World Nature Photography Awards

18/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Bronze in the category ‘Underwater’ went to Aimee Jan ( Aimee Jan 💧AJ ) for this shot of a green sea turtle surrounded by glass fish on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, one of the world's most remarkable marine ecosystems.

Green sea turtles are among the ocean's great travellers. They can migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds and nesting beaches, navigating vast stretches of ocean with extraordinary precision. Despite spending most of their lives at sea, females return to the very beaches where they hatched to lay their own eggs.

Ningaloo Reef provides important habitat for countless marine species, including turtles, reef fish, sharks and rays. Its crystal-clear waters offer a glimpse into an underwater world where countless interactions unfold every day, often unnoticed by those above the surface.

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Congratulations again to Aimee! Want to be in with a chance of joining her as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 closes in less than 2 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Aimee Jan

16/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Nature photojournalism’ went to Sandesh Kadur ( Sandesh Kadur ) for this shot of rescued sea turtles.

In February 2021, an extraordinary wildlife rescue unfolded along the coast of Texas. As an unprecedented cold front swept across the region, thousands of green sea turtles found themselves in danger. Adapted to warmer waters, these reptiles rely on external temperatures to regulate their metabolism and bodily functions. When water temperatures drop suddenly, they can become ‘cold-stunned’ - too weak to swim, feed or even lift their heads above the surface.

For many turtles, the consequences can be fatal. But this story did not end there. As the freeze gripped the coast, the residents of South Padre Island came together in an extraordinary display of community action. Volunteers braved freezing conditions, collecting cold-stunned turtles by the carload and transporting them to rescue and rehabilitation centres.

Over the course of the rescue effort, more than 5,000 turtles were brought to safety.

There, under the care of dedicated volunteers, veterinarians and wildlife specialists, the turtles were gradually warmed and monitored as their body temperatures returned to normal. Many would eventually recover and be released back into the wild.

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Congratulations again to Sandesh! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 in just 2 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Sandesh Kadur

15/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Urban wildlife’ went to Arghya Adhikary ( Arghya Adhikary ) for this dramatic shot of two golden jackals of Kolkata.

As natural habitats have shrunk and urban development has expanded, small pockets of green space have become vital refuges for these adaptable predators.

But even within these fragmented habitats, the rules of the wild still apply.

This image captures a dramatic confrontation between two alpha males from different packs. Such encounters are often driven by territory, resources and dominance, with each animal attempting to assert its position and protect its group's access to valuable habitat.

Golden jackals are highly intelligent and social animals, living in family groups that work together to raise young and defend their territory. While they are remarkably adaptable, increasing pressure on habitat can intensify competition between neighbouring packs.

Congratulations again to Arghya! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 in just over 2 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Arghya Adhikary

13/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Animals in their habitat’ went to Jonathan Hodgetts ( Jonathan Hodgetts ) for this shot of Bengal tigers crossing a lake on a foggy day in Ranthambore National Park, India.

Powerful, elusive and rarely seen, the Bengal tiger is a symbol of the wild landscapes of the Indian subcontinent. Yet despite its iconic status, encountering a tiger in its natural habitat remains a rare privilege.

Tigers are strong swimmers and are often surprisingly comfortable in water. In the heat of the Indian summer, they frequently use lakes and pools to cool down, while waterways can also provide convenient routes through their territory.

Once widespread across Asia, Bengal tigers have faced significant challenges from habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, including protected areas such as Ranthambore, tiger numbers have recovered in parts of their range, offering hope for the future of the species.

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Congratulations again to Jonathan! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 in less than 3 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Jonathan Hodgetts

12/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Black and white’ went to Ross Wheeler ( Ross Wheeler ).

Life in the Arctic is often portrayed as a constant struggle for survival. And for polar bears, it frequently is.

They can travel vast distances across sea ice in search of food, endure extreme weather conditions and navigate one of the most challenging environments on Earth. Every day demands energy, patience and resilience.

Yet even the Arctic's greatest predator needs to rest. This image was captured by Ross north of Svalbard, where a polar bear was spotted among the pack ice. Seemingly at ease in its frozen home, the bear paused from its travels, curled up and settled down for a well-earned break. It is a surprisingly intimate moment.

