Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 has announced its winners, with Italian photographer Federico Veronesi receiving the prestigious overall title for his powerful black-and-white photograph, “The Aftermath.” The image captures a female elephant carrying a deceased calf in Namibia, offering a moving glimpse into the complex behavior of wild animals. The competition’s young overall winner, Oscar Whitfield, was recognized for “Labour of Love,” a photograph of a dung beetle working to move its load across dusty ground.
Organized by London’s Natural History Museum, the 62nd edition of Wildlife Photographer of the Year attracted a record-breaking 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories. The winning photographs celebrate the beauty, diversity and complexity of wildlife while drawing attention to the importance of biodiversity and conservation.
The latest announcement, released on October 13, 2026, has brought renewed attention to the competition, its internationally recognized photographers and the remarkable moments captured in the natural world. The exhibition featuring the winning photographs is scheduled to open at the Natural History Museum in London on October 16, 2026.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026: Latest Update
The biggest news is the selection of Federico Veronesi as the overall Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 winner. His photograph, “The Aftermath,” stood out for its emotional impact and its documentation of an unusual moment in elephant behavior.
This year’s competition also made history because both the adult and young overall winners were recognized for black-and-white photographs. The achievement highlights how monochrome photography can communicate emotion, texture and detail without relying on color.
The Natural History Museum selected the winning photographs through an international judging process. Entries were assessed for qualities including originality, creativity, technical excellence and the strength of the stories they communicate.
The resulting collection includes images of mammals, birds, insects, marine life, plants and fungi, alongside photographs examining the relationship between wildlife and changing environments.
Who Won Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026?
Federico Veronesi won the overall Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 title with his photograph “The Aftermath.”
The Italian photographer captured a female elephant carrying a deceased calf in Namibia’s Huab River Valley. The photograph received recognition for its striking composition and the questions it raises about animal cognition and behavior.
The young overall title went to Oscar Whitfield, a 14-year-old photographer from Zimbabwe, for “Labour of Love.” His black-and-white image features a dung beetle pushing a ball across dry, dusty ground.
These two photographs represent different scales of wildlife photography. Veronesi’s image captures a deeply affecting moment involving a large mammal, while Whitfield’s photograph draws attention to a small creature whose role in the ecosystem is often overlooked.
Federico Veronesi’s “The Aftermath” Wins the Overall Title
“The Aftermath” is the standout photograph of the 2026 competition. It shows a female elephant carrying a deceased calf, with one of the calf’s legs caught between the adult’s tusk and trunk.
Veronesi was tracking elephants when he noticed unusual drag marks in the sand of a dry riverbed. Following the marks led him to a family group and the scene that became the award-winning photograph.
The image is powerful because it documents a real animal encounter without reducing it to a simple wildlife spectacle. It invites viewers to consider the social behavior of elephants and the limits of human understanding of their experiences.
Researchers have documented several behaviors involving elephants and deceased members of their species, including inspecting remains, touching bones, guarding bodies and carrying deceased animals. Scientists continue to investigate how such actions relate to social bonds, awareness of death and possible grief-like responses.
The photograph does not, by itself, establish precisely what the elephant was experiencing. Its significance lies in documenting behavior that encourages further scientific investigation while prompting a strong emotional response from viewers.
Veronesi’s winning image demonstrates why wildlife photography can be more than an exercise in technical skill. A single photograph can preserve a fleeting moment and encourage a broader discussion about animal behavior, empathy and conservation.
Oscar Whitfield Wins Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Oscar Whitfield won the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 title with his photograph “Labour of Love.”
The image captures a dung beetle pushing its load through dry surroundings in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park. Whitfield used a fast shutter speed and high sensitivity to photograph the small, moving subject at ground level, bringing the viewer close to an animal that is easy to overlook.
The result highlights the physical effort involved in the beetle’s task while presenting its subject with clarity and precision.
Dung beetles play important ecological roles. By breaking down and burying dung, they help recycle nutrients, improve soil processes and reduce breeding opportunities for some pests. Their activities also influence the decomposition of organic material and can affect greenhouse gas emissions under certain conditions.
Whitfield’s photograph makes these environmental connections easier to appreciate by focusing on one individual insect at work. It is a reminder that ecosystems depend on countless organisms, including species that rarely attract the same attention as elephants, big cats or other charismatic wildlife.
His achievement also demonstrates that the competition welcomes talented young photographers and gives them an international platform to share their observations of nature.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Category Winners
The 2026 competition recognized photographers across a broad range of subjects and photographic styles. The category awards showcase the diversity of wildlife photography, from animal behavior and portraits to underwater environments and conservation-focused photojournalism.
The announced winners include:
- Animals in Their Environment: James Lewin
- Animal Portraits: Aaron Sanders
- Behaviour: Birds: Isak Pretorius
- Behaviour: Mammals: Federico Veronesi
- Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles: Anton Sorokin
- Behaviour: Invertebrates: Sitaram Raul
- Oceans: The Bigger Picture: Alex Lindbloom
- Plants and Fungi: Agorastos Papatsanis
- Natural Artistry: Michał Michalski
- Underwater: Tony Wu
- Urban Wildlife: Seth Forestson
- Wetlands: The Bigger Picture: Alex Visbal
- Photojournalism: Francisco Negroni
- Photojournalist Story Award: Loren Elliott
- Rising Star Award: Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas
- Portfolio Award: Kutub Uddin
The young photographer age-group winners include Amelie Davis in the 10 Years and Under category, Oscar Whitfield in the 11–14 Years category, and Konrad Gräeter in the 15–17 Years category.
