World Sports Photography Awards 2026 winner revealed

BBC Sport and the World Sport Photography Awards present a selection of the world's finest sporting images from this year's competition. Displayed below are Gold, Silver, Bronze and Special Merit winners across all 24 categories of the awards, now in their sixth year.

Grand Prix Gold winner

Carlos' Shadow Hits A Ball by Edgar Su

Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz hits the ball during his fourth-round match against Britain's Jack Draper at the 2025 Australian Open. He is wearing a teal outfit and neon yellow shoes on a bright blue court, with his shadow appearing as though it is hitting the ball.BBC Sport

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his fourth-round match against Britain's Jack Draper at the 2025 Australian Open

Grand Prix Silver winner

The Underworld by Beatrice Ryder da Costa

An underwater view of a surfer pushing a surfboard downward while diving beneath a wave. The water is clear with swirling bubbles, and the surfer wears a black wetsuit.

Surfer rising from under the wave in the Solomon Islands

Grand Prix Bronze winner

India v England layers by Richard Heathcote

A layered photograph shows India players in multiple poses as they control the opening morning's play of the third Test against England. Photo taken at the historic Lord’s pavilion.

Layered view from the Lord's Nursery End, with India in control of the opening morning's play of the third Test against England.

Category winners

American football: One Player. 110,000 Screaming Fans.by Christian Gresko

American footballer player Roger Saleapaga stands on the field facing a Penn State University's famous 'white out' crowd of fans dressed all in white, waving white towels in unison. The player’s jersey displays the number 83.

Oregon Ducks tight end Roger Saleapaga looks towards the famous and animated Penn State University "White Out"

Athletics: Tokyo Rocketby Kenjiro Matsuo

Japan's Momone Ueda launches a javelin into the Tokyo sky during the 2025 World Athletics Championships while thousands of spectators watch on.

Japanese javelin thrower Momone Ueda launches a "rocket" into the Tokyo sky during the 2025 World Athletics Championships

Baseball: Bubbleby Steph Chambers

A close-up of baseball player Eugenio Suárez blowing a large bubble with gum, shaped like an open Pac-Man figure. The player wears a dark cap with a visible logo and an earring.

Eugenio Suarez of the Seattle Mariners blows bubble gum during batting practice prior to game five of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers

Basketball: Breakaway for the Leadby Bob Donnan

Basketball player Alijah Martin leaps high toward the hoop for a slam dunk during a game. The player wears a blue and orange uniform, and team-mates on the bench celebrate in the background as a packed arena watches.

Florida guard Alijah Martin gives the Gators the lead for good on a breakaway score in the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament

Boxing: Uppercutby Alexis Goudeau

Tony Yoka receives an uppercut punch from Arslan Yellyav during their fight in Paris. Sweat sprays into the air from the impact, and both fighters wear black trunks and gloves.

Tony Yoka receives an uppercut punch from Arslan Yellyav during their fight in Paris

Cycling: Vistas desde el abandonoby Aritz Arambarri Goenaga

A large group of cyclists in colourful jerseys seen through a shattered glass window. The broken panes frame the riders against a backdrop of trees and sky.

A parade of cyclists seen through panes of a partially broken window in a nearby abandoned building during the Copa de Espana Torredonjimeno

Equestrian: Equine Reflectionby Morgan Treacy

A group of jockeys riding horses at full speed on a wet track, creating a vivid reflection of the horses and riders in the water. The race takes place in Laytown, Ireland's only horse racing event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing

Runners and riders reflected in the sand on the beach in Laytown, Ireland's only horse racing event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing

Football: Black & White Passionby Luis Amaral

A father and child celebrate Atletico Mineiro scoring. They are both screaming at each other with joy. They are surrounded by cheering supporters in black-and-white striped jerseys

A father and child wildly celebrate an Atletico Mineiro goal

Formula 1: Tunnel Exitby Luca Martini

A Red Bull Formula 1 car speeds through a tunnel, captured through the slats of a metal barrier. The car features vibrant red, yellow, and black colours with visible sponsor logos.

A Red Bull car, captured through the Armco barriers, zooms through the tunnel during the Monaco Grand Prix

Golf: Tommy Fleetwood emerges from a hedgeby David Cannon

Golfer Tommy Fleetwood, partially hidden in dense green foliage, prepares to hit a shot. The golfer wears a striped shirt and cap, holding a club peeking through the leaves.

Tommy Fleetwood steps out from the bushes during the Dubai Desert Classic

Gymnastics: Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships - Rio de Janeiro 2025by Buda Mendes

Gymnast Meital Maayan Sumkin performs a one-handed handstand on a mat while balancing a red ball on the toes of an extended leg. The gymnast wears a sparkling dark leotard with red accents.

Meital Maayan Sumkin performing with a ball and balancing on one hand at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 2025 in Rio de Janeiro

Ice hockey: Last Line of Defenceby Sophia Sandurskaya

An overhead view of an ice hockey game near the goal. The goalie is sprawled on the ice while players in red and blue jerseys battle for the puck around the crease.

The Megasport Stadium in Moscow plays host to the Kontinental Hockey League match between Spartak Moscow and the Shanghai Dragons

Martial arts: Unusual Sumo Attackby Tom Jenkins

Two sumo wrestlers grapple in a traditional ring, captured in black and white. One wrestler pushes forward while the other braces, with the crowd blurred in the background.

Tobizaru sticks a finger up the nose of Takayasu as they fight during the final day of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London

Motor Sports: Emerging Fordby Christian Gresko

A rally car creates a dramatic shower of dust at Shakedown during the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya

Rally car eating dust at Shakedown during the 2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya

Other: Boutby Anna Zinovieva

Two fencers in full gear lunge toward each other on a lit piste, framed by swirling colourful light rings.

Fencing bout exposing the bright neon lights in Russia

Racquet Sports: Kim Nayeong - WTT Foz do Iguacuby Abelardo Mendes Jr

A close-up of a table tennis player holding a paddle in a ready position, with the arm extended and wristband visible. The ball is seen in mid-flight over the player's right eye.

Kim Nayeong of South Korea with her eye on the ball mid-serve at the WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguacu tournament

Rugby union: New Zealand Hakaby Andrew Dowling

The All Blacks perform a synchronised haka under a dramatic spotlight on a dimly lit stadium field.

The All Blacks perform the Haka at Principality Stadium in Cardiff

Swimming & Diving: Catching a Breathby Carel du Plessis

Henry Bramwell-Reeks in a wetsuit swims through choppy water during a race, with droplets splashing around. Behind the swimmer, a crowd lines the shore, and green mountains rise under a cloudy sky.

Henry Bramwell-Reeks, a triathlete from the United Kingdom, during the swim leg of a full-distance triathlon

Urban & Extreme: Klickflippin' Indiaby Martin Bissig

A skateboarder performs a trick mid-air among the geometric steps of an ancient stone stepwell. The weathered walls and repeating stair patterns create a striking architectural backdrop.

An skateboarder finds an improbable line, launching across the void of the ancient Jaipur stepwell

Venues & Views: Championship Viewby Andrew Hancock

A fisheye view of a brightly lit football stadium packed with fans. The green field is at the centre, surrounded by vibrant red and blue banners displaying team names and championship graphics.

Confetti falls from the circular video board atop the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the Ohio State Buckeyes rush the field to celebrate winning the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship

Winter Sports: Northby Germain Favre-Felix

A skier carves through fresh snow on a steep mountain slope, creating a spray of powder.

Skier Richard Permin surfing the wave of snow, leaving a fleeting trace in the endless, snowy canvas

All photos courtesy of World Sports Photography Awards

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