Johannesburg is preparing to welcome one of the world’s most celebrated photography exhibitions as the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography presents Decisive Moment: Sony World Photography Awards, bringing internationally acclaimed images from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 competitions to South African audiences for the very first time.
Running from 15 August 2026 until 22 January 2027 at the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography in Forest Town, the landmark exhibition offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to experience photography that has captured global attention while highlighting the power of visual storytelling across continents, cultures and communities.
A Global Celebration of Photography Arrives in South Africa
Presented in collaboration with Creo and the World Photography Organisation, Decisive Moment marks the first South African presentation of the internationally recognised Sony World Photography Awards.
Now celebrating their 20th edition, the Awards have become one of the world’s leading platforms for recognising outstanding photographic talent. The 2026 competition alone attracted more than 430,000 image submissions from over 200 countries and territories, demonstrating the remarkable international reach and influence of the programme.
The exhibition brings together an impressive collection of award-winning photographs spanning multiple genres, including:
- Documentary photography
- Portraiture
- Wildlife photography
- Sport
- Landscape photography
- Creative photography
Together, the selected works showcase the extraordinary diversity of contemporary photography while revealing how a single image can document history, provoke conversation, celebrate humanity and inspire curiosity.
Photography That Connects People Across Borders
Each photograph featured in Decisive Moment offers its own unique perspective, transporting visitors through different environments, cultures and lived experiences.
Whether capturing intimate human stories, breathtaking natural landscapes or defining global moments, the exhibition demonstrates photography’s enduring ability to preserve emotion, challenge perspectives and connect people across geographical boundaries.
Roger Ballen, Founder of the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography, says bringing the internationally celebrated exhibition to Johannesburg is a significant moment.
“To bring these images to Johannesburg is a real privilege. The exhibition gathers perspectives, stories, environments, cultures and artistic approaches from across the globe, and presents them in a city that is itself defined by complexity and diversity. We believe this exhibition will offer something meaningful to every visitor, while celebrating the extraordinary work of the Sony World Photography Awards.”
New Eyes Spotlights South Africa’s Emerging Photographers
Running alongside Decisive Moment is New Eyes: The Roger Ballen Centre Photography Award, a new exhibition dedicated to nurturing the next generation of South African photographers.
Created to provide emerging local artists with an important institutional platform, the inaugural exhibition showcases the work of:
- Karabo Mooki
- D.M. Terblanche
- Zwelibanzi Zwane
The photographers were nominated by an esteemed panel comprising Emilie Demon, Michelle Loukidis and Jabulani Dhlamini, whose combined expertise spans photography, education and curatorship.
By presenting both exhibitions together, the Centre creates a powerful dialogue between internationally recognised photographic excellence and the emerging voices shaping the future of South African visual storytelling.
More Than an Exhibition
Visitors can expect far more than gallery walls.
A comprehensive programme of public and educational activities will accompany both exhibitions throughout their six-month run.
The programme includes:
- Guided walkabouts
- Photography talks
- Workshops
- Masterclasses
- Educational engagements
- Public activations
Designed to deepen visual literacy and encourage meaningful engagement with photography, these initiatives aim to inspire students, aspiring photographers and visitors to explore the many ways images shape our understanding of society and the world around us.
Programme updates will be shared regularly through the Roger Ballen Centre’s website and social media platforms.
A Home for Photography on the African Continent
Located in Forest Town, Johannesburg, the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography is one of the few institutions in Africa dedicated exclusively to photography.
Operating under the Inside Out Foundation, the Centre supports exhibitions, research, education, creative exchange and public programming while showcasing leading African and international photographers.
Through its work, the Centre continues to strengthen South Africa’s role within the global photography community while creating opportunities for local artists to engage with international audiences.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition: Decisive Moment: Sony World Photography Awards
Concurrent Exhibition: New Eyes: The Roger Ballen Centre Photography Award
Dates: 15 August 2026 – 22 January 2027
Venue: Roger Ballen Centre for Photography
Address: 2 Duncombe Road, Forest Town, Johannesburg
Admission: R50
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 – 16:00
- Saturday: 10:00 – 12:00
With internationally acclaimed photography, emerging South African talent and an extensive programme of public events, Decisive Moment promises to be one of Johannesburg’s most significant photography exhibitions of the year, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the power of visual storytelling from around the world while discovering the future voices of South African photography.
