Egyptian photographer Mohamed Mahdy has been announced as one of the winners of the World Press Photo Foundation’s 2026 World Press Photo Contest, a recognition that underscores the growing global visibility of African documentary practices rooted in social impact. His project Moon Dust secured top honors in the Africa region within the Long-Term Projects category, placing him among a highly selective group of 42 winners chosen from thousands of entries worldwide.
This year’s competition saw submissions from 3,747 photographers representing 141 countries, with more than 57,000 images entered—figures that highlight both the scale and rigor of the selection process. The foundation emphasized that the 2026 winners collectively reflect a wide spectrum of storytelling, from major global events to overlooked, deeply local narratives shaped by ongoing crises, including environmental degradation and social inequality.
Central to Mahdy’s win is Moon Dust, a long-term body of work developed over several years in Wadi El-Qamar, a densely populated district in western Alexandria. Known locally as “Moon Valley,” the area sits in close proximity to a cement factory whose emissions have blanketed the neighborhood in hazardous dust for decades. Through intimate and unflinching imagery, Mahdy documents the daily realities of over 30,000 residents living under these conditions, revealing the profound health consequences, from chronic respiratory illnesses to long-term lung damage.
What distinguishes the project is Mahdy’s personal proximity to the story. He is not an outside observer but a member of the community itself, living with asthma and directly affected by the same environmental conditions he photographs. He began the project in 2016 after a local resident approached him about her sister’s deteriorating health due to pollution. From that point, the work expanded beyond documentation into a sustained engagement with the community—incorporating personal testimonies, collaborative storytelling, and a broader inquiry into environmental injustice.
The impact of Moon Dust extends beyond the visual realm. The project has played a role in amplifying awareness, drawing attention from medical and legal stakeholders, and contributing to ongoing conversations around environmental accountability. This intersection of photography and advocacy is emblematic of Mahdy’s wider practice, which consistently focuses on marginalized communities and positions storytelling as a means of both representation and intervention.
Born in 1996 in Alexandria, Mahdy has steadily established himself as a significant voice in contemporary documentary photography. His work frequently engages with themes of displacement, ecological pressure, and identity, approached through a human-centered lens. His 2026 recognition builds on earlier success at the World Press Photo Contest, including his 2023 award for Here, The Doors Don’t Know Me, which examined the displacement of a fishing community in Alexandria.
With this latest achievement, Mahdy is now also in the running for the competition’s highest distinction, the World Press Photo of the Year, set to be announced on April 23 in Amsterdam. As part of the winning selection, Moon Dust will be included in the foundation’s internationally touring exhibition, bringing the story to audiences across major cities worldwide.
At a time when environmental crises and questions of justice are becoming increasingly urgent, Mahdy’s Moon Dust operates as both record and resistance—demonstrating the enduring capacity of photography to confront reality, shape discourse, and inspire meaningful change.
