The World Food Photography Awards 2026
Formerly known as the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year, the World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini is a global celebration of the very best in food photography and film. Now in the third year of its partnership with Fortnum & Mason, the awards continue to attract extraordinary talent from around the world. Fortnum’s CEO, Tom Athron, once again joined the official judging panel, while the judging itself has been hosted in Fortnum’s Food & Drink Studio throughout the partnership.
This year saw more than 9,000 entries from over 50 countries, underscoring the awards’ remarkable international reach. Comprising 27 categories, the awards recognise creativity across a wide range of themes, including ‘Fortnum & Mason Food at the Table’, which celebrates images captured in hotels, restaurants, cafés and other dining settings. We are delighted to congratulate this year’s category winner, photographer Jo Kearney - who also went on to be named the overall winner of the 2026 awards.
Curated by a small team including Fortnum’s Head Bartender at 3’6, this special ‘Fortnum’s Edit’ showcases a selection of standout winners and finalists across multiple categories. Discover a preview of the images below, and join us in-store to experience the full exhibition at the 3’6 Bar on the Third Floor.
"A Woman Eats in the Canteen of the Soviet-era Sanatorium"
Jo Kearney
This tender and captivating image was taken at the Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium, set high in the mountains of Tajikistan. This vast, Soviet-era concrete complex stands above radon-rich hot springs and remains one of the rare sanatoria still in operation today. Here, guests embrace a carefully prescribed regime of treatments - from restorative thermal bathing to enveloping steam therapies - all complemented by a simple yet nourishing culinary offering. Meals are thoughtfully prepared in keeping with the sanatorium’s curative spirit, featuring wholesome soups, fresh fruit, fragrant tea and traditional Tajik dishes. Remarkably, with board, lodging and treatments priced at approximately £25 per day, Khoja Obi Garm continues to attract a devoted following, drawn by its singular blend of heritage, healing and understated hospitality.
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