‘Separated by ICE’ by Carol Guzy
Photojournalist Carol Guzy is renowned for portraying the emotion and atmosphere as well as the action of an unfolding event.
Her image ‘Separated by ICE’ captures the intense panic and shock felt by a family riven apart by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The picture, taken by Guzy in the hallway of a US courthouse, has been named World Press Photo of the Year 2026.
The four-times Pulitzer Prize winner had been granted access to the space outside the New York courtroom that ICE agents now use to remove migrants immediately after their hearings. It is part of a series by Guzy called ICE Arrests at New York Court.
The World Press Photo Contest is an annual celebration of photojournalism and documentary photography produced in the previous year. Here, we share 10 images honoured in the 2026 awards, which attracted 57,376 photographs submitted by 3,747 photographers from 141 countries, along with commentary from the jury.
1. ‘Separated by ICE’ by Carol Guzy (United States)/ZUMA Press/iWitness for Miami Herald, Winner, World Press Photo of the Year (above)
“In 2025, immigration enforcement escalated at an unprecedented scale across the United States – in workplaces, homes, on street corners and inside federal courthouses where families arrived for scheduled hearings.
“This photograph captures the harrowing moment of a family being separated. It was made in one of the only courthouses in the country where photographers have been granted access – a single hallway where Carol Guzy and others showed up, day after day, to document what was happening. What Guzy records here is not an isolated moment of grief, rather it is evidence and documentation of a government policy being applied systematically to people who followed the rules they were given.
“This image was selected from a larger body of work by Guzy, awarded in the North and Central America Stories category. In a democracy, the camera’s presence in that hallway is not incidental, it is essential.”
2. ‘Aid emergency in Gaza’ by Saber Nuraldin (Palestine), EPA Images, Finalist, World Press Photo of the Year
“This image of people climbing onto an aid truck captures sheer desperation – rendering visible the scale and urgency of famine in the second year of this war in Gaza. Starvation and famine, affecting more than half a million Palestinians, was the result of an Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip and was a defining humanitarian issue of 2025. The straightforward composition forces the viewer to pause, and offers visual evidence of famine and the destruction surrounding the scene. The jury felt that the photograph confronts the viewer with the reality of the situation while also pointing to its collective impacts and global implications.”
3. ‘Joburg Ballet School’ by Ihsaan Haffejee (South Africa) for GroundUp, Winner, Single Stories, Africa
“This image captures a quiet and intimate moment of preparation among young ballerinas in Soweto, South Africa. The strong use of colour, light and lines reveals a sense of tranquility and concentration while also hinting at the girls’ anticipation. Taken from a local photographer’s perspective, the photograph highlights the beauty of everyday life and stands out for its calm, reflective tone.”
4. ‘Madagascar’s Gen Z protests’ by Luis Tato (Spain), Agence France-Presse, Winner, Stories, Africa
“The jury recognised this story as a key highlight of the Gen Z uprisings which took place in 2025, reflecting a phenomenon with clear global resonance. Through dynamic scenes and varied views of youth-led actions, the project captures the scale of young people taking to the streets, conveying both energy and urgency. The images collectively offer a meaningful visual record of youth activism in 2025.”
5. ‘Emma the social robot’ by Paula Hornickel (Germany), Winner, Singles, Europe
“This story offers a contemporary look at elders in Europe, exploring themes of loneliness, care and the growing role of robotics in daily life. Through a distinct colour palette the scene balances humour and tenderness, prompting reflection and highlighting the emotional intimacy and subtle isolation of the interaction. The work prompts viewers to consider the future of care and human connection, presenting a visually striking, socially resonant portrait of an aging population.”
6. ‘Los Angeles on fire’ by Ethan Swope (United States) for Associated Press, Winner, Stories, North and Central America
“This story captures the devastating Los Angeles fires, conveying the scale of destruction and the impact on communities, with a range of children and elders represented. Through strong colours and dynamic images, the work communicates the urgency and chaos of evacuations, while details like Christmas decorations and the visualisation of spreading Santa Ana winds situate the tragedy in a specific time and place. The project offers a well-rounded perspective on loss, resilience and communal experience amid an unprecedented disaster.”
7. ‘“I’m afraid”: Afghan women face US aid cuts’ by Elise Blanchard (France) for Time, Winner, Stories, West, Central and South Asia
“This story provides a timely and impactful look at the consequences of US aid cuts and Taliban rule on maternal health and child morbidity in Afghanistan, highlighting the human cost of the withdrawal of aid from the healthcare sector in a collapsing economy. Through strong, sensitively executed images, the photographer shows, with dignity, the determination of affected women and the midwives who care for them. The work offers a fresh perspective and insight into an urgent news story as it continues to unfold.”
8. From the series Hijacked Education by Diego Ibarra Sánchez (Spain), Winner, Long-Term Project, West, Central and South Asia
“This long-term project examines the impact of conflict on children across multiple regions, emphasising education, resilience and the ongoing struggle of societies affected by war. Through consistent, committed coverage over several years, the photographer combines intimate portraits, symbolic imagery and children’s own quotes to convey their experiences, needs and hopes. The work offers a globally resonant account of how education and daily life shape the next generation in the aftermath of conflict.”
9. ‘Mountain resident of Wanglang’ by Rob G Green (United States), National Geographic Society, Henry Luce Foundation, Winner, Singles, Asia-Pacific and Oceania
“This image of a wild panda marks a rare and historically significant moment. Taken from a low-angle camera trap, the composition and the panda’s gaze create an intimate, engaging perspective, offering an authentic depiction of the animal in its natural habitat. The photograph – the result of a decade-long collaboration between storytellers and scientists – serves not only as an energising example of visual journalism, but also as crucial evidence of the continued existence of wild pandas.”
10. From the series Drone Wars by David Guttenfelder (United States), The New York Times, winner, Stories, Europe
“This story provides a comprehensive look at the use of drones in the Russo-Ukrainian war, illustrating the construction and deployment of these new weapons and their human impact. Through careful editing, the project shows a variety of angles, from young people assembling drones and the protection measures for civilians, to the broader technological and tactical aspects of the battlefield. By combining the human consequences with the innovation and testing of military technology, the work offers a complete perspective on a conflict increasingly shaped by technological warfare.”
Exhibition discount for RPS members
The World Press Photo exhibition is at MPB Gallery, 42-44 Bermondsey Street, London, 21 August–30 September 2026 and touring worldwide.
RPS members receive a 20% discount using the code RPS20. Book tickets here.
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