A nosy polar bear and a lucky squirrel: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 shortlist

The shortlist for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition showcases breathtaking images capturing the planet's diverse fauna. Among the highly commended entries is Norwegian photographer Audun Rikardsen's "Icy Window," which offers a rare glimpse into the life of a polar bear from a seal's perspective. Rikardsen rigged an underwater camera near a seal's breathing hole, capturing a female polar bear's intense curiosity.

"I was so extremely happy. I was screaming, so I probably woke up all the polar bears for miles," Rikardsen described his reaction to the captured image. This marks his third recognition in the competition, having previously won in the Birds category in 2019 and Oceans: The Bigger Picture in 2025.

Other standout images include Jack Crockford's "The Art of Flying," documenting swifts returning to London, and Sora Miyazawa's "Urban Wanderer," which captures an Eastern Japanese toad traversing a city street in Tokyo after rainfall. Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen's "Lifted to the Surface" provides a poignant look at an orca carrying a deceased calf in a Norwegian fjord.

The overall winners will be announced on October 13, 2026, with an exhibition opening at the Natural History Museum in London on October 16, 2026. The competition celebrates the artistry and importance of wildlife photography, highlighting both the beauty and fragility of the natural world.

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I was so extremely happy. I was screaming, so I probably woke up all the polar bears for miles.