Nature tells stories that words alone can’t capture. Sometimes, it’s a tiny fungus glowing in the darkness; other times, it’s a wild animal caught in a fleeting moment or a landscape that leaves us completely speechless. The winning images of the GDT European Wildlife Photography Awards 2026 bring these extraordinary moments to life.
Organized by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT), this year’s competition attracted a record-breaking 26,000 submissions from 1,239 photographers. And the biggest surprise? Hungary’s Imre Potyó claimed the overall title with Hidden Worlds, an image from the Plants and Fungi category. It’s the first time in the competition’s 26-year history that this category has won the top honor.
Beyond the winning shot, the competition celebrates life’s incredible diversity, from fascinating creatures to overlooked plants and breathtaking natural landscapes. With winners and runners-up across nine major categories, including two dedicated to young photographers, these photographs remind us that nature’s most compelling stories are often hiding in plain sight.
More than beautiful pictures, these images celebrate patience, creativity, and respect for the natural world. Get ready to explore 34 remarkable photographs that reveal just how wild, surprising, and wonderfully unpredictable our planet can be.
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#1. Overall Winner: Hidden worlds by Imre Potyó (HU)
© Imre Potyó
"I have been photographing hibernating bats for 13 years in restricted-access mine tunnels in the Börzsöny Mountains of Hungary, and yet this particular composition was novel for me. A key characteristic of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) is that, during hibernating it occasionally wakes and leaves its roost to hunt flying insects. In doing so, the bat leaves behind droppings that gradually accumulate into a continuous dark layer."
Birds:
The frequently fascinating reproduction of birds, the dynamics of bird migration, their often dramatic fight for food, bizarre shapes and magnificent colours as well as their elegance on the wing: all this is what the photos in this category are meant to express.
#2. Winner: Secret paths by Jan Wieczorek (PL)
© Jan Wieczorek
#3. Runner up: National bird by Jonas Janss Haugli (NO)
© Jonas Janss Haugli
#4. Honorable Mention: Amazonian refreshment by Thomas Kuhn (DE)
© Thomas Kuhn
Mammals:
From European hamsters to elephants, from blue whales to bats: the world of mammals is colourful and varied. This category calls for photos that express the animals‘ character and individuality, that tell us about their behaviour or show them in their natural habitat.
#5. Winner: The cat and a thousand lanterns by Lorenzo Shoubridge (IT)
© Lorenzo Shoubridge
#6. Runner up: Into the hole by Imre Potyó (HU)
© Imre Potyó
#7. Honorable Mention: A seal’s worst nightmare by Audun Rikardsen (NO)
© Audun Rikardsen
Other Animals:
The appearance and habits of reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders and invertebrates are often quite spectacular. Here, photos are called for that draw attention to the character and beauty of these animals.
#8. Winner: Spider universe by Christian Morawitz (DE)
© Christian Morawitz
#9. Runner up: In the moonlight by Imre Potyó (HU)
© Imre Potyó
#10. Honorable Mention: Microcosm by Agorastos Papatsanis (GR)
© Agorastos Papatsanis
Plants and Fungi:
This category aims to highlight the beauty and aesthetics of plants and fungi as well as their way of adapting to different habitats. This category looks for photos that, for example, play with light and the means of modern composition.
#11. Winner: Forest at the edge by Fortunato Gatto (GB)
© Fortunato Gatto
#12. Runner up: Lined up by Daniel Böttcher (DE)
© Daniel Böttcher
#13. Honorable Mention: Order within chaos by Olaf Karwisch (DE)
© Olaf Karwisch
Landscapes:
The topics in this category range from the cultural landscape at our doorstep to remote regions all over the world, from more detailed sights to overviews of habitats, from weather phenomena to the formative power of wind and water.
#14. Winner: Midnight by Antje Kreienbrink (DE)
© Antje Kreienbrink
#15. Runner up: Umbra by Orsolya Haarberg (NO)
© Orsolya Haarberg
#16. Honorable Mention: River of fire by Lukas Schaefer (IT)
© Lukas Schaefer
Underwater World:
The blue planet: 71% of its surface is covered by water. Oceans, rivers and lakes accommodate an infinite abundance of life. This category gives us an insight into a hidden world with its animals, plants and habitats both in fresh and salt water.
