Photo London 2026 Student Award Winner Announced
The Photo London 2026 Student Award has been awarded to Akanksya Dahal from Ravensbourne University London. She was selected from a shortlist of four artists nominated by tutors at UK universities. The other nominees were Anna Bradshaw of Birmingham City University, Bo Fan of London College of Communication, and Madison Hafner of Falmouth University.
The judging panel included Fiona Shields, head of photography at the Guardian; Lisa Springer, curator of photography at the V&A; photographer Mimi Mollica; and Kimberly Hoang, picture editor at the British Red Cross. Photo London takes place at Olympia until 17 May.
Winning Artist: Akanksya Dahal
Dahal's series, titled A Moment Left Unsaid: Stillness Amidst the Crowd, captures moments of quiet reflection in bustling environments. Her work explores the contrast between inner peace and external chaos, using photography to highlight fleeting instances of stillness.
Other Nominees
Anna Bradshaw presented I Don’t Know Where You Start and I End, a series examining twinhood and the negotiation between individuality and unity. The project reflects on the evolution of twin identities, complicated by epilepsy and medical uncertainty, using photography and concealment as art therapy.
Bo Fan showcased Wandering in the Desire Room, addressing his experience growing up queer in East Asia. The work reconstructs adolescent scenes to bring overlooked memories to light, transforming vulnerability into resistance through self-portraiture.
Madison Hafner created Domestic Fictions, playfully exploring the space between the tangible and fictional. Using handmade paper props and intentionally imperfect sets, she reinterprets everyday life from an altered perspective, disrupting scale and dimensional space.
The exhibition at Olympia runs until 17 May, featuring works from all nominees alongside other Photo London showcases.
