Photoredox catalysis has been developed as a sustainable and eco-friendly catalytic strategy, which might provide innovative solutions to solve the current synthetic challenges and barriers in carbohydrate chemistry. During the last few decades, the study of organic photocatalyst-promoted carbohydrate synthesis and modification has received significant attention, which provides an excellent and inexpensive metal-free alternative to photoredox catalysis as well as introduces a new fastest-growing era to access complex carbohydrates simply. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of organic photocatalyst-promoted carbohydrate synthesis and modification under light irradiation, which is expected to provide new directions for further investigation.