Winners of the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards
The Atlantic
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 World Nature Photography Awards celebrated the most extraordinary images capturing the beauty, fragility, and power of the natural world. Among the winners were Jono Allen’s stunning underwater photograph of a mother-daughter humpback whale pair in Vavaʻu, Tonga, which also claimed the Grand Prize for World Nature Photographer of the Year. Deena Sveinsson took home first place in the People and Nature category with her intimate capture of a bull moose encountering photographers in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. The awards highlight not only technical skill but also the deep emotional connection between humans and nature.
Jonathan Wosinski’s powerful image of a brown bear hunting sockeye salmon in Katmai National Park, Alaska, earned him first place in the Animals in Their Habitat category. The contest also showcased lesser-known species, such as juniper haircap moss and grey curly lichen, featured in Kai Hypen’s third-place-winning entry from Finland. Meanwhile, Indranil Basu Mallick’s striking photo of a female leopard in Kenya’s Masai Mara earned third place in Nature Photojournalism.
The awards also honored unique behaviors and interactions within the natural world. Charlie Wemyss-Dunn captured a playful moment with an Indian chameleon’s curled tail, while Miki Spitzer’s drone photography revealed a geothermal pool resembling a dragon’s eye in Iceland. These images not only showcase biodiversity but also raise awareness about conservation efforts and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
For readers interested in politics, these awards underscore the growing global emphasis on environmental protection and wildlife conservation. The photographs serve as powerful tools for advocacy, highlighting the importance
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Originally published on The Atlantic on 2/20/2026