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In pictures: The winning shots from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

Lazy lions, excitable elephants and lurking sharks are just some of the creatures that have stolen the show at this prestigious photography comp

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Travel Writer
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © James Lewin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 | Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
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It takes a whole lot of skill to capture our planet’s wonderful wildlife in their truest and most authentic form, and that’s precisely what the coveted annual competition Wildlife Photographer of the Year strives to champion. 

Every year, the most impressive photographs snapped by camera-wielding pros from all over the planet are announced at a London ceremony, and now, the best shots from the 2026 entries (in what is the sixty-second competition) have been crowned. 

Below is a roundup of Time Out’s favourite winning photos, from dozing lions and over-excited elephant calves to acrobatic frogs and sneaky sharks. 

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Alex Lindbloom / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Francisco Negroni / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photographer: © Agorastos Papatsanis / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Anton Sorokin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Amelie Davis / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Federico Veronesi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Photograph: © Seth Forestson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

You can take a look at all the winning images in the National History Museum’s official website, and find information about the exhibition and how to get tickets. 

Fancy a laugh? Here are all the funniest photos from the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards this year, and you can also view a handful of last year’s winning photos from WPOTY. 

ICYMI: A huge new walking trail just opened in Japan – and it starts less than two hours from Tokyo. 

Plus: Lonely Planet has revealed the best places to travel in 2027, from Montserrat to Maryland. 

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.  

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