A breathtaking scene of a polar bear peering into an ice hole is one of the shortlisted images for the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
After spotting tracks near a hole in Arctic sea ice north of Svalbard, Norwegian photographer Audun Rikardsen set up a motion-sensor underwater camera. It took eight hours to finally capture the moment a polar bear gazed down in search of prey. The image, titled Icy Window, has been awarded Highly Commended in the Animal Portraits category in the competition’s 62nd year.
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The overall winners of the competition will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin on Tuesday 13 October 2026, which will be available to watch live on the Natural History Museum’s YouTube channel.
An exhibition of the winning photographs will open at the museum on Friday 16 October 2026.
Other commended images this year include a black bear going for a dip in a Californian swimming pool, an adult orca attempting to revive its calf and a mosquito drinking a highly venomous viper’s blood.
“Every year I think the entries to our competition can’t get any stronger – and every year I’m proven wrong!” says Kathy Moran, chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jury.
“Selected from a record-breaking 65,403 images, this preview presents just a small insight into the 100 incredible images in store for visitors to our exhibition. These images pave the way for a deepened appreciation and commitment to our natural world.”
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 images
Up a Tree without a Squirrel by Allegra Hutton
Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals
Biting Back by Andrea and Maceo Grammatico
Highly Commended, Animal Portraits
Wings of Darkness by Andrew Parkinson
Highly Commended, Animal Portraits
- “After nearly an hour of brutal fighting, it’s all over.” An otter family must defend its pups from a caiman. What happens next is extraordinary
- “His wrist was gripped and ‘death-rolled’ three times”: Why conservationists in the Amazon are catching caimans
Flock of Gold by Bence Máté
Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds
Eye of the Storm by Dewald Tromp
Highly Commended, Animals in their Environment
- 8 deadliest deserts on the planet and some of the dangerous wildlife you’ll find lurking there
- "These fearless snake hunters stun their prey with rapid blows to the head, then finish them off with a bite to the neck" – 10 desert animals that thrive in extreme temperatures
Mutual Friends by Ernest Porter
Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds
Hidden Dragon by Gil Wizen
Highly Commended, Behaviour: Invertebrates
The Art of Flying by Jack Crockford
Highly Commended, 15–17 Years
Split-Second Escape by Jens Cullmann
Highly Commended, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles
Pooltime Pastime by Loren Elliott
Highly Commended, Urban Wildlife
- Can a human outrun a bear?
- What is the most numerous bear in the world? Clue – it's as tall as Michael Jordan
The Show Goes On by Pietro Rojas
Highly Commended, Photojournalism
Ocean Protector by Ralph Pace
Highly Commended, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture
Calm Amid the Storm by Shane Gross
Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture
Urban Wanderer by Sora Miyazawa, Japan
Highly Commended, 11-14 Years
Lifted to the Surface by Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen
Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
