent Award is changing its age limit and will be open to photographers under 25 for 2027, placing greater emphasis on the next generation of creators.
What applies to entries
For 2027, each photographer can submit up to 10 images in total, and they must have been taken between December 2025 and November 2026.
Entry is free and the submission period, which opened on 9 September 2026, closes on 23 November 2026.
Photographs can be submitted across 24 sports categories. The organisers also note that several adjustments have been made to the categories for the new competition cycle and entrants should take the current rules into account when submitting their work.
Images previously entered in the 2026 competition are not eligible to be submitted again for the 2027 edition.
Canon Emerging Talent is now aimed at photographers under 25
One of the most significant changes to the new edition concerns the Canon Emerging Talent Award.
The special award made its debut in the 2026 competition with the aim of highlighting young and emerging sports photographers. For 2027, the age limit has been lowered and photographers under the age of 25 will be eligible.
According to Canon, the change is intended to align the award even more closely with its mission: identifying creators at an early stage in their journey and giving them an international platform on which to showcase their work.
Richard Shepherd, Product Marketing Senior Manager, Imaging at Canon Europe, said the company wants to continue supporting the next generation of sports photographers and help young creators take the next step in their careers.
Canon continues for a second year
Canon and the World Sports Photography Awards are continuing their partnership for a second consecutive year.
Competition co-founder Simon Burton described Canon as an ideal partner for an awards programme focused exclusively on sports photography and said the new edition is expected to attract images from another eventful year of sport around the world.
Canon’s connection with sports photography stretches back decades, with the company’s camera systems and professional lenses widely used at major sporting events internationally.
In the case of the World Sports Photography Awards, the partnership extends beyond sponsorship and also includes the dedicated Canon Emerging Talent Award.
The 2026 edition was a milestone
According to figures released for the previous edition, the 2026 competition attracted more than 4,200 entries from 123 countries, covering more than 60 different sports.
The international coverage of the awards and the participation of photographers from such a broad range of countries illustrate the growth of the competition, which is now entering its eighth year.
The World Sports Photography Awards were created exclusively around sports photography, presenting images from both top-level professional competitions and less widely covered sports and levels of competition.
What the competition is looking for
The philosophy of the competition goes beyond technically accomplished documentation of a sporting moment.
Its goal is to highlight images that communicate intensity, emotion, movement and the human dimension of sport, creating photographs that can also work as standalone visual stories.
The judging panel includes leading figures from sport, media, photography, advertising and the wider creative sector.
This makes the competition relevant not only to established professionals but also to photographers seeking greater international exposure for their work.
What we think
The World Sports Photography Awards have managed to establish a highly recognisable international competition around a very specific photographic genre.
Free entry and the ability to submit up to 10 images keep the practical barrier relatively low for photographers, while lowering the Canon Emerging Talent age limit to under 25 strengthens the award’s focus on young creators.
For photographers who have worked consistently on sports photography during the eligible period, the 2027 edition represents an interesting opportunity for international exposure without an entry fee.
Frequently asked questions
When do entries for the World Sports Photography Awards 2027 close?
The deadline is 23 November 2026.
How many photographs can each entrant submit?
Each photographer can submit up to 10 images in total.
Which photographs are eligible?
Images must have been taken between December 2025 and November 2026. Photographs previously entered in the 2026 competition are not eligible.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry to the World Sports Photography Awards 2027 is free.
What is the age limit for the Canon Emerging Talent Award?
For the 2027 edition, the special award is open to photographers under the age of 25.
