24 lovely photos from the World Nature Photography Awards 2026

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Off the coast of Tonga, a uncommon white humpback whale swims carefully alongside its mom. Photographer Jono Allen caught the extraordinary second in {a photograph} (seen under) that simply earned high honors on the World Nature Photography Awards 2026.

“Sharing this moment with Mãhina and her protective mother is a memory that will live with me forever,” Allen stated in a press release. “It was undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary days I have ever experienced in the ocean-and perhaps ever will. To be announced WorldNature Photographer of the Year through capturing this unique mother and calf bond has made what was already a truly life-changing encounter even more profound and humbling. I feel beyond honoured to receive this award.”

two whales, one white and one black, swim together
“Mãhina”
Location: Vava’u, Tonga
World Nature Photographer of the Year
Credit: Jono Allen / World Nature Photography Awards

Thousands of photos from 51 nations on six continents entered this yr’s competitors that commemorate the marvel and fragility of our planet. Prints of the pictures may be bought by the WPNA online store. (Click to develop photos to full display.)

a gorilla examines an orange butterfly
“Shared Wonder”
Location: Bwindi, Uganda
Gold, Animal Portraits
Credit: Mary Schrader / World Nature Photography Awards Mary Schrader
a mother cub carries her cub in her mouth
“Determination”
Location: Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
Bronze, Animal Portraits
Credit: Elizabeth Yicheng / World Nature Photography Awards Elizabeth Yicheng Shen
penguins gather on a glacier
“Between the Cracks”
Location: Near Elephant Island, Antarctica 
Bronze, Animals of their habitat
Credit: Harry Skeggs / World Nature Photography Awards
Brown bear trying to catch sockeye salmon
“Splash”
Location: Katmai National Park, Alaska
Gold, Animals of their habitat
Credit: Charlie Wemyss-Dunn / World Nature Photography Awards
tigers chasing each other in water
“Tigers cross the lake in fog”
Location: Rathembhore National Park,India
Silver, Animals of their habitat
Credit: Jonathan Hodgetts / World Nature Photography Awards
a zebra faces off with a crocodile
“Last Look”
Location: Mara River in Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya
Silver, Behaviour – Amphibians and reptiles
Credit: Roman Balaz / World Nature Photography Awards svec
woodpecker with chips of tree flying
“Home Building”
Location: Anand, Gujarat, India
Bronze, Behaviour – Birds
Credit: Hemin Patel / World Nature Photography Awards
close up of bee face
“The Nectar Drop”
Location: Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Bronze, Behaviour – Invertebrates
Credit: Eduardo Salvador Cabrera / World Nature Photography Awards adriandinsdale
a whale breeching
“Chasing Tail”
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Bronze, Behaviour – Mammals
Credit: Paul Goldstein / World Nature Photography Awards PAUl Goldstein
a polar bear putting its head in its paw
“Shy But Still Majestic”
Location: Svalbard, Norway
Silver, Black and white
Credit: Ross Wheeler / World Nature Photography Awards
This is a true wildlife photographer. He obviously understands the importance of camouflage both on himself and his camera gear to blend in with his surroundings. As he prepares to take his photo, he takes a solid stance and carefully places his eye at the viewfinder. He waits patiently as his subject comes into clear view. This is the story of The Wildlife Photographer. After an evening snowfall in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, the photographers woke up to a blanket of snow covering the flats. A group of photographers were photographing this bull moose eating his way in our direction. The bland bitter brush bored him and he decided to go on his walkabout in the direction of all the photographers. We quickly moved but, in all the haste, a tripod and camera ended up being left behind. After his curiosity got the best of him, the bull moose decided to check out the camera gear. He licked and played with the camera looking at it as if he was trying to take a photograph. It was then I took this photo. After he knocked the gear over, he got bored and continued on his way. Then camera gear could be safely retrieved, albeit with a bunch of moose drool on it.
“The Wildlife Photographer”
Location: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Gold, People and nature
This is a real wildlife photographer. He clearly understands the significance of camouflage each on himself and his digital camera gear to mix in together with his environment. As he prepares to take his picture, he takes a strong stance and punctiliously locations his eye on the viewfinder. He waits patiently as his topic comes into clear view. This is the story of The Wildlife Photographer. After a night snowfall within the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, the photographers woke as much as a blanket of snow protecting the flats. A bunch of photographers have been photographing this bull moose consuming his method in our path. The bland bitter brush bored him and he determined to go on his walkabout within the path of all of the photographers. We shortly moved however, in all of the haste, a tripod and digital camera ended up being left behind. After his curiosity received the very best of him, the bull moose determined to take a look at the digital camera gear. He licked and performed with the digital camera it as if he was attempting to take {a photograph}. It was then I took this picture. After he knocked the gear over, he received bored and continued on his method. Then digital camera gear might be safely retrieved, albeit with a bunch of moose drool on it.
