A stunning image of a rare white humpback whale has won the grand prize of World Nature Photographer of the Year 2026.
Jono Allen’s image of a calf and its mother was taken in Vava’u, Tonga. Humpback whales migrate to Tonga’s warm waters to give birth, but a white whale is exceptionally rare. The calf, who was named Mãhina by locals, was first filmed in 2024.
Jono said: "Sharing this moment with Mãhina and her protective mother is a memory that will live with me forever. It was undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary days I have ever experienced in the ocean – and perhaps ever will."
World Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 received thousands of entries from photographers across 51 countries, in categories ranging from urban wildlife to photo journalism.
The 2027 competition is also now officially open for entries, with photographers able to apply on the
World Nature Photography Awards website.
- Crocodile under attack among 27 stunning images from the Capturing Ecology photo awards
- Ghostly scorpion among 23 mind-blowing images from Close-up Photographer of the Year
World Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 winners
Mãhina by Jono Allen – Underwater category, Gold and Grand prize
Determination by Elizabeth Yicheng Shen – Animal portraits category, Bronze
- 9 jaw-dropping lion photos that showcase the raw, brutal power and savage majesty of these deadly apex predators
- From a tender lioness cuddling her cub to a majestic male, king of all he surveys - 13 beautiful lion photographs from the book 'Remembering Lions'
Splash by Charlie Wemyss-Dunn – Animals in their habitat category, Gold
A delicate balance by Henning Olsen – Behaviour – Amphibians and reptiles category, Bronze
Eye on the prize by Vince Burton – Behaviour - Birds category, Silver
Home on the leaves by Minghui Yuan – Behaviour - Invertebrates category, Gold
Bear hug by Michael Stavrakakis – Behaviour - Mammals category, Silver
- Stunning image of polar bear snoozing among flowers wins big at Nature Photography Contest
- David Attenborough narrates astounding BBC footage of a ferocious polar bear launching itself at a trembling terrified seal
The rugby players by Preeti and Prashant Chacko – Black and white category, Bronze
Ghost of the reef by Simon Biddie – Nature category, Gold
Chimp paradise 30 by Alain Schroeder – Nature photojournalism, Gold
The wildlife photographer by Deena Sveinsson – People and nature category, Gold
The eye of the dragon by Miki Spitzer – Planet Earth's landscapes and environments, Gold
Explosion of life by Giovanni Vicari – Plants and fungi category, Silver
- Weirdest fungi in the world you (probably) haven't heard of, from the gross-looking bleeding tooth to the creepy dead man's fingers
- "Eating it leads to liver failure, kidney failure, and death." Discover the deadliest fungi on the planet
I am the boss by Arghya Adhikary – Urban wildlife category, Silver
