VG Photographer Wins Prestigious Picture of the Year Award for Syria Coverage

Oslo, Norway – March 13, 2026 – Photographer Kyrre Lien of Norwegian media outlet VG has been awarded Picture of the Year for his poignant series documenting life in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. The winning photograph, and the series it belongs to, captures the resilience and hope emerging from the devastation of the Syrian civil war.

The Winning Image: A Glimpse of Hope Amidst Ruins

The winning photograph depicts Samir Jalbota, 54, attempting to receive a television signal from the roof of his damaged home in the Al-Yarmouk district outside Damascus. The image resonated with the jury for its depiction of the struggle to rebuild life and maintain a sense of normalcy in a war-torn country. According to the jury, the photograph embodies “the fight to get life back, the necessity to hold on to some reality, some civilization.”

The Damascus Dossier and the Fall of Assad

The collapse of the Assad regime, last ruled by President Bashar al-Assad, occurred on December 8, 2024, prompting the Assad family to flee the country. Lien’s work documents the aftermath, revealing a nation grappling with widespread poverty – with 90 percent of the population living below the poverty line – and the destruction of critical infrastructure, including water and sewage systems, roads, hospitals, and schools. The documentation builds upon investigations like the Damascus Dossier, which exposed the regime’s brutal system of detention, torture, and murder.

A Series of Powerful Images

Lien’s series extends beyond the winning photograph, offering a comprehensive look at the challenges and triumphs of Syrians rebuilding their lives. The images include:

• The devastation of Al-Yarmouk, a district once home to over 100,000 people, now slowly repopulating.
• Imad Aljmmal, a former prisoner of Sednaya prison, bearing the physical scars of his imprisonment and demanding justice.
• Scenes of daily life returning to Damascus, with clothes drying in the ruins and shops slowly reopening.
• Political prisoners who, after years of confinement, are now free but still seeking accountability for past abuses.
• Concerns about the safety of minorities and the potential threat to liberal values under the new leadership.

Other Award Winners

The prestigious Picture of the Year awards, selected by the Pressefotografenes klubb, likewise recognized other compelling work:

• “Dagligliv i Norge” (Daily Life in Norway): Truls Skram Lerø (NRK) for a photograph of a couple at Huk in the Oslofjord.
• “Nyhet Norge” (News Norway): Gisle Oddstad (VG) for coverage of clashes during Norway’s match against Israel.
• “Sport, news”: Henriette Jæger falling at the finish line during the U23 EC.
• “Sport, reportage”: Helge Skodvin (D2) for a series documenting Liverpool’s championship win.
• “Climate and environment”: Kyrre Lien (VG) for documentation of forest fires in Spain.
• “Portrait”: Kyrre Lien (VG) for a portrait of a family in Ukraine.
• “Documentary, Norway”: Matilde Solsvik for a personal project about a small island on the coast of Western Norway.
• “Documentary, Abroad”: Lena Lislevand for documentation of Norwegian robbery culture.
• “Open class”: Espen Rasmussen (VG) for a series documenting the city of Donbas in Ukraine.

Looking Ahead

Kyrre Lien’s work serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring spirit of those striving to rebuild their lives in the wake of devastation. His award-winning photographs offer a vital visual record of a nation in transition and a testament to the power of photojournalism to bear witness to history.