The curtain has fallen on the “vivo the moment” Mobile Photography Awards 2026 in Egypt, closing a 40-day celebration of creativity with a spectacular grand finale at the Cairo Opera House. What began as an open call for authentic local stories evolved into the largest mobile photography competition vivo has ever hosted in the African market – attracting over 2,000 creators and receiving more than 6,000 original submissions.
The response shattered all previous records, reinforcing the power of vivo’s mission to democratize professional photography. From the tranquil Nile at dawn to the bustling streets of Cairo, from ancient temple carvings to the vibrant energy of modern Egyptian life, participants captured the nation’s geographic and cultural diversity through their lenses.
“As a jury member, I am truly inspired by how ‘vivo the moment’ proves great photography stems from authentic vision and emotion rather than gear, turning mobile phones into powerful tools for everyday creative storytelling,” said Mohamed Mahdy, Photography Professor and Filmmaker.
Winners Announced: Celebrating Egypt’s Visual Storytellers
After multiple rounds of evaluation by a local panel of professional judges, nine outstanding winners were selected across four categories – Landscape, Portrait, Street, and Travel. The judging criteria focused on four key dimensions: technical excellence, originality and creativity, emotional impact and storytelling, and cultural relevance.
The Gold Prize was awarded to Ashraf Mohamed for the breathtaking work “[Where Stories Come to Life]”. The judging panel praised this image for its masterful composition and profound emotional resonance: “This portrait captures the quiet, unspoken moments of traditional craftsmen, and moments filled with history, passion, and the soul of handmade art.”
Other winners include:
Silver: “The Domino Piece” by Zakaria Yehia
Silver: “The Welder” by Doaa Adel
Bronze: “Partners in the Pasture” by Mohamed Al Attar
Bronze: “Hands of Old Cairo” by Ayman Bassyouni
Bronze: “A Golden Net” by Mohamed Reyad
Honorable Mention: “Pure Serenity” by Ahmed
Honorable Mention: “Rhythm of the Ether” by Roaa Mahmoud
Honorable Mention: “Where Tiredness Turns into Love” by Ahmed Soliman
“Through‘vivo the moment’ campaign, we’ve witnessed the incredible talent and powerful stories behind every image, and we’re excited to continue empowering the next generation of creators alongside vivo,” said Khaled Taher, CEO of Phlog.
The winning photographers were invited to the closing ceremony at the Cairo Opera House, where they shared the stories behind their lenses – from waiting hours for the perfect light in Luxor Temple to capturing unscripted moments of joy in local markets. These narratives resonated deeply with the audience, proving that professional-grade imagery is no longer a privilege of the few, but a powerful, accessible tool for everyone.
A Vision That Goes Beyond Technology
As the event drew to a close, Alex Zhan, General Manager of vivo Egypt, reflected on a deeper vision: “This competition is not just about records or prizes. It is about people – their joys, their challenges, their everyday moments that together tell the story of Egypt.”
He continued, “This is why vivo continues to deepen our long‑term partnership with ZEISS – a collaboration rooted in the shared belief that optical excellence should serve human expression. Together, we are not only pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging hardware, but also championing what we call the ‘Joy of Humanity’ – a philosophy that places real human emotions and authentic stories at the very heart of our technology. Every image captured in this competition is a testament to that joy: a laugh shared, a quiet morning, a moment of beauty found in the ordinary.”
“I’ve witnessed how vivo’s imaging technology turns every ordinary person into a storyteller—removing barriers, empowering creativity, and letting every voice be heard through the lens,” said Ahmed Hayman, vivo Egypt Photography Ambassador.
The “vivo the moment “Mobile Photography Awards 2026 marks another milestone in vivo’s journey to build bridges between technology and culture. Moving forward, vivo remains committed to empowering local creators in Egypt and beyond.
