18 Stunning Wildlife Winning Photos

Arrival, Gold Award, Behavior Birds class, Great egret. Kraft Azalea Garden, Winter Park, Florida

Fenqiang Liu,, U.S. – World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA) 2026

The World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA) has introduced the 2026 winners of its annual picture competitors showcasing extraordinary wildlife photos capturing uncommon and intimate moments from throughout our treasured and endangered planet.

From the general profitable picture of a uncommon white humpback calf swimming fortunately along with his mom within the tropical waters of Vava’u, Tonga, to a bemused younger feminine gorilla observing a vibrant yellow butterfly dancing gracefully round her, the 2026 competitors attracted hundreds of entries from photographers throughout 51 international locations and 6 continents, highlighting the wonder, fragility and energy of the pure world.

Forbes20 Beautiful Wildlife Photos Winners Of World Nature Photography AwardsBy Cecilia Rodriguez

Now in its seventh yr, the World Nature Photography Awards celebrates the world’s finest nature photographers whereas showcasing nature’s magnificence to a wider viewers, “in the hope that we all take steps, no matter how small, to save the planet for future generations.”

The 2026 World Nature Photography Awards high honor and money prize of $1,000 went to Australian photographer Jono Allen for his extraordinary {photograph} (under) capturing the bond between a uncommon white humpback whale and her mom.

Forbes22 Beautiful Winning Images From Sony World Photography Awards 2026By Cecilia Rodriguez

“Sharing this second with Mãhina (the calf) and her protecting mom is a reminiscence that can stay with me eternally,” Jono Allen said. “It was one of the most extraordinary days I have ever experienced in the ocean — and perhaps ever will.”

Upon announcing the winners of the 2026 competition, the WNPA also officially opened a call for entries for 2027.

Overall Winner World Nature Photography Awards

In the tropical waters of Vava’u, Tonga, this rare white humpback calf named Mãhina – “moon” in Tongan — glows like a beam of light as she travels through the deep blue water with her protective mother.

As only one in 40,000 humpbacks is born with this lack of pigmentation, her presence is not only breathtaking but symbolic. Watching this spectacular and curious white whale calf play and roll through the water represents the remarkable success story of a species given the chance to recover after being heavily targeted by whaling and once being brought to the brink of extinction.

Considering the resilience of this awe-inspiring species, sightings of such rare individuals renews hope for what can happen when conservation is championed and wildlife is allowed to thrive. Mãhina is a living reminder of what is possible when conservation works: a species once on the brink, now rebounding.

Nature Photography Underwater

Gentoo penguins iswimming lazily in Port Charcot, Antarctica.

A green sea turtle seems undisturbed as it is surrounded by glass fish in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Gorgeous Mammals In Nature Photography

After an evening snowfall in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Deena Sveinsson was watching many bull moose eat their morning breakfast of bitter brush. The bland bitter brush bored this one and he decided to go on a walkabout in the direction of the photographers.

“We quickly moved away to give the moose his space but, in all the haste, a tripod and camera ended up being left behind,” Sveinsson explains. “At first, the bull moose ignored the gear and began to thrash his antlers on the bitter brush. After his curiosity bought one of the best of him, the bull moose determined to take a look at the digicam gear.”

A lioness transports her sleeping cub within the Mara North Conservancy, Kenya

It was a day outlined by quiet connections. Beneath the luxurious cover of Bwindi, Uganda, a younger feminine gorilla gently nestled towards the protecting bulk of a silverback. The ambiance was serene, stuffed with the mild sounds of the forest, till a sudden burst of delicate colour broke by the calm. An sudden customer, a vibrant butterfly, appeared out of nowhere, fluttering gently by the air.

Captivated, the younger gorilla’s eyes widened, and a stupendous interplay unfolded as a silent, shared marvel between two vastly completely different beings. As the butterfly danced gracefully across the gorilla, it appeared to embody the fragile magnificence and fragile interconnectedness of our pure world.