We often think of polar bears as powerful hunters, but photographs like this remind us that they are also living creatures adapting to the rhythms of their environment, conserving energy when they can and taking advantage of moments of calm in an otherwise demanding landscape.

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Congratulations again to Ross! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 closes in less than 3 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Ross Wheeler

09/06/2026

04/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘People and nature’ went to Bill Klipp ( ) for this image of an elephant quenching its thirst!

When we think of elephants, we often picture vast wilderness, ancient migration routes and remote watering holes. But at Mokete Camp in Botswana's Okavango Delta, Bill witnessed a remarkable daily ritual. As the heat of the day built, a group of elephants would often wander through camp and make a beeline for an unexpected source of refreshment: plunge pools.

The Okavango Delta supports one of the largest elephant populations on Earth. An adult elephant can drink well over 100 litres of water in a single day and access to reliable water sources plays a crucial role in their movements and behaviour.

Despite their immense size, elephants are highly intelligent, curious and adaptable animals. They quickly learn where resources can be found and often pass this knowledge through family groups led by experienced matriarchs.

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Congratulations again, Bill! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 in less than 4 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio.

02/06/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Behaviour – Birds’ went to Vince Burton ( ). This image, captured in Norfolk as part of a long-term project photographing local barn owls at night, reveals a perspective few creatures ever see. Vince wanted to capture the owl as it made its final dive towards prey. For many small mammals, this is the last sight they witness, a shape emerging from the darkness, wings spread wide, descending with remarkable speed and accuracy.

The barn owl is one of Britain's most successful nocturnal hunters. Equipped with extraordinary hearing, it can locate prey hidden beneath long grass using sound alone, even in near-total darkness.

Barn owls are perfectly adapted for this role. Their heart-shaped facial disc acts like a satellite dish, channelling sound towards their ears. Their feathers are specially structured to allow almost silent flight, enabling them to approach prey undetected.

Despite their widespread appeal, barn owls face ongoing challenges from habitat loss, road collisions and changing agricultural practices. Conservation efforts across the UK focus on protecting nesting sites, restoring rough grassland habitat and providing nest boxes to support breeding populations.

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Congratulations again, Vince! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 closes 4 weeks today! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Vince Burton

30/05/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Behaviour – Invertebrates’ went to Reka Baranyi

Reka’s image shows hundreds of delicate mayflies dancing through the night air beside the Danube in Budapest, their translucent wings glowing against the darkness. For a brief moment, the scene feels almost magical.

But there is a hidden story behind the beauty. Mayflies spend most of their lives underwater as larvae, sometimes for several years. When they finally emerge as adults, they have just one purpose: to reproduce. Their time is short. Some species live for only a few hours after reaching adulthood.

For millions of years, they have relied on reflected light from rivers and lakes to guide them back to the water where they lay their eggs. Today, artificial lighting can confuse that ancient instinct.

Mistaking streetlights, bridges and illuminated structures for water, mayflies gather around the lights instead of returning to the river. Many never reach suitable breeding sites. Precious energy is wasted circling the lights, leaving them vulnerable to exhaustion, predators and death before they can reproduce.

This phenomenon, known as ecological light pollution, is becoming an increasing challenge for insects around the world.

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Congratulations again, Reka! Want to be in with a chance of joining her as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 closes in just over 4 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Reka Baranyi

29/05/2026

Celebrating our 2026 winners. Silver in the category ‘Behaviour – Amphibians and reptiles’ went to Roman Balaz.  

This image, captured in the Maasai Mara, shows a zebra already in the water of the Mara River when it comes face to face with one of Africa's most formidable predators. The crocodile seems motionless, while the zebra appears to pause and assess the danger.

Crocodiles are ambush hunters. They can remain perfectly still for long periods, conserving energy as they wait for the right opportunity. Their eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on their heads, allowing them to observe the world while the rest of their bodies remain hidden underwater.

For grazing animals such as zebras, river crossings are among the most dangerous moments of life. Yet they are often unavoidable. Water, fresh grazing and seasonal movements frequently require animals to navigate these hazardous waterways.

The tension in this image is palpable. Even more so, because we do not know the outcome.

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Congratulations again, Roman! Want to be in with a chance of joining him as one of our winners? Call for entries for 2027 closes in less than 5 weeks! Enter before June, 30, 2026. Click the link in our bio. 

Image © Roman Balaz