Credit: Deena Sveinsson / World Nature Photography Awards
Elephants, Mokete Camp, Wilderness Destinations, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Photos by Bill Klipp All photos © Bill Klipp, not for Commercial Use of any type, for personal use only. World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA) 2026: Category - People and Nature -- Winner https://www.worldnaturephotographyawards.com/ Pool Party at Our Tent Mokete Camp located the Mababe Depression region of Botswana’s Okavango Delta has huge numbers of Elephants. Almost every day at Camp a group of Elephants would wander by for a drink out of our plunge pool.
“Pool Party at Our Tent”
Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Silver, People and nature
Credit: Bill Klipp / World Nature Photography Awards LRTimelapse 7.1.0 (Windows) – licensed to Bill Klipp, – Private License, no industrial use allowed!
four rhinos
“The Rugby Players”
Location: Solio Game Reserve, Kenya
Bronze, Black and white
Credit: Preeti and Prashant Chacko / World Nature Photography Awards Preeti John
a polar bear near pile of garbage
“Trash Trail Temptations”
Locations: Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Gold, Urban wildlife
Credit: Robert Gloeckner / World Nature Photography Awards ROBERT
moths in foreground, bridge in background
“Illusion of Light”
Location: Danube, Budapest
Silver, Behaviour – Invertebrates
Credit: Reka Baranyi / World Nature Photography Awards
a sea turtle surrounded by tiny fish
“Green Sea Turtle Surrounded by Glass Fish”
Location: Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Bronze, Underwater
Credit: Aimee Jan / World Nature Photography Awards Aimee Jan
Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) A remote temple complex in India, enshrining the Tiger Goddess and visited by hundreds of devotees each day, is also visited regularly by wild sloth bears from the surrounding hills for scavenging the left overs by the daytime crowd. I found the bear passing by the static statue of the tiger kind of surreal. Children in India are told bedtime stories of bears and tigers in the forest. I wanted to freeze a frame of this wild bear passing the tiger statue (which accompanies the Tiger Goddess) connecting to the bedtime tales of my childhood. Junwani Kala, Chattisgarh, India Nikon Z6II; Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S; 1/200 sec; f2.8; ISO 8000
“Bear at the Tiger Temple”
Location: Junwani Kala, Chattisgarh, India
Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) A distant temple advanced in India, enshrining the Tiger Goddess and visited by lots of of devotees every day, can also be visited repeatedly by wild sloth bears from the encompassing hills for scavenging the left overs by the daytime crowd. I discovered the bear passing by the static statue of the tiger type of surreal. Children in India are informed bedtime tales of bears and tigers within the forest. I needed to freeze a body of this wild bear passing the tiger statue (which accompanies the Tiger Goddess) connecting to the bedtime tales of my childhood.
Bronze, Urban wildlife
Credit: Rajarshi Banerji / World Nature Photography Awards
penguins swimming
“What Lies Beneath”
Location: Port Charcot, Antarctica
Silver, Underwater
Credit: Matthew Sharp / World Nature Photography Awards
The Namib desert is one of the most extreme environments on earth, with a complete lack of surface water and temperatures exceeding 45C in the daytime. Despite this, life is abundant of you know where to look. Sandstorms are frequent, with wind blowing down from inland mountains that stir up fine sediment and particles. A Namaqua chameleon has to endure the sting of pebbles blowing against its skin while we were lucky enough to escape to the relative comfort of our 4x4
“Stoicism in a Sandstorm”
Location: Namib desert, Swakopmund, Namibia
The Namib desert is without doubt one of the most excessive environments on earth, with an entire lack of floor water and temperatures exceeding 45C within the daytime. Despite this, life is considerable of the place to look. Sandstorms are frequent, with wind blowing down from inland mountains that fire up high quality sediment and particles. A Namaqua chameleon has to endure the sting of pebbles blowing in opposition to its pores and skin whereas we have been fortunate sufficient to flee to the relative consolation of our 4×4
Gold, Behaviour – Amphibians and reptiles
Credit: Dewald Tromp / World Nature Photography Awards NAGT_PHOTO
a giraffe flings water
“Water Ballet”
Location: Boteti River, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana
Gold, Behaviour – Mammals
Credit: Vaidehi Chandrasekar / World Nature Photography Awards VC
tortoise on a log
“Sunbathing”
Location: Madison, Alabama, USA
Gold, Black and white
Credit: Christopher Baker / World Nature Photography Awards
white owl photographed from below
“Eye on the prize”
Location: Norfolk, England
Silver, Behaviour – Birds
Credit: Vince Burton / World Nature Photography Awards Vince Burton

“As the awards continue to grow, so too does the diversity and quality of work submitted from across the globe,” Adrian Dinsdale, co-founder of the World Nature Photographer Awards, stated in a press release. “This year’s winning images are a powerful reminder of both the wonder of our planet and the importance of protecting it. We congratulate Jono and all of our category winners on their outstanding achievements.”

 

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