The Wildlife Photography Awards 2026
The Wildlife Photography Awards 2026 from BBC Wildlife is running in association with Guyana Tourism Authority, which is offering one lucky winner an unforgettable holiday to South America’s Guyana - an incredible destination for nature lovers.
Enter our 2026 competition for the chance to win
For more than 60 years BBC Wildlife magazine has been showcasing extraordinary wildlife photography. We shine a light on the beauty of the natural world, sharing incredible images from across the globe and championing pioneering techniques.
The Wildlife Photography Awards is returning for 2026, in celebration of the living world and the planet’s remarkable diversity.
This year, we’ve teamed up with Guyana Tourism Authority, who is offering the overall winner an incredible eight-night holiday. Enter our competition to share your wildlife photography and for a chance to experience Guyana’s wild riches.
“Wildlife photography allows us to share our stories and relationships with the nature all around us,” says BBC Wildlife’s visual lead James Cutmore.
“We’re looking for images that really communicate this sense of connection, using technical proficiency and artistry.”
The categories
BBC Wildlife champions ethical wildlife photography that prioritises the welfare of animals and the environment. At the heart of the brand is a respect for the natural world, and we’d like to see this reflected in the competition entries.
There are five categories:
● Portraits – striking poses that reveal the character of an animal (individual or group)
● Behaviour – images that show interesting or exciting behaviour (individual or group)
● Plants and fungi – photos celebrating plants and/or fungi (individual or group)
● Camera phone – creative shots of the natural world taken using a smartphone
● Environment – pictures that capture the atmosphere of a wild or changing landscape
How to enter
The competition opens at 12:00 noon on 19 February 2026 and closes at 12:00 noon on 1 April 2026. Entrants must be UK residents over the age of 18. Enter using the form on this page.
The judging process
The preliminary round of judging will be carried out by the BBC Wildlife editorial team, who will create a shortlist for each category. The five category winners will be decided by an online public vote. The overall winner, selected from the five category winners, will be decided by the editorial team and independent wildlife photographer Andy Parkinson. The category winners and overall winner will be contacted by email. They will also be announced on discoverwildlife.com and in the July 2026 issue of BBC Wildlife magazine.
The prizes
The overall winner wins an eight-night trip for one person to Guyana, worth US $4,624. This includes return flights from London Heathrow Airport; all accommodation in private double or twin rooms (Cara Lodge, Georgetown; Atta Rainforest Lodge, Iwokrama Rainforest; Surama Eco-lodge, Surama); three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner); airport transfers in Guyana; and all internal travel and excursions.
The prize must be booked at least 30 days prior to departure and redeemed between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
The four category winners will each win a £50 voucher for Love2shop.
Read the full terms and conditions here
The competition opens at 12:00 noon on 19 February 2026. Please check back then for the entry form.
About the prize: Get set for Guyana
Nestled in the heart of South America, Guyana is an incredible destination for nature-lovers, with star species including the jaguar, capybara, giant otter, giant anteater and arapaima.
The country is also home to more than 900 species of bird, from the hoatzin to the harpy eagle.
On this epic prize holiday, provided by Guyana Tourism Authority, the competition winner will discover the wild riches of Guyana. You’ll marvel at the dramatic and unforgettable spectacle of Kaiteur Falls, set out on mountain hikes and river trips, and experience the jungle canopy from the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway.
You’ll also go walkabout in historical Georgetown, and enjoy an evening birding trip down the Demerara River.
Terms and conditions
Promoter: Our Media Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 05715415). Residents of the UK and Channel Islands aged 18+ can enter. The closing date for entries is 12:00 noon on 1 April 2026.
The overall prize is an eight-night package holiday for one winner to Guyana, South America. Includes return flights from London Heathrow airport, accommodation, and itinerary. Winner must hold a valid passport and have appropriate travel insurance. Prize excludes: Travel to and from London Heathrow airport, spending money, alcoholic drinks, travel insurance, visas, items of personal nature, ATOL/ABTA Protection. Specific travel dates are subject to availability at the time of booking.
For full terms and condition, see www.discoverwildlife.com/wildlifephotography-awards2026-terms-and-conditions