2026 International Garden Photographer of the Year Winners

Nature took heart stage on the 2026 International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) Competition 19. Photographers from everywhere in the globe shared beautiful photographs that seize the great thing about gardens, landscapes, and the mild magic of the pure world. Whether it was a misty forest or a close-up of a single flower, this 12 months’s profitable photographs remind us that nature at all times has new tales to share.

Photographer Mark Hetherington took high honors along with his beautiful shot, Grange Fell Last Light. Taken in Borrowdale in England’s Lake District, the image glows with the gentle mild of sundown, bathing heather and silver birch timber in heat. Hetherington mixed 4 totally different exposures to create a picture wealthy with texture, shade, and temper. Using a Sony α7 IV and a 16–35mm lens, he captured a scene that feels each actual and dreamlike, as if time stood nonetheless for only a second.

Head choose Tyrone McGlinchey stated the {photograph} strikes an ideal stability between composition and the pure particulars, giving viewers an actual sense of being there within the panorama.

Beyond the highest prize, the competitors’s winners highlighted simply how various nature images may be, from inventive panorama pictures to close-up views of crops and fungi. All these photographs collectively present that gardens and wild locations aren’t simply places, they’re vibrant, residing canvases filled with shade, life, and marvel.

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1. Overall Winner – International Garden Photographer of the Year: “Grange Fell Last Light” by Mark Hetherington

There was some pretty mild because the solar went down from Grange Fell in Borrowdale, within the Lake District. The mixture of the golden, setting solar, blooming heather and silver birch timber created a mesmerising scene. Grange Fell, whose summit is slightly below 420 metres, is owned by the National Trust and was one in every of its first acquisitions within the Lake District in 1910. I blended 4 exposures collectively to type this HDR {photograph}.

2. Abstract Views – 1st Place: “Autumn Flurry” by Ian Gilmour

{A photograph} of timber mirrored within the Rochdale Canal, mixed in post-processing utilizing mixing modes, with {a photograph} of bokeh from lights mirrored in a window – to provide the impression of a windy autumn day.

3. Abstract Views – 2nd Place: “Wander” by Isobel Chesterman

A a number of publicity in our native woodland with mix modes used and a dappled shade created the shadows. I took the fundamental picture, added a department with blossom on, added two individuals then added one other woodland photograph, with a hand painted texture. I modified the mix mode and/or opacity on many of the layers to get the color blue and the specified quantity of visibility of the varied layers.

4. Abstract Views – third Place: “For Gabriel” by Laurie Peek

I superimposed an inverted high-contrast picture of ginkgo leaves (that grew to become a white swirl) on high of a photograph of three ginkgo leaves and a few geranium petals. After placing my images of floral components (principally from my backyard) by means of numerous apps and mixing color, inverting photographs, and taking part in with scale, the consequence was a digital composite.

5. Beautiful Gardens – 1st Place: “Lower Pool, Exbury Gardens” by Stephen Studd

A spring morning at Exbury Gardens, photographed from the decrease pool with daylight bursting by means of the tree cover – which illuminated the spectacular show of colors, that epitomises Exbury in spring.

6. Beautiful Gardens – 2nd Place: “Morning Glow: Mist Rising Over The Moat” by Bennet Smith

A second captured in spring when the daffodils at Hever Castle are at their peak. The apple buds had been about to blossom, and the early morning solar emerged and warmed the air over the moat.

7. Beautiful Gardens – third Place: “Glowing Season’s Farewell” by Claudia Gaupp

As the solar slipped behind the timber of Rosenhöhe Park, it bathed the backyard in a single final, tender glow. The pond mirrored the fading heat, the place water lily pads rested in peaceable stillness. Tall reeds caught the ultimate rays, glowing amber towards a tapestry of greens.

8. Breathing Spaces – 2nd Place: “Derwentwater Below Walla Crag” by Matthew Turner

The lake of Derwentwater, as seen from the wooded and heather-clad high of Walla Crag within the Lake District throughout a spectacular summertime sundown. This panorama was fashioned by stitching three separate photographs collectively.