These awards recognize different approaches to observing and documenting the natural world. Some photographs focus on the relationship between animals and their habitats, while others capture behavior, reveal overlooked details or present environmental challenges through compelling visual storytelling.
The complete collection also includes a wide range of subjects, allowing visitors to explore wildlife across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments.
Why the 2026 Wildlife Photography Winners Matter
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is notable not only for the quality of its photographs but also for the stories those images communicate.
A photograph of an elephant carrying a deceased calf can encourage questions about animal intelligence, social relationships and behavior. A close-up image of a dung beetle can show how small organisms contribute to the functioning of ecosystems. Photographs of wetlands, oceans and urban wildlife can also help people understand how animals live in environments shaped by natural processes and human activity.
The 2026 entries were selected from a record 65,403 submissions representing 121 countries and territories. That international participation gives the competition a broad perspective on the planet’s wildlife and the challenges faced by different species.
The photographs do not replace scientific research, and a single image cannot explain every aspect of an animal’s behavior or habitat. However, compelling visual documentation can help make complex environmental issues more accessible to the public.
By presenting extraordinary encounters alongside stories of ecological importance, the competition encourages viewers to look beyond the image itself and consider the living systems it represents.
When Does the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Exhibition Open?
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 exhibition is scheduled to open at the Natural History Museum in London on Friday, October 16, 2026, and run through Sunday, July 11, 2027.
The exhibition will feature 100 award-winning photographs selected for the 62nd competition. Visitors will be able to explore images from different habitats and wildlife categories, with photographs offering perspectives on animal behavior, biodiversity and the changing natural world.
The museum is also incorporating its Biodiversity Intactness Index into the exhibition experience. This measure helps communicate how much of a region’s original biodiversity remains, providing context for understanding changes in ecosystems.
The exhibition is intended to do more than display impressive photographs. It connects visual storytelling with wider questions about biodiversity, habitat conditions and the importance of protecting wildlife.
Visitors planning a trip should check the Natural History Museum’s official exhibition information for current ticket prices, admission arrangements, opening hours and accessibility details before traveling.
Can You See Wildlife Photographer of the Year Photos Online?
Yes. The Natural History Museum’s official Wildlife Photographer of the Year website provides access to information about the competition, its winning images and photographs from previous editions.
Online galleries are useful for people who cannot visit the London exhibition in person. They also allow wildlife photography enthusiasts to explore different categories, discover photographers and revisit images that have received recognition over the years.
The official website is the best place to begin when looking for the latest award announcements and information about individual photographs. Visitors interested in displaying an image at home can also explore the museum’s official print shop for available photographic prints.
Photograph credits and licensing conditions should be checked before any image is reproduced or published elsewhere. Award-winning wildlife photographs remain the work of their respective creators and should not be downloaded and republished without appropriate permission.
How to Enter the Next Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition
Photographers interested in entering a future edition should follow the official competition announcements from the Natural History Museum.
The 63rd competition, known as WPY63, is scheduled to open for entries on October 19, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. GMT and close on December 3, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. GMT.
Under the announced entry arrangements, adult participants may submit up to 25 images for a £35 entry fee. Photographers aged 18–26 and younger can enter for free, with the permitted number of images depending on the entrant’s age. Additional fee-waiver provisions apply to eligible entrants from specified countries.
Anyone planning to participate should review the official rules, eligibility requirements, image-submission standards and ethical photography guidelines before submitting work. Dates, fees and submission conditions should be checked against the competition’s current entry information.
Wildlife photography requires patience, observation and respect for animals and their habitats. Successful images often depend on understanding natural behavior, anticipating a moment and working responsibly without disturbing the subject.
For aspiring entrants, the 2026 winners provide useful examples of how a compelling photograph can combine strong composition, careful technique and a meaningful story.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition’s Legacy
Wildlife Photographer of the Year has been organized by London’s Natural History Museum since 1965. What began as a much smaller photographic competition has grown into an internationally recognized showcase for nature photography and wildlife photojournalism.
Over more than six decades, the competition has featured photographers documenting animal behavior, rare encounters, changing habitats and the relationships between humans and the natural world.
Its continued relevance comes from the combination of artistic achievement and environmental storytelling. Photographers must capture compelling images, but those images can also give audiences new ways to think about wildlife and the ecosystems that support it.
The 2026 edition continues that tradition. Veronesi’s “The Aftermath” brings attention to the complex behavior of elephants, while Whitfield’s “Labour of Love” celebrates the ecological importance of a much smaller animal. Together, the winning images show how wildlife photography can communicate both the emotional and scientific dimensions of nature.
As the exhibition opens in London, audiences will have an opportunity to experience the wider collection and discover how photographers from around the world interpret the natural environment through their cameras.
Conclusion: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Celebrates Nature Through Powerful Images
The latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year results recognize Federico Veronesi’s “The Aftermath” as the overall winning photograph and Oscar Whitfield’s “Labour of Love” as the young overall winner. Selected from a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories, the 2026 photographs highlight remarkable animal behavior, overlooked species and the importance of biodiversity.
With the exhibition opening at London’s Natural History Museum on October 16, 2026, the competition offers visitors and online audiences an opportunity to explore some of the world’s most compelling wildlife images. Its 2026 winners demonstrate how careful observation and powerful visual storytelling can deepen our appreciation of the natural world.
Which Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 winning photograph impressed you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for the latest wildlife photography news and award announcements,