The Phenomenal Winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026

The winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 have been unveiled. An picture of a northern gannet bursting by means of the ocean’s floor has taken the grand prize within the “world’s largest bird photography competition.”

Photographers from everywhere in the world entered greater than 24,000 pictures into the competitors, every with their eyes on the £3,000 ($4,000) grand prize.

Photographer Henley Spiers, from the United Kingdom, was declared this 12 months’s grand prize winner for his placing picture taken in Scotland’s waters.

“The handsome northern gannets lead a dualistic existence”, says Spiers. “In the nest, their newborn is carefully nurtured, and a couple’s bond is reinforced by pointing sharp beaks to the sky as they tenderly stroke their white necks together. In flight, hunting mode takes over, and piercing yellow eyes, fringed with blue circles, scour the sea for prey.”

Spiers provides, “When fish are spotted, the gannets fly into the wind and stretch out their wings as brakes, precisely adjusting their position in relation to their quarry. Moments later, with wings tucked in tightly, the gannet shape-shifts into a pointed torpedo, diving into the water at speeds of up to 86km/h.”

This 12 months, the competitors donated greater than £5,000 ($6,700) to associate charity Birds on the Brink, which supplies important funding to grassroots chicken conservation tasks world wide.

Photographers from internationally competed in eight completely different classes within the grownup competitors: Best Portrait, Birds within the Environment, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, Conservation (Single Image), and Creative Perspectives. There was additionally a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award, in addition to three classes within the youth competitors.

“In a world where AI-generated imagery is becoming increasingly common, this year’s winners are a powerful reminder of the value of authenticity,” says Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year.

“Every image in the competition represents a real moment in the wild, earned through patience, dedication and a genuine connection with nature. People will always value real stories told by real people, and this year’s extraordinary photographs celebrate the beauty, wonder and authenticity of our natural world.”

The subsequent cycle of the competitors, BPOTY 12, is now open for entries at birdpoty.com and invitations photographers of all expertise ranges to submit their greatest chicken images.