9. Breathing Spaces – third Place: “Cascading” by Aijun Chen

Jiuxi Park is a scenic space positioned on the outskirts of Hangzhou, China. It is famed for its lush pure setting, and winding streams. Gentle stream water cascaded over darkish rocks, its silky movement glowed within the gentle mild.

10. PMC Plants & Planet – 1st Place: “Mangrove Restoration” by Stephen Studd

Mangroves are very important within the combat towards local weather change in addition to being essential habitats for wildlife. When floods and storms hit, they supply a pure barrier for coastal communities.

11. PMC Plants & Planet – 2nd Place: “Exposed” by Catherine Bullen

A residing tree rises behind its skeletal counterpart, each sculpted by Sossusvlei’s relentless solar and towering dunes. Sand continuously blows from the dune tops, steadily reshaping the encircling panorama.

12. PMC Plants & Planet – third Place: “Joshua Tree at Dusk” by Uwe Beutnagel-Buchner

You would possibly suppose that issues couldn’t get a lot worse for the Joshua tree, right here within the dry and sizzling Death Valley. But it’s estimated that attributable to local weather change the inhabitants of this species might be closely impacted, therefore the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (WJTCA), handed by the state of California in 2023 to assist safeguard its future.

13. The Beauty of Plants – 1st Place: “Game, Set and Match” by Alys Walker-Tinson

Here, within the South of France, ordinarily, we see dahlias uniquely in late spring, so I used to be extraordinarily stunned to see these stunning specimens on the market on the flower market in October – so in fact they got here residence with me! I captured this Dahlia with my Lensbaby Velvet 85mm lens, utilizing guide focus and a slender aperture.

14. The Beauty of Plants – 2nd Place: “Dewy Rose” by Warrena J. Barnerd

Recently, I captured one thing actually particular one morning in my yard – the best way the dew clung to every petal, paired with that beautiful gradient of colors, gave the rose an virtually surreal glow.

15. The Beauty of Plants – third Place: “Like a Dr. Seuss Garden” by Marianne Weingroff

In this backyard, the shapes and colors, significantly of the purple Allium, jogged my memory of what a Dr. Seuss backyard would possibly seem like. This shot is comprised of three photographs focus stacked collectively.

16. The World of Fungi – 1st Place: “Amethyst Deceivers” by Tony North

A pair of amethyst deceiver mushrooms with a fly exploring its world of fungi within the woods. Despite their purple color these mushrooms are edible, nonetheless they’re comparable in look to the toxic lilac fibrecap mushroom. This shot is comprised of a number of photographs, focus stacked collectively.

17. The World of Fungi – 2nd Place: “Painting Autumn” by Łukasz Kiełtyka

The photograph exhibits a Russula fungus rising amongst mosses, dewy spider webs, and fallen autumn leaves. To seize a definite painterly texture, I waited for the golden afternoon solar to light up the entire scene, then sprinkled a high quality mist of water into the air utilizing a backyard sprayer.

18. The World of Fungi – third Place: “A Warm Family” by Guizhong Guo

On the huge and boundless grassland, three dung-loving mushrooms nestled collectively as they grew, resembling a cheerful household. Rooted within the fertile soil gifted by nature, they stretched their caps below the nice and cozy daylight, thriving freely and unrestricted.

19. Trees, Woods & Forests – 1st Place: “Glen Affric” by Grant Bulloch

I climbed up above the treetops of the previous Caledonian pines to look down on Glen Affric, and noticed this diagonal distinction between the inexperienced pine timber, and the purple birches on the far aspect of the river.

20. Trees, Woods & Forests – 2nd Place: “Sunrise in Lapland” by Rob Green

A gorgeous dawn over the frozen tundra within the Riisitunturi National Park in Lapland, the timber had been otherworldly in look bearing their absolutely laden snow-covered branches.

