Wildlife photography has the power to make you halt during your scrolling. You might one moment be simply browsing your screen, and the next you’re up close with a wild animal that most of us would never get to see. That is what makes the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 finalists so special.
The Natural History Museum has given a preview of the remarkable photographs competing for this year’s distinguished Grand Title. Out of over 65,000 entries, 100 photographs were selected to make it to the final stage, and 16 exceptional finalists have attracted a great deal of attention.
These are not simply attractive images; each picture has its own story, the subject matter covering areas such as survival, behaviour, beauty, or the delicate relationship between wildlife and its surroundings. The entries were evaluated anonymously by an international panel of judges on the criteria of creativity, originality, technical excellence, and storytelling ability.
Beginning on October 16, 2026, the entire collection will be on display at the Natural History Museum in London, allowing visitors the opportunity to see these stunning images up close.
The winners of the category, those who have won the Grand Title and the Young Grand Title, will be announced on October 13, 2026. In the meantime, these finalists provide a truly astonishing view of nature at its most wild, unexpected, and unforgettable.
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#1. Photo by Jens Cullmann
An African babul butterfly gets out of the way of an attack from an African bullfrog just in time. Shot in Botswana. Highly Commended, Behavior: Amphibians and Reptiles. | Photo by Jens Cullmann / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#2. Photo by Jack Crockford
A low-flying swift mirrors an incoming plane to Heathrow Airport. Highly Commended in the 15-17 Years category. | Photo by Jack Crockford / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#3. Photo by Dewald Tromp
A chameleon battles a sandstorm in the Namib Desert. Highly Commended, Animals in their Environment. | Photo by Dewald Tromp / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#4. Photo by Shane Gross
A school of bigeye trevally in the Seychelles. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture. | Photo by Shane Gross / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#5. Photo by Ralph Pace
A sea hare glides through an eelgrass meadow in Monterey Bay. Highly Commended, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture. | Photo by Ralph Pace / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#6. Pietro Rojas
A muzzled brown bear rides a motorcycle at a circus in Doha. Highly Commended, Photojournalism. | Photo by Pietro Rojas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#7. Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen
An adult orca carries a deceased calf off the coast of Norway. Highly Commended, Behavior: Mammals. | Photo by Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#8. Photo by Gil Wizen
A 15 millimeter (0.6 inches) lichen dragon katydid in the Andes Mountains, Ecuador. Highly Commended, Behavior: Invertebrates. | Photo by Gil Wizen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#9. Photo by Ernest Porter
An oxpecker cleans its bill against a rhino’s skin in the soft afternoon light in South Africa. Highly Commended, Behavior: Birds. | Photo by Ernest Porter / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#10. Photo by Loren Elliott
A black bear stops for a dip in a southern California pool. Highly Commended, Urban Wildlife. | Photo by Loren Elliott / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#11. Photo by Andrew Parkinson
A black vulture stands on the carcass of a yacare caiman in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. | Photo by Andrew Parkinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#12. Photo by Bence Mate
A flock of birds descend to quench their thirst at a small pond in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Highly Commended, Behavior: Birds. | Photo by Bence Mate / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#13. Photo by Andrea and Maceo Grammatico
A mosquito drinks a venemous viper’s blood. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. | Photo by Andrea and Maceo Grammatico / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#14. Photo by Allegra Hutton
A young leopard chases a squirrel up a tree in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Highly Commended, Behavior: Mammals. | Photo by Allegra Hutton / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#15. Photo by Sora Miyazara
An Eastern Japanese toad wanders through the streets of Tokyo shortly after rainfall. Highly Commended in the 11-14 Years category. | Photo by Sora Miyazara / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
#16. Photo by Audun Rikardsen
This might be the view a seal gets as it comes up from underwater to breathe: a polar bear, looking down for its prey. Photo by Audun Rikardsen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the number of finalists who will be included in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026?
The 2026 competition has given a sneak preview of the 15 finalists, and this article features 16 amazing images of the finalists. In total, 100 images have been chosen for the final stage from more than 65,000 submissions received worldwide.
What is the date on which the winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 will be announced?
The winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition, together with the Grand Title winner and the Young Grand Title winner, will be announced on October 13, 2026, in a special ceremony held at the Natural History Museum in London.
In what places will the photographs from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 be on display?
The images chosen as Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 will be on display at the Natural History Museum in London, with the exhibition opening to the public on Friday, 16th October 2026, and will highlight the outstanding final selection.
What was the number of entries submitted to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026?
Over 65,000 photographs were entered in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition and were judged by an international panel of experts who evaluated them anonymously according to creativity, originality, technical excellence, and the stories conveyed in each photograph.
Who is responsible for judging the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition?
Entries for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year are assessed by a panel of experts from around the world, experts in wildlife photography, filmmaking, science, and conservation, without the names of the photographers being known. The panel assesses the photographs for creativity, originality, technical excellence, and the effectiveness of their storytelling.
