A woman wearing a long black dress and holding up a smoke cleansing bundle aloft in front of a body of water
Exhibition

Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition 2023

14 Apr - 01 May 2023
Mon - Fri, 11.00-21.00, Sat & Sun 11.00-20.00

Opening Times

Mon - Fri, 11.00-21.00, Sat & Sun 11.00-20.00

Last entry one hour prior to closing time

Opening Time Exceptions

Bank Holidays, 11.00-18.00 (applies to 01 May)

Ticket Prices

Standard £15
Concessions* £11
Child (Under 12)  Free
Disabled Companion Free

*Concessions include Student, Un-waged, Senior 60+, Disabled, Children aged 12-16. You will be asked for proof upon entry to the exhibition.

East & West Wings

Celebrating photography in all its varied brilliance, the internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards opens its 2023 exhibition at Somerset House this April. 

Kickstarting London’s focal point of photography for the Spring season, the inspiring display showcases exceptional images from the four competitions and the Awards’ additional initiatives set out to embrace photographers worldwide. 

Exciting additions to this year’s exhibition include an exclusive space dedicated to recent works by Australian photographer Adam Ferguson, who won the 2022 Photographer of the Year for his series Migrantes. Also new for the 2023 exhibition is a spotlight on the winning series of the new Sustainability Prize. With more than 415,000 images from over 200 countries submitted to the 16th Sony World Photography Awards, this latest exhibition is sure to be one of the most impressive in the Awards’ history. 

What stories will you discover? What images will impress you the most? From awe-inspiring landscapes to sporty shots to powerful portraits, this is a must-see for people of all ages and interests. Immerse yourself in today’s most breathtaking pictures and be enriched by exciting international talent photographing today.

Rinko Kawauchi Outstanding Contribution to Photography 

Rinko Kawauchi Untitled from the series _Illuminance 2011.jpg

A rose brightly lit under a spotlight.
© Rinko Kawauchi, 'Untitled' from the series Illuminance, 2011


A special curation of around 20 photographs by the Sony World Photography Awards’ 2023 Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient, Japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchi, will be on show. Kawauchi is the 16th recipient of the award which honours a person or group that have made a significant impact on the photographic medium.

The display will be a substantial mix from her career, including highlight works from her series Utatane (2001), AILA (2004) and Illuminance (2009)  – which all exemplify her idiosyncratic style. The exhibition also features work from Ametsuchi (2013), a series originating from a dream in which Kawauchi became fascinated by ‘noyaki (burning field)’, a 1000-year old tradition where farmland is burned before replanting. 

Sony World Photography Awards Book

Pre-order your exclusive copy of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 book and get a £5.00 discount! A must-have for all photography enthusiasts to add to their library, this hardback book invites its readers to discover the most exciting stories by contemporary photographers from the past year.

With a vibrant collection of photos from the Professional, Open, Student and Youth competitions, there is also an essay dedicated to this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient Rinko Kawauchi. There are also special mentions of the Latin America Professional Awards and Alpha Female Awards winners.

You will have the option to pre-order your discounted book when you have selected your ticket.

Please note, once you have completed your purchase you will receive two tickets: one labelled for the book and one for the exhibition. When you visit the exhibition, please present your book ticket and pick up your copy at the Sony World Photography Award’s Book Shop.

Standard price: £34.99
Special pre-order price: £29.99