This {photograph} captures not simply the gorilla’s curiosity but in addition a quick, stunning second the place two creatures paused, noticing one another.

As the solar dipped low over the dry Makgadikgadi panorama in Botswana, a lone giraffe stepped to the water’s edge. Towering and swish, it bent its lengthy legs, reducing its neck for a drink.

Then got here a second of magic.

Having taken its fill, the giraffe lifted its head and with a delicate swish, expelled a stream of water in an arc that shimmered within the golden gentle. The droplets danced within the air, forming a near-perfect circle. With the animal’s define enhanced by the rim lighting, golden reflections sparkled off the airborne water. A uncommon and fleeting habits, made unforgettable by the setting solar.

A bear hug between a mom polar bear and her six-month-old cub in Svalbard, Norway, imparts heat to the icy panorama.

Other Animals In Color And Black & White

The Namib desert is among the most excessive environments on earth, with an entire lack of floor water and temperatures exceeding 45C within the daytime.

Despite this, life is ample if the place to look.

Sandstorms are frequent, with wind blowing down from inland mountains that stirs up high-quality sediment and particles. A Namaqua chameleon has to endure the sting of pebbles blowing towards its pores and skin.

The stability is extraordinarily delicate as two damselflies dare to land on the top of a Grass Snake in Boserup Lake, Denmark.

The 4 rhinos seem like rugby gamers charging towards the white egrets within the Solio Game Reserve, Kenya

An grownup pond slider turtle perches atop a stump to wash within the early morning solar.

Nature Photography Landscapes

Golden autumn colours explode on this intimate portrait of an unimaginable, lichen-laden elder birch in full seasonal show, daring, sensible and stuffed with character – the arboreal model of a peacock in full feather.

Taken in Glen Affric, this picture captures a fleeting second of drama and wonder from one among Scotland’s most vibrant autumn landscapes.

Juniper haircap moss and grey curly lichen had been shot towards the glittering gentle in Sipoo, Finland.

Climate change exhibits its results in Ilha do Cardoso State Park, within the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Kayla, a 37-year-old, 61.2 kilogram feminine chimp, lies within the process room along with his abdomen shaved for an ultrasound. Socks have been positioned on his extremities, and a fur hat with flaps on his head to keep away from hypothermia.

Founded in 1997, Save the Chimps is the biggest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary on the earth, offering a secure haven to captive chimps which were exploited by people for analysis, testing and leisure.

The 150-acre state-of-the-art facility in Florida is dwelling to greater than 220 rescued chimpanzees residing their very best lives amongst friends, because of a group of passionate veterinarians, caretakers and volunteers.

The Great Texas Freeze in February, 2021, led to hundreds of surprised and struggling inexperienced sea turtles. As the chilly entrance swept in, inexperienced sea turtles had been fully unprepared and unable to manage their physique temperature and metabolism to remain lively.

South Padre’s residents got here collectively and volunteers braved the chilly and swung into motion, accumulating greater than 5,000 turtles by the carload and bringing them to rescue and rehabilitation facilities on the island.

Under the watchful eyes of the volunteers and rescuers, the turtles might slowly deliver their core temperature as much as regular.

Seasonal rains had been anticipated, however drought continued throughout Kenya’s Masai Mara. Smoke from conventional Masai administration fires drifted throughout the savannah, making a tense ambiance. This feminine leopard returned to her kill however as an alternative of dashing, she paused halfway up the tree, scanning her environment whereas smoke blurred the panorama behind.

Though the fires had been managed, the scene displays a wider concern: As local weather change alters ecosystems and wild areas proceed to shrink, how a lot room will stay for wildlife?

Many of this yr’s profitable photos from the World Nature Photography Awards — in addition to earlier award recipients — can be found as wall artwork by the WNPA online store, with the complete gallery of 2026 winners now out there to view here.

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