This year’s theme, “Power,” was explored through more than 87,000 submissions from around 50,000 photographers worldwide. The ceremony featured a standout moment when His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, presented the $200,000 Grand Prize to Italian photographer Gianluca Gianferrari.
His winning image, Etna’s Paroxysm, depicts an explosive eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, where flames and incandescent lava fragments burst through pristine snow beneath a starry sky — a striking contrast that embodies the notion of power.
In addition to the Grand Prize, several special awards were presented. The Appreciation Award went to American photographer, author and lecturer Rick Smolan, in recognition of his distinguished career. The Content Creator Award was given to American photographer and filmmaker Mark Smith for his popular bird videos and environmental engagement. The title of HIPA Photographer of the Year was awarded to Omani photographer Salem Al-Hajri, whose visual projects convey Arab cultural narratives with sensitivity and strong regional identity.
Awards were also presented across the competition’s categories:
- In the Power category, first place went to Syrian photographer Hashem Dardowra, followed by India’s Deepak Singh Dogra and Australia’s Scott Portelli.
- In the General – Colour category, American photographer Karine Aigner took first place, ahead of Jack Zhi (United States) and Marcin Giba (Poland).
- In the General – Black & White category, Australian photographer Ted Grambeau won first prize, followed by Chris Fallows (South Africa) and Yousef Bin Shakar Al Zaabi (United Arab Emirates).
- In the Portfolio category, Palestinian photographer Ali Jadallah won first place, ahead of Marek Biegalski (Poland) and Ammar AlSayed Ahmed (United Arab Emirates).
- In Sports Photography, first prize went to Vladimir Tadić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), followed by German photographer Laci Perényi and Japan’s Masatoshi Ujihara.
- In the Drone (Video) category, first place was awarded to Karim Iliya (United States), followed by Chrisander Bergan (Norway) and Shantha Kumar Nagendran (India).
During the ceremony, HIPA Secretary General Ali bin Thalith expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Hamdan for his continued support of photographic art. He noted that the theme “Power” reflects a timeless ambition, symbolising change, transformation and inspiration. He also reaffirmed HIPA’s broader mission: to promote photographic culture, elevate the status of photography in society and support Emirati talents in achieving international recognition. The 2026 edition will focus on the theme of family.
More information
