IWMF 2026 Anja Niedringhaus Courage In Photojournalism Award ($20,000 cash prize)

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Application Deadline: March 31st, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 IWMF Anja Niedringhaus Courage In Photojournalism Award. The Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award was created to honor the life and work of Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer and IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner Anja Niedringhaus (1965-2014). With this Award, the IWMF celebrates the courageous work of women photojournalists like Anja. The Award recognizes the importance of visual journalistic work that inspires us to take action and compels us to better understand the world.

Created in 2014 with a $1 million gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Award will be given annually to a woman photojournalist whose work reflects courage and dedication, as Anja’s does. The Award winner will be publicly honored, have her work showcased, and receive a cash prize of $20,000.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The award is open to women, nonbinary and gender nonconforming journalists.
• The candidate must be working as a journalist full-time, and journalism must be their primary profession.
• Both freelance journalists and those affiliated with media organizations are eligible

Additional Requirements for the Contest:

• The photographer must be the author of the pictures submitted in her/their name.
• The photographer, or the agent or representative entering on their behalf, must be the copyright holder or have been authorized by the copyright holder to submit the pictures.
• The IWMF reserves the right to ask finalists or the winner for the RAW, or original camera files captured directly by the camera, to be submitted for review if the submission advances to final rounds of judging. Photographers must be open and transparent about the entire process through which their pictures are made and be accountable to the IWMF for their practice.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Anja Niedringhaus Courage In Photojournalism Award