The iPhone Photography Awards have been around since 2007, which is why the competition has now entered its twentieth calendar year. After Apple’s own “Shot on iPhone” campaign, the “IPPAWARDS” is also a highly noticed campaign. In order to put into perspective how much the iPhone camera has developed since the first generation, we are including the two winning images from the year it was founded: 
Of course, the competitions are primarily about ideas, compositions and presentation, which is why even older iPhone cameras with fewer technical options can fight for the top spots. The winners for 2026 have now been determined.
The winners of the 2026 awards
Robyn Jensen from the Cayman Islands wins the Grand Prix Photographer of the Year award with a nature shot of a volcanic eruption captured on the iPhone 15 Pro. Gold goes to Gellért Gombai from Hungary for a black and white photo of two children taken with an iPhone X. Silver goes to Arnold Plotnick, bronze goes to Catherine Wang, both from the USA. You can view the complete gallery on the photo event website – unfortunately, further use through direct integration into this message is prohibited.
What is remarkable about the results is that the current iPhones are no longer winning – the quality of the cameras has reached a level in recent years where the photographer is increasingly playing the main role again. Things were different in the first editions of the IPPAWARDS, because back then it was difficult to be on the winner’s podium with a slightly older iPhone generation. The technical limitations were so pronounced that some subjects could hardly be reproduced in difficult lighting conditions.
2027: Submissions already possible
Anyone who would like to take part in the 2027 competition can now submit photos. The rules have not changed, Photoshop editing remains prohibited. Entry fees start at $9.50 for a single photo, and the organizer charges $150.50 for an entire collection of 50 images.
