Thames Lens 2026 Winners

This year’s Thames Lens competition, run by the Thames Festival Trust, introduced a brand‑new video category, proudly sponsored by Illuminated River. The 2026 competition features two prize groups: one open to the public and another exclusively for third‑year photography students at Ravensbourne University London.

General Public Category:

• Winner: London Bridge by Tobias Neto
• Runner‑up: Perpetual Living Motion by Sheila Cohring

Ravensbourne University London – Student Moving Image Category:

• Winner: The Swimming Light by Avery Anderson Lynch
• Runner‑up: My First Night in London by Hazel Whitehouse

Together, these winning films offer fresh and imaginative perspectives on the Thames and Illuminated River artwork - ranging from colour filled kaleidoscopes and playful light trails to dynamic portrayals of everyday city life viewed from unexpected angles.

Watch the short films below

You can see all the Thames Lens 2026 winners on the Thames Festival Trust website here

Thames Lens is sponsored by the Port of London Authority.