Citlali Fabián Wins Sony World Photography Award 2026

Citlali Fabián, a visual artist from Mexico's Yalalteca Indigenous community, has been named Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026, organizers announced Thursday following a gala ceremony in London. Her winning series, "Bilha, Stories of my Sisters," captures Indigenous activists and artists in southern Mexico, earning praise for its exploration of identity, territory, migration, and community ties.

Fabián's project blends photographic portraits with digital illustrations, incorporating symbols and motifs that reflect the women's personal stories and cultural heritage. It focuses on influential figures from Oaxaca's Indigenous communities whose work spans law, linguistics, arts, and ecology. The series aims to inspire young girls by providing positive role models and was developed through close collaboration with the subjects, ensuring their active role in narrating their experiences.

"Through her work, Citlali Fabián reflects on urgent questions of visibility and representation," said Monica Allende, chair of the 2026 professional jury. "In many Indigenous cultures, stories are told collectively, shaped by conversation and lived experience rather...