Carol Guzy's 'Separated by ICE' Wins 2026 World Press Photo of the Year
The prestigious 2026 World Press Photo Contest has awarded its top honor to American photojournalist Carol Guzy for her poignant image 'Separated by ICE.' This powerful photograph, taken following an immigration court session in New York during President Trump's enforcement actions, captures the heartbreak of a family being separated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Established in 1955, the contest reviewed 57,376 submissions from 3,747 photographers across 141 nations, ultimately recognizing 42 winners. Notable finalists include Saber Nuraldin's 'Aid Emergency in Gaza' and Victor J. Blue's 'The Trials of the Achi Women.' The winning works will be showcased in a traveling exhibition starting April 24 at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, touring over 60 venues globally.
Key facts
- Carol Guzy's 'Separated by ICE' won the 2026 World Press Photo of the Year.
- The image was taken after an immigration court hearing in New York during President Trump's crackdown.
- The contest received 57,376 photographs from 3,747 photographers across 141 countries.
- Finalist Saber Nuraldin's 'Aid Emergency in Gaza' shows Palestinians climbing onto an aid truck during Israel's blockade.
- Finalist Victor J. Blue's 'The Trials of the Achi Women' documents Maya Achi women in Guatemala seeking justice for wartime sexual violence.
- Evgeniy Maloletka's 'Russian Attack on Kyiv' depicts a 65-year-old woman near her damaged home after a missile strike.
- Tyrone Siu's 'A Desperate Plea' shows a man grieving after a fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po housing complex that killed 168.
- The traveling exhibition debuts at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam on April 24, visiting over 60 locations.
Entities
Artists
- Carol Guzy
- Saber Nuraldin
- Victor J. Blue
- Evgeniy Maloletka
- Tyrone Siu
Institutions
- World Press Photo
- Miami Herald
- European Press Photo Agency (EPA)
- New York Times Magazine
- Reuters
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- United Nations (UN)
- De Nieuwe Kerk
- ZUMA Press
- iWitness
- ICE
- Jacob K. Javits Federal Building
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Gaza
- Guatemala
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Hong Kong
- Tai Po
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands