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The World Press Photo Exhibition at the Scottish Parliament

Showcasing the stories that matter with photography from the 69th annual World Press Photo Contest

Monday, 19 October - Saturday, 7 November

About the exhibition

The World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 is coming to the Scottish Parliament as part of it's world tour.

Prominent themes in this year's exhibition include: the global overstep of power, the climate crisis, and conflict, but also resistance, rebuilding, recovery, and resilience.

There's no need to book – the exhibition will be free to view in the Main Hall during opening hours.

 


About World Press Photo

Since 1955, the annual World Press Photo Contest has been recognizing and honouring the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year.

The 2026 World Press Photo Contest works with six worldwide regions – Africa; Asia-Pacific and Oceania; Europe; North and Central America; South America; West, Central, and South Asia.

The awarded photographs were selected from 57,376 entries received from 3,747 photographers from 141 countries.

The Scottish Parliament has been one of the only UK venues to host this global exhibition since 2006.

 

More information

Plan your visit

This free public exhibition will be located outside the main entrance of the Scottish Parliament Building and therefore you can visit it any time.

For opening times of the building, parking information and more, go to our plan your visit page.

Don't forget to stop at our shop and café during your visit!

Accessibility

The exhibition is held in front of the building, which has level access throughout.

More about accessibility

Visitor behaviour policy

Please remember that this is a working parliamentary building and, as such, you are expected to behave as set out in this policy. We reserve the right to remove visitors who breach this policy and apply a period of exclusion from our public galleries and parliamentary business.

For all visits, please:

  • follow all instructions from parliament staff, including any requests to bring ID with you
  • do not leave your bags and personal belongings unattended
  • do not smoke in the building
  • do not eat or drink, except in the restaurants
  • if given one, wear your visitor lanyard and pass at all times. Return it when asked or when leaving
  • collect any items retained by security as you leave
  • note that protests are not allowed inside the building. Banners, flags and political slogans are forbidden

The Parliament’s Standing Orders cover public access to parliamentary business. They allow the Presiding Officer to set reasonable conditions, and exclusions if these are not met.

For visits to see parliamentary business, please:

  • enter, sit in and leave the galleries quietly and as requested by parliamentary staff
  • switch all electronic devices off, and secure them as instructed by parliamentary staff
  • do not cause a distraction or disruption to parliamentary business. If there is a disruption in the Chamber, the Presiding Officer can ask visitors to leave
  • note that people who wilfully disrupt may face a period of exclusion from future visits
  • do not applaud or shout out during meetings
  • do not take photos, videos or recordings during meetings
  • obtain prior permission to paint, sketch or draw
  • follow the instructions of parliamentary staff on when and where to sit and to leave. For First Minister’s Questions, this includes remaining seated for the entire session. If you need to leave before the session ends, please speak to the nearest member of Parliament staff

Days and times

19 October - 7 November

Monday, Friday and Saturday: 10.00 - 17.00

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9.00 - 18.30

Price

Free

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