TFMD 2026 AWARDS HAVE FOUND THEIR WINNERS
The memory of photography, the testimony of truth and emotional farewells come together.
Press Photos of the Year 2026 Awards, organized by the Turkish Photojournalists Association (TFMD) for 41 years and considered one of the most prestigious photography organizations in Türkiye, found their owners at the ceremony held in Ankara CerModern. The Press Photographs of the Year Exhibition was also opened at the night, attended by CHP Leader Özgür Özel, Çankaya Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner, MPs, diplomatic representatives, media, art and many guests from the business world. At the ceremony, Özgür Özel photographed the guests, the photojournalist and cameramen who took his footage, with the camera given to him after giving the award.
PHOTOS THAT WILL MARK 2025
Before the ceremony at CerModern, the exhibition featuring the photographs that won awards in the competition attracted great attention.This year, 343 photojournalists and photographers, as well as 47 students, participated in the competition. In the competition where more than 5 thousand photographs taken throughout 2025 were evaluated, 20 photographs and 3 photograph series were awarded. At the Türkiye Beauties Photography Awards, 13 photographs received awards in 3 categories.
PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR TO THE ENVIRONMENT
The Press Photo of the Year Award was given to İhlas News Agency photojournalist Ahmet Faruk Sarıkoç, who captured the construction around the Sazlıdere Dam in Arnavutköy, Istanbul, and the impact of urbanization on nature from the air.The shot taken by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality photojournalist Orkun Emre Küçükerbaş at the funeral ceremony of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, showing the moment when CHP Chairman Özgür Özel descended to the grave, was selected as the News Photograph of the Year.
EMOTIONAL MOMENTS OF ÖZEL
At the night, Özgür Özel gave the Press Photo of the Year along with the News Photo of the Year Award, of which the photograph was also the subject. Özel, who examined the photograph for a long time while visiting the exhibition, had tears in his eyes as he had emotional moments with his close friend Ferdi Zeyrek, talking about their visits to the same cemetery for years. In his speech at the award ceremony, Ozel conveyed the meaning of the photograph to him and said:
ALL WORKERS OF THE PRESS ARE VERY VALUABLE TO US
"It is a great honor to be with you, esteemed photojournalists and guests, in a place where awards are given in the name of Ara Güler and where Coşkun Aral is here. A competition that can be continued for 41 years, the branding of this competition will undoubtedly not be possible without the contributions of the sponsors. It is necessary to thank all the sponsoring institutions and companies. After all, we are politicians and no matter what we do, photojournalists and all the workers of the press are concerned about how it is conveyed." It is very valuable, no matter what institution they are in, their profession helps all of us to meet with the public, explain our problems, and express ourselves. I probably did not only attend last year, but apart from that, I attended all the ceremonies as a member of parliament, as a group deputy chairman, and as a chairman.
PHOTO FROM THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENT OF MY LIFE
One of the awards I'm giving away today is a photo taken by my brother Orkun. He came first and took my photo.As a photo taken at the most difficult moment of my life, I wish Orkun had never taken that photo, I wish I had not been the subject of that picture, I wish that farewell had not happened. But he immortalized such a moment that it became a picture that will never go out of my mind for the rest of my life. In a place where I give awards every year, this year being both the subject of the award and experiencing the greatest pain at the same time is a life-like thing. This is exactly what photography is like.
41 TIMES MASHALLAH
After such a good presentation, such a good organization and such successful works, it fell to me to say something. I would like to congratulate all award winners, together with everyone who sent their work here to participate in this competition and who showed this courage. 41 times, mashallah. I hope that from now on, these prestigious awards will be for better news, not for tragedies and deaths; They are all involved, but they are always immortalized with beautiful rewards and beautiful moments. “I congratulate you all.”
PHOTO IS PROOF
Rıza Özel, President of the Turkish Photojournalists Association, emphasized in his speech that photojournalism is not just about capturing good shots. Drawing attention to the historical importance of photography, Özel said:
"Photography is often the most powerful element of the news. Because it is evidence, it is a document. The value of a photograph is not limited to the headline of the day it was taken. In the photographs that receive awards today, we see the traces of the age we live in, the documents left to the future. The moment when the photojournalist presses the shutter is the first note in the archive of history. For us, photography is also the responsibility towards the truth. What is important for us is not only a good photograph; it is a photograph produced with the right methods, It's a photo that remains true to reality, and that's exactly what has sustained the reputation of the Press Photo of the Year Competition for 41 years.
I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF CHANGE
I would like to leave the position of President of the Turkish Photojournalists Association, which I assumed in 2009 with the favor of our members, at the general assembly to be held in October this year. But although I am happy in this role myself, I think this is the right time for the association. I believe in the power of change. I know that knowing how to say goodbye, even if you are successful, is a respectable virtue. Sometimes it is best to take a step back and pave the way for young people and new people. I believe that new ideas, new excitement and new energy add strength to institutions.
