British Photographer Jo Kearney Wins World Food Photography Awards 2026

Jun 2 - Written By Angela Nicholson

British photographer Jo Kearney has been named the Overall Winner of the 2026 World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini, becoming the first woman in more than a decade to take the competition’s top honour.

Kearney’s winning image, A Woman Eats in the Canteen of the Soviet-era Sanatorium, was photographed at the Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium in the mountains of Tajikistan. The photograph, which also won the Fortnum & Mason Food at the Table category, shows an elderly woman pouring herself tea at breakfast in one of the few Soviet-era sanatoria still operating today. Guests visit the remote complex for thermal bathing, steam therapy and restorative treatments, while sharing simple meals of soup, fruit, tea and traditional Tajik dishes.

As one of the judges for this year’s competition, it was particularly pleasing to see a woman photographer claim the overall title in a competition that attracted almost 9,000 entries from photographers in more than 50 countries. The standard of photography was exceptionally high across all 27 categories, making the judging process both challenging and inspiring.

Caroline Kenyon, founder of the World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini, said: “There is so much to see and so much to feel in this image. An old woman pours herself tea – but it’s so much more than just that. The expression on her crevassed face is beautiful, it moved me to tears. She is alone, her simple breakfast on the table before her echoes the fruit in the painting on the wall behind. Against the parched colours of the scene through the window, the rich crimson chairs give a regal quality to the setting, and though humbly dressed, her dignified bearing is queenly too. She has seen much in life, we are sure, but holds her head high.”

The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Mall Galleries in London on 2 June, hosted by renowned chef and food writer Gennaro Contaldo. During the evening, I had the privilege of accepting The Claire Aho Award for Women Photographers on behalf of the winner, Kellie Carter, who was unable to attend the ceremony in person. The award celebrates outstanding work by a female photographer and honours the legacy of pioneering Finnish photographer Claire Aho.

Women photographers were strongly represented throughout the competition. Canadian photographer Anne Mason-Hoerter won the Bimi® Prize with her striking image of a candied pear, while female photographers featured prominently among the finalists and category winners.

This year’s judging panel was chaired by acclaimed food photographer David Loftus and included Claire Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation, Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, Rein Skullerud of the World Food Programme, chef Jamie Oliver and food campaigner, author and chef Olia Hercules.

A free exhibition featuring all 203 finalist images opens at the Mall Galleries in London from 3 to 7 June, while a selection of photographs chosen by Fortnum & Mason will be displayed at its Piccadilly store from 9 June.

The World Food Photography Awards continue to demonstrate the power of photography to tell stories about food, culture and community. From intimate moments around the dining table to large-scale celebrations and food production around the world, this year’s winning images highlight the universal role that food plays in our lives.

Congratulations to Jo Kearney and all the photographers recognised in this year’s competition.

World Food Photography Awards 2026 Winning Images