Photography has never been just about taking a good picture. It is about recognising a moment, finding beauty in the ordinary and preserving stories that might otherwise disappear. As smartphone cameras continue to reshape how people document their lives, Huawei is celebrating a decade of creators who have turned everyday moments into powerful visual experiences.

On 11 November 2026, the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Grand Palais in Paris, where the A Heartwarming World exhibition officially opened in collaboration with Paris Photo. The ceremony brought together more than 150 photographers, imaging experts and media professionals from around the world, while also announcing the competition’s 2026 winners.

But beyond the technology and international recognition, the exhibition raises an interesting question: what makes an image worth remembering?

A decade of seeing the world differently

The A Heartwarming World exhibition marks ten years of Huawei’s involvement in the global photography community. Rather than focusing exclusively on camera specifications and technical achievements, the exhibition places human experiences at the centre of the conversation.

Visitors are taken through three themed spaces: Seeing Nature, Seeing the Works and Seeing Each Other. Each explores the connections between people, nature and the world around them, encouraging audiences to look beyond the image and consider the emotions and experiences behind it.

A special anniversary section also traces Huawei’s imaging journey, bringing together memorable photographs, camera components and stories documenting the relationship between technological innovation and creative expression.

The evolution from NEXT-IMAGE to XMAGE represents another chapter in this journey, reflecting Huawei’s continued investment in mobile imaging and its ambition to support a global community of visual storytellers.

820,000 entries, three extraordinary perspectives

The scale of this year’s competition demonstrates just how much mobile photography has grown as a creative platform.

With 820,000 submissions, the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards 2026 selected 100 outstanding photographs through its XMAGE 100 process. The shortlisted works explored three creative categories: Order and Precision, Time and Reflection, and Aesthetics and Resonance.

Three photographers ultimately received the competition’s Grand Prize recognition: Ali Abdul Hamid Alarbash, Mai Shunxi and Wan Ben.

Their winning photographs demonstrate how dramatically different stories can emerge through a single frame.

Alarbash’s Light & Shadow Across France, captured using a HUAWEI P60 Pro, explores the character of Paris through everyday encounters, street scenes and naturally occurring light.

Mai Shunxi’s A Fleeting Encounter takes a more introspective approach, examining the brief connections between strangers in busy urban environments. Its central message feels particularly relevant in modern cities, where thousands of people can share the same streets without ever truly connecting.

Meanwhile, Wan Ben‘s winning work contrasts ancient stone carvings with the fleeting vapour trail of an aircraft. The image creates a visual conversation between heritage and modern development, reminding viewers that the past and present constantly exist alongside one another.

Why mobile photography matters to the next generation

For young creatives, especially in South Africa, smartphone photography has opened doors that were once difficult to access.

You no longer need an expensive professional camera setup to begin documenting your surroundings, building a portfolio or developing a distinctive visual identity. A smartphone can become the starting point for exploring photography, street culture, fashion, documentary storytelling and even commercial creative opportunities.

From township street scenes and township fashion to city skylines, local music movements and everyday community life, South Africa has countless stories waiting to be captured through fresh perspectives.

Huawei’s 10th anniversary exhibition reinforces an important idea: technology provides the tools, but the photographer provides the vision.

The future is about more than megapixels

As the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards enters its next chapter, its greatest contribution may be the attention it brings to the people behind the photographs.

The addition of the 10th Anniversary Honorary Award also recognises long-standing Huawei users who have contributed to the platform’s growth, creating further opportunities for photographers to share their work internationally.

Ultimately, A Heartwarming World is a reminder that the most meaningful photographs are not necessarily the most technically complicated. They are the ones that make us pause, recognise something familiar or see the world from another person’s perspective.

A decade of XMAGE celebrates exactly that: the power of an image to connect people, preserve memories and tell stories that deserve to be seen.