HIGH TAXES AND UNION STRUGGLE
When I look back as President, I see so much we have accomplished together.I didn't do any of this alone. We did this together with our boards of directors, members, supporting institutions and hundreds of people who have devoted themselves to this profession. Every story has missing pages. There are some struggles that remain inside me, too. We could not get the result we wanted in reducing the high tax burden on cameras. Unfortunately, 25 percent Special Consumption Tax is on our shoulders like a hump. We could not solve the economic problems of our profession. We could not reach the point we desired in the union struggle.
WE ARE POLARIZED UNDER 'TECHNOCAPITALIST DOMINATION'
This order, created by global technology giants to keep us in front of the screen for 10 seconds longer, has begun to shake societies around the world. What we want to hear and see in the echo chambers of social media appears before us through algorithms.While we are slaves to the idea we embrace, we don't even hear the other person. Humanity is polarizing under a ‘Technocapitalist global domination’. One of the most severe consequences of this is experienced by journalists working in the field. They are being targeted. They are subjected to verbal and physical attacks. However, we are laborers. We do not have to share the political views of the institutions we work with. It is also unacceptable to judge a journalist based on the editorial policy of the institution he works for.
DUTY OF THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION
The duty of professional organizations is not to stay close to the government or the opposition.The duty of professional organizations is to defend the rights of their members. During my time as the president of this association, I have talked to everyone so far. As a professional organization, we prioritized dialogue. We focused on the problems of our colleagues, not the political views of the people whose doors we knocked on. Because journalism is valuable only when it can be done freely.”
PRESS HOUSE CALL TO ANKARA
Addressing Çankaya Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner in one of the remarkable parts of his speech, Rıza Özel expressed his dream of establishing a "Press House" in Ankara that all professional press organizations can use together. Özel said that creating a center that journalists, photojournalists and cameramen can share and where trainings, exhibitions, conferences and interviews can be held will add value to the capital of the Republic. Çankaya Mayor Güner, who attended the ceremony, promised the journalists that they would open this center as soon as possible.
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HERE ARE THE BEST OF 2026
41st ANNUAL PRESS PHOTOS AWARDS
TFMD Lifetime Honor Award
Kadir CAN
Press Photo of the Year and Nature, Environment and Climate Change Photo of the Year
Ahmet Faruk SARIKOÇ / İhlas News Agency
News Photo Winner
Orkun Emre KÜÇÜKERBAŞ / İzmir B.B.
News Photo Second Place
Mehmet ASLAN / Freelance
News Photo Third
Selahattin SÖNMEZ / Nefes Newspaper
Spor Toto Sports Photo of the Year
Okan AKYÜREK / Freelance
Spor Toto Sports Photo Runner Up
Onur SAĞSÖZ / Ajans palandöken
Spor Toto Sports Photo Third
Alkım SARAC / Freelance
Spor Toto Special Award
Mürsel ÇETİN / Haber Kent Site
Environment, Nature and Climate Change Photo Runner Up
Salih KUS
Zero Waste Special Award
Adem ALBAYRAK
Daily Life Photo of the Year
Yağız KARAHAN / Freelance
Daily Life Photo Second Place
Said Nuri SARGIN
SGDD – ASAM Special Award
Uğur YILDIRIM / Milliyet Newspaper
Earthquake Martyrs Special Award
İsmail COŞKUN / İhlas News Agency
Mustafa Pekcan Special Award
Necati SAVAŞ / Free
Rafet Hüner Special Award
Semih ERSÖZLER / Demirören News Agency
TFMD Special Award
İsmail COŞKUN / İhlas News Agency
Portrait Photo of the Year
Uğur YILDIRIM / Milliyet Newspaper
Portrait Photo Third
Mehmet Shah DENİZ
Photo Interview of the Year
Uğur YILDIRIM / Milliyet Newspaper
Photo Interview Runner Up
Selahattin SÖNMEZ / Nefes Newspaper
Photo Interview Third
Uğur YILDIRIM / Milliyet Newspaper
ARA GÜLER ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
(Encouragement competition among university students)
Ara Güler Encouragement Award
Elif ÇİMİÇ / Kırşehir Ahi Evran University
Türkiye BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
(Photo contest open to general participation)
ASKA Special Award
Said Nuri SARGIN
Foundation Works Special Award
İhsan İLZE
Legacy to the Future Award Winner
FIND THE RIGHT
Second Prize for Heritage to the Future
Yalçın AKKAYA
Third Prize for Heritage to the Future
Oğuz BUKTEL
AJET Special Award
Muzaffer Murat İLHAN
MEDIA BUSINESS SPECIAL AWARD
Emrullah AKGUN
Türkiye Beauty Winner
Ahmet ASLAN
Türkiye's Beauties Runner Up
İsmail Serhat ŞAHİN
Türkiye's Beauties Third
İsmail Serhat ŞAHİN
Türkiye's Beauties from the Sky Winner
Said Nuri SARGIN
Türkiye's Beauties from the Sky Runner Up
Gülin YİĞİTER
Türkiye's Beauties from the Sky, Third Place
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