Ocean photographer of the 12 months 2026 finalists revealed

The finalists for Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 have been formally revealed, making a physique of labor which showcases the total spectrum of ocean life, from breathtaking wildlife encounters to sobering proof of environmental injury.

This 12 months’s standout entries embody a pair of orcas working in tandem to hold off a humpback whale calf, a scorpionfish caught mid-meal devouring a lizardfish and a male octopus extending its specialised mating arm to courtroom a feminine. 

“Some of the most powerful images in the final selection show rarely seen animal behaviour, the work of scientists in research and regeneration projects, along with communities rehabilitating stranded marine animals. Together the photographs powerfully reveal the complexity and resilience of ocean life,” stated Gemma Hollington, Ocean Photographer of the Year’s exhibitions and partnerships director.

A complete of 9 classes had been judged: the Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope), the Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact), the Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year, the Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year, the Ocean Portfolio Award, the Human Connection Award, in addition to Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds.

New for 2026 is the Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds class, which focuses on the ocean’s smallest and least-visible residents – delicate invertebrates and microscopic organisms.

Finalists on this class embody spawning Christmas tree worms, a parasitic copepod hooked up to the attention of a large black sea bass, and a Braun’s pughead pipefish rising from a thicket of coral polyps. These minuscule creatures imperceptibly form each ladder in our ocean’s ecosystems, and this class zeroes in on their lives.