Johannesburg is about to make photographic history. On 15 August 2026, the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography in Forest Town opens Decisive Moment — the first-ever South African exhibition of the Sony World Photography Awards, one of the most prestigious international honours in photography.
The exhibition, which runs until 22 January 2027, brings together award-winning images from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions of the Awards, now in their 20th year. The scale of the platform is enormous: this year’s competition alone drew more than 430 000 entries from over 200 countries and territories — and the winning work is now making its South African debut.
The world’s best images, in a Joburg gallery
Curated in partnership with Creo and the World Photography Organisation, the show spans documentary, portraiture, wildlife, sport, landscape and creative photography, offering visitors a wide-ranging look at how photographers around the world are documenting and interpreting contemporary life.
Roger Ballen, founder of the Centre, described the exhibition as a rare opportunity to bring global photographic perspectives into conversation with a city defined by its own complexity and diversity, saying he expects the show to resonate widely with visitors while honouring the calibre of work the Awards represent.
New Eyes: a spotlight on South African talent
Running alongside the international showcase is New Eyes: The Roger Ballen Centre Photography Award, a brand-new initiative spotlighting emerging South African photographers. The inaugural edition features work from Karabo Mooki, D.M. Terblanche and Zwelibanzi Zwane, selected by a panel of Emilie Demon, Michelle Loukidis and Jabulani Dhlamini — each bringing deep experience in photography, education and curatorship.
Placing a new South African award alongside an internationally recognised one creates a deliberate dialogue between global photographic excellence and the local talent shaping the medium’s next chapter.
Plan your visit
The Centre has built a public programme around both exhibitions — talks, workshops, masterclasses and guided walkabouts — aimed at deepening visual literacy among audiences, students and emerging photographers. Updated programme details will be published on the Centre’s website and social media channels throughout the run, giving schools, camera clubs and aspiring photographers plenty of chances to engage with the work up close over the exhibition’s five-month stay.
- Where: Roger Ballen Centre for Photography, 2 Duncombe Road, Forest Town, Johannesburg
- When: 15 August 2026 to 22 January 2027
- Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00–16:00, Saturdays 10:00–12:00
- Admission: R50
For a city with Johannesburg’s creative energy, hosting the world’s biggest photography awards for the first time is more than an exhibition — it is a statement that South Africa belongs on the global cultural map.
Facts sourced from Business Explainer.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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