On 11 November 2026, “A Heartwarming World”, an exhibition by Huawei XMAGE and Paris Photo, opened at the Grand Palais in Paris. More than 150 photographers, imaging experts and media professionals from around the world attended the event, where the winners of the 2026 Huawei XMAGE Awards were announced, according to the awards’ organising committee.
Founded in 1997, Paris Photo is one of the world’s most influential photography art events, attracting more than 100 000 professionals and enthusiasts each year, according to Paris Photo. For the 2026 edition, Paris Photo renewed its partnership with Huawei XMAGE, bringing together photography, technology and storytelling.
Alex Huang He chief marketing officer of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said: “Over the past decade, we have grown alongside global creators, building an open, diverse and heartwarming global community where people and stories connect through images.”
The “A Heartwarming World” exhibition celebrates 10 years of the Huawei XMAGE Awards and Huawei’s growing involvement in the global photography community. Following the success of the “A Heartwarming World” global tour, the exhibition builds on last year’s theme, “The World, You and Me”, exploring the connection between people, nature and the world around us.
A decade after its initial conception, Huawei’s imaging brand has undergone a refresh this year, evolving from Next-Image to XMAGE.
The exhibition features three themed zones – Seeing Nature, Seeing the Works and Seeing Each Other – as well as a special zone dedicated to Huawei XMAGE’s journey over the past decade. Through photography and visual storytelling, these zones explore the theme of “lives entwined, all things connected”, highlighting the human stories and emotional connections behind the images. The exhibition invites visitors to look beyond the photographs and consider the stories and experiences they capture. The event is part of Huawei’s effort to become a significant organiser, promoter and connector in the global photography ecosystem.
A decade after its initial conception, Huawei’s imaging brand has undergone a refresh this year, evolving from Next-Image to XMAGE. This reflects Huawei’s continued focus on imaging technology and the role photography plays in capturing human experiences. The special exhibition area takes visitors on a journey through time, combining photographs, camera components and accompanying text to showcase some of the most memorable works and camera modules from the past decade. Visitors can see a decade of shared growth between users and technology, and the people and stories behind imaging innovation.
Visual stories of underlying warmth
As the competition celebrates its 10th anniversary, a special award has been added to honour long-term users who have supported Huawei and to give more creators an opportunity to show their work to a global audience. It is called the Huawei XMAGE Awards 2026 10th Anniversary Honorary Award.
This year’s XMAGE Awards continue the “XMAGE 100” selection process. The shortlisted works fall into three categories: “Order and Precision” (technology), “Time and Reflection” (thought) and “Aesthetics and Resonance” (art). A professional judging panel selected 100 outstanding works from 820 000 entries, according to the organising committee, and then chose three Grand Prize winners: Ali Abdul Alarbash, Mai Shunxi and Wan Ben.
Grand Prize winner: Light & Shadow Across France, Ali Abdul Hamid Alarbash
Judges’ comment: The child is surrounded by bubbles in what looks like a street carnival in Paris. It is captured almost like a street snapshot. It is a surprising and beautifully composed daily-life photograph that is almost too random to be true. The series captures a bewildered pedestrian walking past a wall poster, a young couple enjoying a sunset, a group of men running at dawn, people sitting on a bench by the Seine and others gazing out of a window. Together, the photos form a portrait of Paris that uses the existing light to startling effect. The photographer uses a Huawei P60 Pro to create an effect and tell a story, demonstrating masterful photographic skills.
Grand Prize winner: A Fleeting Encounter, Mai Shunxi
Overview: City dwellers are often little more than passers-by to one another, crossing paths amid the rush of everyday life. A blurred figure seen from behind represents a restless, ever-changing world, while a steady gaze reflects a youthful spirit untouched by convention. Amid the countless fleeting encounters of a bustling crowd, we hold fast to our true selves.
Judges’ comment: The girl’s gaze causes a gentle flutter in one’s heart. One cannot help but wonder: what is she looking at, and what is she thinking? In a lifetime, how many people do we truly encounter?
- Passers-by, strangers’ faces caught in a passing glance: perhaps tens of millions
- Brief acquaintances, people we share a quick word with: around 4 000 to 8 000
- Those whose names we know: 1 000 to 3 000
- A steady social circle: about 150
- Close friends: around 15
- Deep confidants: merely five or so
This fleeting moment of connection forms a precious bond in the vast ocean of people.
Grand Prize winner: Gaze Across Time and Space, Wan Ben
Overview: Ancient stone statues stand silently on the plateau, gazing at the white trails left by planes in the sky. Against the black-and-white tones, the weight of history and the fleeting traces of modernity complete a gaze across time and space.
Judges’ comment: The highland carved stones and the aeroplane’s vapour trail create a striking visual contrast: one eternal, the other fleeting. The ancient stone carvings represent the slow accumulation of civilisation, while the vapour trail symbolises the rapid pace of modern development. As ancient heritage and modern civilisation intersect more frequently, whether mobile photography can unlock a grand, poetic power ultimately comes down to the photographer’s vision.
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