7 incredible photos from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards
Judges have named the overall winner of the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, highlighting a heartbreaking image of an elephant carrying a dead calf. Contest organizers released a diverse selection of winning pictures spanning underwater scenes, urban wildlife, photojournalism, and mammal behavior. Notable recognized entries include a black bear relaxing in a swimming pool, bonnet mushrooms illuminating the night sky, and a young photographer capturing a buff-tailed bumblebee in Surrey, England. Officials at the Natural History Museum praised the collection for displaying the power and vulnerability of the natural world.
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- ✓ An image of an elephant carrying a dead calf won the overall 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
- ✓ Amelie Davis from the United Kingdom won the category for children up to age 10 with her photo titled Flight of the Bumblebee.
- ✓ Dr. Doug Gurr serves as the Director of the Natural History Museum.
What changed
The Natural History Museum published the complete gallery of winning images for the 2026 competition, featuring the overall grand prize winner.
Live updates
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Winners Revealed
Judges have named the overall winner of the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, highlighting a heartbreaking image of an elephant carrying a dead calf. Contest organizers released a diverse selection of winning pictures spanning underwater scenes, urban wildlife, photojournalism, and mammal behavior. Notable recognized entries include a black bear relaxing in a swimming pool, bonnet mushrooms illuminating the night sky, and a young photographer capturing a buff-tailed bumblebee in Surrey, England. Officials at the Natural History Museum praised the collection for displaying the power and vulnerability of the natural world.
Why it matters
The annual competition draws global participation, celebrating the technical skill and artistic vision required to document animal behavior and natural environments. Winning entries provide rare glimpses into animal emotion and environmental challenges, serving both artistic and conservation awareness goals. The Natural History Museum oversees the contest, showcasing the selected imagery to audiences worldwide.
What is confirmed
- An image of an elephant carrying a dead calf won the overall 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
- Amelie Davis from the United Kingdom won the category for children up to age 10 with her photo titled Flight of the Bumblebee.
- Dr. Doug Gurr serves as the Director of the Natural History Museum.
What to watch next
- Exhibitions displaying the full collection of winning photographs in museums and public galleries.
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (13)
- www.nationalgeographic.com — 16 Striking Photos From This Year’s Best Wildlife Photographers
- www.theguardian.com — Wildlife photographer of the year 2026 winners – in pictures
- www.cnn.com — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 winning images ...
- National Geographic — 16 Striking Photos From This Year’s Best Wildlife Photographers
- BBC — 'A window into its soul': The rare elephant behaviour that reveals the depths of their emotions
- The Guardian — Wildlife photographer of the year 2026 winners – in pictures
- CNN — Incredible winning images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
- Euronews.com — 7 incredible photos from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards
- help.naver.com — Futures Flat As Oil Rebounds After Trump's "Energy Ceasefire" Unravels, Memory Stocks Slide | ZeroHedge
- The Atlantic — Winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
- www.dw.com — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026: the winners - dw.com
- www.thisiscolossal.com — The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Winners Showcase Nature's Power and Vulnerability — Colossal
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