Could you be Underwater Photographer of the Year?

Another name has gone out to aggressive divers with cameras – this time to enter the distinguished UK-based Underwater Photographer of the Year contest.

UPY 2026 opens for entries at this time (1 November), closing on 4 January, 2026. The contest gives entrants what are described as “a glittering array” of prizes, with the organisers reporting that greater than 50 people took residence a prize from the 2025 occasion. 

UPY’s bespoke outcomes system gives particular person opponents with suggestions on how far their entries progress within the competitors, with the knowledgeable judging panel of Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and chair Alex Mustard gathering in particular person to judge each picture entered.

The competitors has 14 classes: Wide Angle, Macro, Wrecks, Behaviour, Portrait, Coral Reefs, Black & White, Up & Coming, Compact, Mobile Phone, British Waters Wide Angle, British Waters Macro and British Waters Living Together, in addition to Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation.

Mobile Phone is a brand new class, an innovation additionally seen within the just lately introduced Ocean Art photograph competitors. Sponsored by housing producer Divevolk, entry on this UPY class is free within the first 12 months for as much as 5 photos.

Up to 5 pictures will also be entered free within the SOSF Marine Conservation and British Waters Living Together classes. Otherwise photographers pay an entry charge of £20 for as much as three pictures, £35 (as much as 10) or £45 (as much as 20) throughout the classes. 

“UPY is the most important contest for underwater photographs,” says Mustard. “It’s all the time filled with astonishing pictures being revealed for the primary time.

“The first Underwater Photographer of the Year, Phil Smith, was named in 1965 and today the contest celebrates every style of underwater photography, from icy oceans to swimming pools.”

The previous 4 general successful UPY pictures, proven right here, “captured breath-taking scenes from the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, the Amazon River and the Indian Ocean, highlighting the contest’s global reach”.

The 2026 winners will likely be revealed at a non-public awards ceremony in central London and showcased publicly on stage on the British Go Diving Show on the NAEC, Stoneleigh Park (28 February – 1 March), in addition to being seen via main worldwide media retailers, together with Divernet.

UPY says it’s persevering with its partnerships with the Crown Estate, Save Our Seas Foundation and PADI in addition to a spread of diving manufacturers to supply prizes and sponsorship. Find full details and enter the competition here.