Frankfurt am Main, 9 April 2026 – EPA Images photojournalists Narendra Shrestha and Saber Nuraldin, known professionally as Mohammed Saber, have been recognized as winners in the 2026 World Press Photo Contest, in the Singles category for the West, Central, and South Asia region, as announced today by the World Press Photo Foundation.
Narendra Shrestha (Nepal) was awarded with the first place in the category for his powerful image “Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising,” capturing the dramatic moment when protesters stormed and set fire to the Singha Durbar government complex in Kathmandu on 9 September 2025. The photograph reflects a pivotal moment of unrest driven by young people protesting against political and economic conditions, after the government banned social media in the country.
Mohammed Saber (Palestine) was recognized with the second place for “Aid Emergency in Gaza,” a striking image showing Palestinians climbing onto an aid truck entering the Gaza Strip on 27 July 2025, amid severe humanitarian conditions and widespread food insecurity.
Both images highlight the courage and commitment of photojournalists documenting critical global events, often under extremely challenging circumstances.
Julia R. Arévalo, President & CEO of EPA Images, said: “We are immensely proud of NarendraShrestha and Mohammed Saber for this outstanding recognition. Their work exemplifies the essential role of photojournalism in bearing witness to history and giving visibility to stories that must be seen and understood, often under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.”
The World Press Photo Foundation selected the 2026 winners from more than 57,000 entries submitted by photographers across 141 countries. The awarded works reflect some of the most urgent issues of our time, including conflict, humanitarian crises, and civic movements.
About EPA Images:
The European Pressphoto Agency B.V. (rebranded as EPA Images) was founded in 1984 by leading European news agencies, who shared the goal of creating an independent, high-quality photo service for the European media market. Today, EPA Images delivers comprehensive photo and video coverage through a worldwide network of visual journalists and the daily production of its member agencies - ANA-MPA, ANP, ANSA, EFE, KEYSTONE, LUSA, MIT, and PAP - all market leaders in their respective countries. Its archive contains 13 million images,with more than 2,000 new photos and 80 videos added daily, covering decades of global events.
2026 World Press Photo Contest - West, Central and South Asia, Singles, 1st place
2026 World Press Photo Contest - West, Central and South Asia, Singles, 2nd place
