World Nature Photography Awards 2026 Celebrate Global Talent with Stunning Imagery
The prestigious World Nature Photography Awards for 2026 have officially announced their winners, showcasing a breathtaking array of images that capture the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Australian photographer Jono Allen has been honoured as the World Nature Photographer of the Year, taking out the top prize for his remarkable photograph titled Mãhina, which features a white humpback calf in the waters of Vava’u, Tonga. This image also earned gold in the Underwater category, highlighting Allen's exceptional skill in marine photography.
Category Winners Span Diverse Ecosystems and Subjects
The awards recognised excellence across multiple categories, with gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded to photographers from around the globe. In the Animal Portraits category, Mary Schrader secured gold for her captivating shot of a female gorilla and butterfly in Bwindi, Uganda. Charlie Wemyss-Dunn claimed gold in the Animals in Their Habitat category with a dynamic image of a brown bear attempting to catch sockeye salmon in Katmai National Park, Alaska.
Miki Spitzer's photograph of a geothermal pool in Hveravellir, Iceland, titled The Eye of the Dragon, won gold in the Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments category. Meanwhile, Robert Gloeckner earned gold in the Urban Wildlife category for his poignant image of a polar bear in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, illustrating the challenges faced by wildlife in human-dominated areas.
Notable Entries Highlight Behaviour, Art, and Conservation
Other standout winners include Simon Biddie, who took gold in the Nature Art category with Ghost of the Reef, a shot of a ghost goby in Marsa Alam, Egypt. Vaidehi Chandrasekar won gold in the Behaviour – Mammals category for Water Ballet, depicting a giraffe in Botswana's Boteti River. In the Behaviour – Invertebrates category, Minghui Yuan captured gold with an image of a moss moth larva in China's tropical rainforest.
The awards also featured compelling photojournalism, with Alain Schroeder winning gold in the Nature Photojournalism category for a touching scene of a chimpanzee named Kayla undergoing an ultrasound at a sanctuary in Florida. This image underscores the intersection of wildlife conservation and human care.
Bronze and Silver Awards Showcase Global Diversity
Bronze and silver medals were awarded across various categories, highlighting the global reach of the competition. For instance, Thiago Campi received bronze in the Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments category for a photograph of Ilha do Cardoso state park in Brazil, addressing themes of climate change. In the Urban Wildlife category, Rajarshi Banerji earned bronze for an image of a sloth bear near a temple in India, while Arghya Adhikary took silver for a shot of golden jackals in Kolkata.
Additional notable mentions include Duncan Wood's gold-winning photograph of an elder birch in Scotland for the Plants and Fungi category, and Christopher Baker's gold in the Black and White category for an image of a pond slider turtle in Alabama. The competition also recognised entries like Mark Bernards' bronze in Nature Art for salamander eggs in Canada and Aimee Jan's bronze in Underwater for a green sea turtle in Western Australia.
Reflections from the Winners
Jono Allen shared his emotional connection to his winning photograph, stating, "Sharing this moment with Mãhina and her protective mother is a memory that will live with me forever. It was undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary days I have ever experienced in the ocean – and perhaps ever will." This sentiment echoes the passion and dedication of all the photographers involved, whose work not only celebrates nature but also raises awareness about environmental issues and wildlife conservation.
The World Nature Photography Awards 2026 serve as a powerful reminder of the planet's beauty and the importance of preserving it for future generations. With entries from over 15 countries, the competition continues to inspire photographers and nature enthusiasts alike, promoting a deeper appreciation for the natural world through the lens of art and storytelling.
