World Food Photo shortlist
The 2026 World Food Photography Awards released a 20‑image shortlist that spotlights food as cultural storytelling — think plated narratives, market scenes and close‑up food portraiture. The shortlist lands as an explicit bridge between culinary trends and visual arts. (petapixel.com)
Organizers received "thousands of entries" to the 2026 World Food Photography Awards from photographers across more than 50 countries, according to the competition announcement. The international judging panel is chaired by food photographer David Loftus and includes Claire Reichenbach (James Beard Foundation), Tom Athron (Fortnum & Mason), Rein Skullerud (World Food Programme), Jamie Oliver and Olia Hercules. Winners across the awards’ 27 categories will be revealed at the Champagne Taittinger Awards Evening in London on Tuesday 2 June, with the competition’s Overall Winner taking a £5,000 prize. A free public exhibition of the 2026 finalist images will run at The Mall Galleries, London, from Wednesday 3 June to Sunday 7 June, with a Fortnum & Mason‑curated selection going on display at the Piccadilly store from Tuesday 9 June. The official shortlist page names shortlisted photographers from multiple countries, including Valery Rizzo (USA) for "Lemongrass Harvest, Oko Farms, Brooklyn, New York," Chloe Stuart‑Bennett (UK) for "Ejutla Agave," Kate Ireland (Australia) in the M&S Rising Star category and Gavin Burnett (UK) for "Cook at Phuktal Monastery, Ladakh, India." Sponsor branding for the 2026 awards is led by Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini and the awards evening is presented in partnership with Champagne Taittinger, while media outlets such as PetaPixel published curated selections — PetaPixel highlighted a 20‑image set from the broader shortlist.
