Get ready for a visual experience that will move your soul, spark your conscience, and make you see the world through an entirely new lens. The World Press Photo Exhibition, the gold standard in global photojournalism, is officially returning to Auckland from Saturday, 26 July – Sunday, 24 August, and trust us, this is one cultural event you don’t want to miss.
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Auckland, the internationally acclaimed exhibition will take over 131 Queen Street, bringing with it the world’s most compelling, courageous and downright unforgettable moments captured through the lens of today’s leading photojournalists and documentarians. We’re talking raw conflict zones, climate battlegrounds, gender stories, and everything in between—all told in striking, award-winning visuals that demand your attention.
Now in its 70th year, the World Press Photo Contest has long been a powerhouse for storytelling—championing truth, compassion, and clarity through the camera lens. With over 59,000 entries from 3,778 photographers across 141 countries, the contest’s reach is as expansive as its themes, which dive deep into the defining issues of our time: from political upheaval to the human impact of climate change, to stories of migration, identity, and survival.
And for 2025, there’s even more reason for Kiwi pride. For the first time ever, a New Zealander was appointed to the judging panel: the incredible Julia Durkin MZNM, Founder and CEO of the Auckland Festival of Photography, who served on the Asia-Pacific & Oceania regional jury. That’s a huge milestone—and a true sign of Aotearoa’s growing influence on the international visual storytelling stage.
But the pride doesn’t stop there. Nelson-based photographer Tatsiana Chypsana is already making waves as the Asia-Pacific & Oceania Long Term Projects winner for her breathtaking and deeply moving series, Te Urewera – The Living Ancestor of Tūhoe People. Her work is a powerful meditation on land, lineage, and the sacred relationship between people and place—and it’s already being hailed as one of this year’s standout stories.
Forget scrolling headlines. This is a chance to pause, reflect, and feel. The World Press Photo Exhibition isn’t just a visual spectacle; it’s a wake-up call, a space for deep thinking, and a celebration of the courage it takes to capture the world as it truly is.
Presented in over 60 cities each year, the exhibition acts as a global conversation—one that is constantly evolving. And with the contest’s now region-based model, the diversity and authenticity of stories has never been stronger. Images are judged based on where they were shot, not who took them, meaning local perspectives are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
This year, a massive 30 out of 42 regional winners are photographers documenting their own communities—bringing a level of depth, empathy and connection that’s simply impossible to fake.
To mark its 70th anniversary, this year’s exhibition will also feature a special retrospective collection—celebrating seven decades of world-shaping photography. From black-and-white classics to cutting-edge digital compositions, this curated display promises to be a time capsule of our collective memory, and a sobering reminder of how far we’ve come—and how far we still need to go.
This years’ exhibition will run until Sunday 24 August, and will be held at 131 Queen Street, Auckland. Tickets and opening times can be viewed at Eventfinda.
Whether you’re an art lover, a news junkie, or just someone who wants to see the truth of the world in its rawest, realest form, the World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 is a must-see event that will challenge your worldview and stay with you long after you leave.
Imagw: Night Crossing – John Moore, Getty Images
