‘Rarely seen moments’: Winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards revealed
Fluorescent lobsters and leaping toads have starring roles in this year’s winning photos.
The winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2026 have been revealed, celebrating the quiet beauty of the UK’s natural world.
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This year’s top prize was awarded to a striking black-and-white image of a toad gliding across a crystal clear pond overlooked by sparse treetops.
Selected from over 12,000 entries, the winning photograph was taken by Paul Hobson, who had to get creative to capture the watery shot from the bottom of the pond.
“I built a glass box to house the camera and keep it dry,” explains Hobson. “I had to add ballast to make sure it would sink and used old tripod legs glued to its sides to keep the box level. I triggered the camera using an adapted long cable release.”
It was a task that required not only technical resourcefulness but plenty of patience. “I had to wait quite a long time until a toad swam across the surface – most of them would usually swim below it and rest on the glass,” Hobson adds.
The competition, which invites both amateur and professional photographers to compete for the £3,500 (€4,000) grand prize, features winning images from every corner of the isles – from a fluorescent green lobster on the Scottish coast to a red fox resting in a vehicle on an English industrial estate.
“This year’s winners celebrate the wonder, diversity and character of British wildlife in truly exceptional ways,” says Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA. “From familiar species to rarely seen moments… they offer a joyful celebration of Britain’s natural world, while also reminding us why these places and species are so deserving of our care and protection.”
Below are all the winning images from each category.
A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond by Paul Hobson (British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and Black and White winner)
Nemesis by Mark Parker (Animal Behaviour winner)
Standing Tall by Alastair Marsh (Animal Portraits winner)
Slime Moulds and a Water Droplet by Barry Webb (Botanical Britain winner)
Glowing Bright by James Lynott (Coast and Marine winner)
Dipper Dream by Marc Humphrey (Habitat winner)
New Life by Julian Terreros-Martin (Hidden Britain winner)
Asleep at the Wheel by Simon Withyman (Urban Wildlife winner)
Beams of Brightness by Mark Richardson (Wild Woods winner)
Feathery Pillow by Ben Lucas (Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and 15-17 Years Winner)
Cutting Edge by Jamie Smart (11 and Under winner)
Acrobatic Hobby by Jack Crockford (12-14 Years winner)
A Eurasian hobby preys on an unlucky mayfly in Staines Moor, England.
