Photography of Den Talalá

World Press Photo 2026

The company I work for has collaborated with World Press Photo for many years, and the last Thursday they invited me to the opening of the new annual exhibition in Amsterdam.

I am not a photojournalist and I am not affiliated with any media outlet, but I have long been curious about the organization and its awards — they gather some of the most important documentary photography from around the world. The invitation was a chance to see those images, hear from people who make and stand behind them, and bring back a short report from the evening, before the exhibition opened to visitors.

Two framed photographs from World Press Photo displayed on wooden easels stands. One depicts a boy with amputaded arms, the other a landscape with a distant figure. Both are under soft lighting.
World Press Photo 2025 winner pictures on display in my officeiPhone 17 Pro Max

De Nieuwe Kerk

The 2026 show takes place in De Nieuwe Kerk (“The New Church”) on Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam — the same city where World Press Photo has its headquarters. The church is a 15th century monument and, for decades, it hosts high-profile shows on art, photography, culture, and also serves a national role with royal ceremonies and official gatherings.

Dam square in Amsterdam. A cobblestone street with people and bikes. Ornate buildings with gabled roofs line the street. De Nieue Kerk is visible in the background under a blue sky.
Dam Square, 21 May 2026Ricoh GR IV

Dam Square itself is a striking stage for all of this. The square is layered with history — the Royal Palace, the National Monument, the church’s gothic façade — and it's always packed with tourists. It is also a familiar site for protest and public assembly. Walking there for the opening, with the World Press Photo banners already on the church, felt fitting: documentary work shown in a building meant for commemoration and reflection, at the heart of a city that is never quite still.

A group of people stand in front of an ornate arched doorway, some looking at a display. The building is a light beige color with a red sign World Press Photo. Clear sky above.
People waiting for De Nieuwe Kerk to open its doorsRicoh GR IV

The exhibition is tailored to the architecture of the church: tall windows, stone pillars, wooden vaults, and the scale of a cathedral rather than a white cube.

A person stands facing a wall with a black and white poster labeled World Press Photo. Arched doorways and a patterned brick wall are visible behind them.
Outside and inside De Neuwe KerkRicoh GR IV

The Exhibition’s Opening

The preview evening followed a simple programme. At 19:00, Marieke Rodenhuis, head of charity at the Postcode Lottery, welcomed guests. The lottery is a long-standing partner of cultural institutions in the Netherlands, including this event.

An expansive interior with rows of red seating facing a raised stage. Pillars, ornate details, and screens with text are visible. A chandelier hangs above the stage.
The audience is gatheringRicoh GR IV

The main segment was titled “Photos and stories that matter,” the same phrase used to describe the public exhibition. Karel Hendriks, general director of Doctors without Borders, spoke about why visual storytelling matters in crises and conflict. Marijn Fidder, the Dutch documentary photographer who won the 2025 World Press Photo Award in the Singles category for Africa, joined the conversation, and presenter Sacha de Boer moderated.

A picture of a man without one leg, posing, and flexing muscles is displayed on a screen, next to a text: Tamale Safalu. An audience sits in rows behind him. Two figures are visible at the front of the room.
From left to right: Sacha de Boer, Karel Hendriks, Marijn FidderRicoh GR IV

Marijn Fidder's winning image, “Tamale Safalu”, was projected large above the nave while she spoke — a portrait of a bodybuilder who lost a leg, flexing under studio light, from her long-term work on disability rights in Uganda. She is not an outsider dropping in for a single story: based in the Netherlands, she has worked in Uganda for years, publishing in outlets from NRC Handelsblad to National Geographic Netherlands and collecting awards including the Zilveren Camera and, in 2025, Photographer of the Year at the All About Photo Awards. Hearing her in the same room where that photograph is displayed among the new contest winners made the link between fieldwork and recognition.

A cathedral interior view. Vaulted wooden ceiling with beams and a chandelier. Stone pillars and arched windows with stained glass are visible on either side.
This place holds historyRicoh GR IV

At 20:00 guests spread through the church for the walk-through of the World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 — the 69th edition of the contest, presenting the jury's selection of photojournalism and documentary work from the past year. The official run is 24 April to 27 September 2026. The programme ended at 21:00, the rest of the night was for slow looking, conversation, and a glass of wine beneath the stained glass.

Black and white photo collage of a large church interior. Several people are viewing exhibits. A large organ is visible in the background.
The exhibition and the visitorsRicoh GR IV
Tall arched windows and stone pillars create a grand interior. Balconies with wooden railings and a chandelier are visible. Light streams through the windows.
Gorgeous interior of De Nieuwe KerkRicoh GR IV
A hand holds a wine glass with a glowing light behind it. A portrait hangs in the background, partially visible through a gate. Dark, shallow depth of field.
I enjoyed it there, tooRicoh GR IV

The Stories That Matter

If you are in Amsterdam before autumn, the exhibition is worth the time. I was lucky to see it on the eve of opening. You can see it properly until the end of September. World Press Photo also organizes a special event called “The Stories That Matter” with winner photographers coming from 26 countries across the globe, from South Africa to Sweden, Brazil to Hong Kong, and Nepal to Canada, as they speak about their work presented in the exhibition, and engage in open conversation with the audience.

Figures stand before an ornate gate overlooking Dam square with buildings and people. A large tower rises in the background. The scene is in black and white.
The view at the Dam Square in AmsterdamRicoh GR IV

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Den Talalá is a photo­grapher captu­ring the beauty of everyday life through the genres of archi­tecture, street, travel, landscape, and wildlife.

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