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Gold, Underwater and World Nature Photographer of the Year 2026

The World Nature Photography Awards have announced their 2026 winners, and this year’s grand prize winner is an underwater image—a heart-warming shot of a white humpback calf and her protective mother by Jono Allen. Captured in the waters of Vava’u, Tonga, the rare humpback—only 1 in 40,000 are born with this lack of pigmentation—is called Mãhina, meaning “moon” in Tongan.

In the caption, the Australian photographer writes: “Watching this spectacular and curious moon white whale calf play and roll through the water represents the remarkable success story of a species given the chance to recover after being heavily targeted by whaling and once being brought to the brink of extinction. Considering the resilience of this awe-inspiring species, sightings of such rare individuals renews hope in what can happen when conservation is championed and wildlife is allowed to thrive. Mãhina is a living reminder of what is possible when conservation works—a species once on the brink, now rebounding.”

The 2026 edition of the awards attracted entries from photographers in 51 countries across six continents, showcasing images that reflect the stunning beauty and vulnerability of the natural world. Check out the category winners and runners-up on the World Nature Photography Awards website. Congrats to everyone who placed!
 

Silver, Underwater, “What Lies Beneath” by Matthew Sharp
 

Bronze, Underwater, “Green Sea Turtle Surrounded by Glass Fish” by Aimee Jan
 

Gold, Nature Art, “Ghost of the Reef” by Simon Biddie