21. Trees, Woods & Forests – third Place: “Beneath the Birch Canopy” by Wayne Slater

Gardom’s Edge within the Peak District is a spot I go to continuously all year long to seize the altering seasons. This specific morning at the start of May, captured the early greens of spring within the birch woodland – I used to be actually pleased to have taken it with the golden early daylight, catching the cover and foreground; which makes the recent progress pop with color.

22. Wildflower Landscapes – 1st Place: “Alpine Cotton Balls” by Bernadette Benz

Scheuchzer’s cotton grass (Eriophorum scheuchzeri) is a protected alpine plant that usually grows in moist, nutrient-poor peat in lowland moors, round ponds and on the banks of standing waters at altitudes of roughly 2,500 metres above sea stage.

23. Wildflower Landscapes – 2nd Place: “Mellbreak from Rannerdale” by Matthew Turner

Every 12 months in springtime, the valley of Rannerdale within the Lake District turns into carpeted in a luscious layer of bluebells. Coincidentally, the setting solar aligns completely with this seasonal spectacle, creating a wide ranging show of color on the finish of every day, for only a few weeks. This shot is comprised of two separate photographs stitched collectively.

24. Wildflower Landscapes – third Place: “Golden Bloom” by Marcio Cabral

This picture options Paepalanthus chiquitensis (Syn. Coracoralina chiquitensis), a radiant wildflower native to Brazil’s Cerrado. Photographed at sundown, the spherical inflorescences shimmered with delicate filaments that replicate daylight dramatically when backlit, which created a radiant tapestry of botanical element.

25. Wildlife within the Garden – 1st Place: “Rare Beauty” by Perdita Petzl

In a nature reserve, I noticed this very stunning japanese festoon butterfly (Zerynthia cerisy) roosting within the early morning. This is among the rarest butterflies in Austria – and I’m very lucky that some small populations exist in my space. The butterfly usually lives close to vineyards, the place its foodplant additionally thrives.

26. Wildlife within the Garden – 2nd Place: “Taking a Nap” by Qiang Zhang

There was a nest of grey-headed flying squirrels on this farmhouse backyard. Their tail is near their physique size, gentle and fluffy, agile and sleek. It additionally helps them to keep up stability whereas gliding and serves as bedding throughout sleep.

27. Wildlife within the Garden – third Place: “The Spider and the Fly” by David Terao

This picture was taken at a trial backyard in a public park. Whilst I used to be photographing the dahlias, I discovered a leaping spider inside a white flower, me. Just earlier than seize, a hoverfly flew in and landed on the petal simply above the spider. I shortly centered on the eyes of the fly, taking my shot earlier than it flew away. This composition is comprised of two photographs focus stacked collectively.

FAQs

What is the International Garden Photographer of the Year competitors?

The International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) is a worldwide images contest that honors the great thing about nature, gardens, crops, and landscapes. It acknowledges gifted photographers who inform highly effective tales by means of their photographs and showcase the wonders of the pure world.

Who received the 2026 International Garden Photographer of the Year award?

This 12 months, Mark Hetherington took residence the highest prize in IGPOTY Competition 19 for his photograph ‘Grange Fell Last Light.’ The shot captures a wide ranging sundown in Borrowdale, in England’s Lake District, with heather, silver birch timber, and the golden glow of night mild.

What makes the profitable {photograph}, Grange Fell Last Light, particular?

What makes this photograph particular is its wealthy layers, the heat of the sundown, and the colourful textures of the heather and birch timber. By mixing 4 totally different exposures, Hetherington created an HDR photograph that actually brings out the depth and temper of the scene.

What kinds of photographs are featured within the IGPOTY competitors?

The competitors options all types of nature images, from backyard views and close-up plant portraits to inventive landscapes, detailed pictures of fungi and flowers, and beautiful out of doors scenes from across the globe.

Why is backyard and nature images essential at the moment?

Garden and nature images helps us reconnect with the world round us. These photographs shine a lightweight on the wonder and vulnerability of nature, encourage us to look after the setting, and present that even atypical inexperienced areas can inform superb tales.

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