Johannesburg will host the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition for the first time, connecting local audiences with globally celebrated photography and emerging South African talent.
Presented by the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography in partnership with Creo and the World Photography Organisation, Decisive Moment: Sony World Photography Awards will run from 15 August 2026 to 22 January 2027, showcasing award-winning photographs from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 competitions.
The exhibition marks the first time the internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards has been presented in South Africa, giving local audiences the opportunity to experience work from one of the world’s most respected photography competitions without travelling abroad.
Now celebrating its 20th edition, the Sony World Photography Awards has become a global benchmark for photographic excellence. More than 430,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted across the 2026 competitions, highlighting the diversity, creativity and international reach of contemporary photography.
The exhibition features an extensive collection of documentary, portrait, wildlife, sport, landscape and creative photography. Together, the images capture human stories, cultures, environments and defining moments from around the world, demonstrating photography’s unique ability to inform, challenge perceptions and connect people across borders.
“To bring these images to Johannesburg is a real privilege. The exhibition gathers perspectives, stories, environments, cultures and artistic approaches from across the globe, and presents them in a city that is itself defined by complexity and diversity. We believe this exhibition will offer something meaningful to every visitor, while celebrating the extraordinary work of the Sony World Photography Awards,” said Roger Ballen, Founder of the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography.
Running alongside the international exhibition is New Eyes: The Roger Ballen Centre Photography Award, a new initiative dedicated to showcasing emerging South African photographers.
The inaugural exhibition features the work of Karabo Mooki, D.M. Terblanche and Zwelibanzi Zwane, whose work was selected by a panel comprising Emilie Demon, Michelle Loukidis and Jabulani Dhlamini. By presenting these emerging photographers alongside internationally recognised award winners, the initiative aims to create greater visibility for South African photographic talent while encouraging the next generation of visual storytellers.
A comprehensive public programme will accompany both exhibitions, extending the experience beyond the gallery through artist talks, walkabouts, workshops, masterclasses and educational activities. The programme is designed to strengthen visual literacy while creating opportunities for students, aspiring photographers and the wider public to engage more deeply with contemporary photography.
The Roger Ballen Centre for Photography is one of the few institutions on the African continent dedicated exclusively to photography. Through exhibitions, education, research and public programming, the Centre continues to advance photographic practice while creating opportunities for creative exchange between South African and international artists.
Together, Decisive Moment and New Eyes create a unique dialogue between internationally recognised photographers and South Africa’s emerging creative voices, offering visitors an opportunity to experience world-class photography while celebrating the future of the medium on the African continent.
