Ballarat to host World Press Photo exhibition at Ballarat Mining Exchange

The Art Gallery of Ballarat will bring the World Press Photo exhibition to Victoria for the first time in a decade this August. It is the first time the global photojournalism exhibition has come to Ballarat.

Each year, the World Press Photo Contest highlights the outstanding work of photojournalists and documentary photographers from across the globe. The winning works will appear in Ballarat at the Mining Exchange from 8 August to 20 September 2026.  

The 2026 contest winners are the best of the 57,376 photographs entered by 3,747 photographers from 141 countries. Among this year's winners are high profile global issues and stories that have been overlooked by mainstream media. Visitors can expect to see broad perspectives and intimate insider views on subjects including conflict and crisis, but also resistance, resilience and tradition.  

The selection reflects issues such as the far-reaching impact of the climate crisis, from Los Angeles to the Philippines, Mexico, and Norway, while also highlighting civic action and the fight for rights through images of protests in the United States, women’s movements in Guatemala and the youth protests of Madagascar. In Australia, the devastating Bondi massacre is represented.  

Following the world premiere in Amsterdam, the exhibition travels to more than 60 locations worldwide. World Press Photo has appeared in Sydney and Brisbane in recent years, but this is the first time Victorians can see the show in many years.  

Due to the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s closure for critical building works, World Press Photo will take place at Ballarat Mining Exchange.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said it is a proud moment for Ballarat to welcome the internationally renowned exhibition to the city.

“The World Press Photo exhibition brings some of the most powerful and thought-provoking stories from around the world to our community, reinforcing Ballarat’s reputation as a city that values arts, culture and meaningful public conversation,” she said.  

“The City of Ballarat is committed to supporting arts and cultural experiences that challenge, inspire and connect people, and World Press Photo is a powerful example of that commitment in action.”

Art Gallery of Ballarat Director Louise Tegart said she was pleased to be able to host such a respected exhibition off-site.

"I am pleased that we can host the World Press Photo exhibition in Ballarat for the first time," she said.

‘World Press Photo reflects the state of the world at this time. While some of the images are difficult to view, they hold up a mirror to society and alongside the images of heartbreak there are images of hope. I’m impressed with the talent of the photojournalists including Australian photographers – they have done such important work capturing these moments in time."

Executive director of World Press Photo, Joumana El Zein Khoury, said: "I have deep respect for the thoughtful process behind every story we award. I believe that the jury’s intentionality is – and will continue to be – the source of the public’s trust in World Press Photo."

The global jury chair for 2026 was Kira Pollack, a Harvard Shorenstein Center fellow exploring archival innovation through emerging technologies. She previously held leadership roles at TIME, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times Magazine.

She said: "This is a critical moment — for democracy, for truth, for the question of what we as a society are willing to see and call out and what we are willing to ignore. The photographers recognized here have done their part. They have made the record. Now it is our turn to look."

World Press Photo will be held at Ballarat Mining Exchange from 8 August 2026 until 20 September 2026.