Natural History Museum Previews Wildlife Photographer of the Year Shortlist

The Natural History Museum in London has released a preview of select winning and highly commended images for its 62nd annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which drew a record-breaking total of over 65,000 entries from 121 countries. Organized as the world’s biggest and most prestigious wildlife photography contest, the event showcases the astonishing diversity of life through anonymous judging by an international panel of experts across photography, filmmaking, science, and conservation.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Previews 62nd Annual Shortlist

Kathy Moran, chairwoman of the jury, noted that the competition standard continues to impress. Every year I think the entries to our competition can’t get any stronger… and every year I am proven wrong, Moran said, adding that the preview offers a glimpse into the 100 awarded images that pave the way for a deepened appreciation of the natural world.

Notable Shortlisted Images and Photographers

The preview features a diverse range of dramatic animal encounters and natural behaviors captured across the globe:

Norwegian wildlife photographer Audun Rikardsen captured an inquisitive polar bear peering down a seal’s breathing hole in the Arctic sea ice north of Svalbard, Norway, using a rigged underwater camera and motion sensor.
Ernest Porter photographed an oxpecker cleaning its bill against a rhino’s skin in the soft afternoon light of Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Young photographer Jack Crockford, competing in the 15–17 years bracket, captured a common swift silhouetted in synchrony with a plane approaching London’s Heathrow Airport.
Dewald Tromp documented a Namaqua chameleon battling a sudden sandstorm in the Namib Desert, while twins Andrea and Maceo Grammatico photographed a mosquito drinking the blood of a venomous fer-de-lance viper.

Exhibition Schedule and Awards Ceremony

The complete set of 100 winning and highly commended images will be unveiled to the public at an exhibition opening on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Natural History Museum in London, running through July 11, 2027. Tickets are currently available for purchase on the museum’s website.

Jens Cullmann (Germany) gets eye-level with an African bullfrog as it lunges for an African babul butterfly – and misses — Photo: The Weather Channel

Category winners, along with the prestigious Grand Title and Young Grand Title awards, will be officially announced on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during a ceremony at the museum hosted by wildlife presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin. The awards event will also be streamed live on the museum’s YouTube channel. Bill Huffman, chief executive of lead corporate sponsor Nuveen, stated that each entry challenges viewers to consider powerful themes regarding the bonds connecting humanity and nature.

DSLR Cameras Maintain Strong Presence in Shortlist

Analysis of the previewed works also highlighted the enduring popularity of digital single-lens reflex cameras in high-end wildlife photography. According to TechRadar, older DSLR models featured prominently among the equipment used to capture the shortlisted images. Specifically, the ten-year-old Nikon D500 and the 2017 Nikon D850 each accounted for two images among the featured selections, demonstrating that veteran camera equipment remains a capable choice for capturing award-winning natural history imagery.