Oaxaca Photographer Wins Top Sony Award for Indigenous Women

A photographer from a small Zapotec community in Oaxaca's mountains just won the world's most prestigious photography prize for images that honor the women who inspire her.

Citlali Fabián, 37, took home Sony's 2026 Photographer of the Year award for "Bilha, Stories of My Sisters." The series blends vivid portraits with digital illustrations to showcase eight Indigenous women who are changing their communities through activism, art, linguistics, and environmental work.

One portrait features Yasnaya Elena Aguilar, an Ayuujk linguist fighting to preserve Indigenous languages. Each woman in the series represents a different way that Indigenous people are leading progress across Mexico.

Fabián grew up in Villa Hidalgo Yalálag in Oaxaca's Sierra Norte, where her father owned a camera shop. Photography surrounded her from childhood, sparking a passion that eventually took her to art school in Veracruz and graduate studies at UNAM in Mexico City. She now lives in London but keeps her roots central to her work.

The Sony World Photography Awards drew over 430,000 entries from more than 200 countries this year. The judges selected Fabián's work from that massive pool, recognizing both its artistic excellence and cultural significance.

Why This Inspires

Fabián's win does more than celebrate beautiful images. Her project actively redefines who gets seen as a role model, placing Indigenous women at the center of stories about leadership and innovation.

The $25,000 prize and solo exhibition give her resources to expand the project into a children's book. That means young readers across Mexico and beyond will grow up seeing Indigenous women as scientists, artists, and changemakers.

She joins an impressive group of Mexican photographers earning global recognition. Graciela Iturbide won Spain's Princess of Asturias Arts Award last year, while Alejandro Prieto has collected over 50 awards for wildlife photography.

Another Mexican photographer, Pablo Ramos, took second place in the creative category for work honoring Mexico's missing people. The strong showing proves Mexican visual artists are telling stories the world needs to see.

Fabián said the recognition means her subjects' voices will reach further. "They are truly inspiring and a force of hope for their communities and beyond," she shared after winning.

The award exhibition runs through May 4 at Somerset House in London, where visitors can see all the winning images in person.