# Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-competition
> Updated: 2026-09-03T09:04:00.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 3.

The Natural History Museum in London has announced the finalists for the 62nd Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The selection follows a record-breaking 65,403 entries submitted by photographers from 121 countries, resulting in a shortlist of 100 images.

Highlighted finalists include Audun Rikardsen’s ‘Icy Window,’ which utilized a custom submersible device to capture a polar bear inspecting a seal hole near Svalbard. Jack Crockford’s ‘The Art of Flying’ is also noted for depicting a swift flying in the shadow of a commercial airliner to illustrate biomimicry. Other notable works include a portrait by the French duo Twins Wild Lens, Andrea and Maceo Grammatico, showing a mosquito biting a venomous lancehead viper in Central America, as well as Ernest Porter’s depiction of an oxpecker and a rhino in South Africa and Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen’s photograph of an orca in a Norwegian fjord.

The official winners are scheduled to be revealed on October 13, 2026. This will be followed by an exhibition of the 100 shortlisted images at the museum in South Kensington, running from October 16, 2026, through July 11, 2027.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-03: Natural History Museum reveals Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 finalists

The Natural History Museum has unveiled the finalists for the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, featuring diverse imagery from over 60,000 global entries.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/natural-history-museum-reveals-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2026-finalists

### 2026-08-25: Natural History Museum reveals Wildlife Photographer of the Year shortlist

The Natural History Museum has revealed a 100-image shortlist for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, selected from over 65,000 global entries. Winners will be announced on October 13.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/natural-history-museum-unveils-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-winners

### 2026-08-25: Bird Photographer of the Year highlights technical skill and patience

The Bird Photographer of the Year competition showcases the patience and technical expertise required to capture award-winning wildlife images.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bird-photographer-of-the-year-highlights-technical-skill-and-patience

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Cite as: Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-competition