#17. Winner: Human-made catastrophe by Angel Fitor (ES)
© Angel Fitor
#18. Runner up: Turbulent feeding patch by Henley Spiers (GB)
© Henley Spiers
#19. Honorable Mention: At the heart of the wave by Guenard Bruno (FR)
© Guenard Bruno
Man and Nature:
Humans interfere with nature in many ways. Photos that illustrate these interferences are the subject matter of this category: photographs which are thought-provoking, astonishing or simply make you smile quietly to yourself.
#20. Winner: Evolution by Petr Bambousek (CZ)
© Petr Bambousek
#21. Runner up: Helping hands by Lukas Schaefer (IT)
© Lukas Schaefer
#22. Honorable Mention: Deceptive mercy by Aubry Schaefer (FR)
© Aubry Schaefer
Nature´s Studio:
This category covers photos that deal with colours and shapes beyond mere representation. Here, photographers can express their individual point of view, aesthetic considerations and their love of photographic experimentation.
#23. Winner: Between the mountains by Hermann Hirsch und Jan Leßmann (DE)
© Hermann Hirsch und Jan Leßmann
#24. Runner up: Sea of broken glass by Florian Lottersberger (AT)
© Florian Lottersberger
#25. Honorable Mention: Modern art in nature by Henrik Schultz (FI)
© Henrik Schultz
Young Photographers to 14 Years:
This category invites young photographers in two age groups (up to 14 years old and 15 to 17 years old) to enter their five best photographs, irrespective of the themes of the categories (they do NOT need to comply with the given categories).
#26. Winter gold by Marla Schwarze (DE)
© Marla Schwarze
#27. The fragility of life by Grzegorz Stachera (PL)
© Grzegorz Stachera
Young Photographers 15 to 17 Years:
#28. Swan lake by Szymon Bartołd (PL)
© Szymon Bartołd
#29. First light by Lubin Godin (FR)
© Lubin Godin
Fritz Pölking Prize and Fritz Pölking Junior Prize:
The Fritz Pölking Prize is a special award of the competition European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, awarded by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) and Tecklenborg publishing house since 2007 in memory of the late Fritz Pölking. It is given away annually to honour exceptional work in the field of wildlife photography.
#30. Tales of the forest keepers by Michiel van Noppen (NL)
© Michiel van Noppen
#31. The magic of the Nordic wilderness by Tobias Gjerde (NO)
© Tobias Gjerde
Rewilding Europe Award:
This award was offered by the GDT in cooperation with Rewilding Europe to honor outstanding achievements in photography with a focus on rewilding. The aim here is to give nature time and space to restore itself in regions that have been affected by human activity.
#32. Winner: Urban beavers by Jan Wieczorek (PL)
© Jan Wieczorek
#33. Runner Up: Managed revival by Christoph Kaula (DE)
© Christoph Kaula
#34. Peaceful European bison by Fabian Thorand (DE)
© Fabian Thorand
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026?
The GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 is an international nature photography competition organized by the German Society for Nature Photography. It recognizes outstanding images of wildlife, plants, fungi, and landscapes captured by talented photographers.
Who won the overall title in 2026?
Hungarian photographer Imre Potyó won the overall title at the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 with his image Hidden Worlds. His photograph, entered in the Plants and Fungi category, made competition history.
How many photographs were submitted to the 2026 competition?
The 2026 competition received more than 26,000 submissions from 1,239 photographers. These entries show the contest’s growing reputation among nature photographers and highlight the extraordinary variety of stories wildlife and environmental photography can tell.
What subjects are featured in the GDT photography awards?
The competition showcases photographs of animals, plants, fungi, and natural landscapes. These images capture remarkable wildlife encounters, overlooked details, and powerful environmental stories, celebrating nature’s beauty and complexity while encouraging photographers to respect habitats and follow responsible photography practices.
What makes the 2026 GDT competition special?
The 2026 competition is especially notable because Imre Potyó’s Hidden Worlds marks the first overall victory for an image from the Plants and Fungi category in the contest’s 26-year history. The record number of submissions also highlights its international appeal.
