Winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2026

The Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 winners were announced, showcasing stunning images of birds from around the world. The Gold Winner in the 12-14 years category was Paula Czaeczine's photograph of red-necked phalaropes on a small island in Norway. The Silver Winner for Best Portrait went to Volker Widmann, capturing an Atlantic puffin against the reflections of the ocean in Skomer.

An ostrich in black and white was photographed by Rahul Sachdev, emphasizing the bird's solitary journey across the dust and heat of the Amboseli dry lake bed. Alex Pansier's mesmerizing swarm of guillemots in flight on Hornøya earned him a Silver Winner for Birds in Flight. David Stowe's portrait of a male Western Parotia dancing in the dark rainforest of West Papua was awarded a Bronze Winner for Best Portrait.

Bernhard Schubert's photograph of frigatebirds engaging in aerial skirmishes at a beach in Tulum was recognized as a Bronze Winner for Bird Behavior. Luca Eberle's image of a frigatebird caught in the act of kleptoparasitism was also awarded a Bronze Winner for Bird Behavior. David Stowe's stunning capture of dozens of protected and rare birds illegally killed each season in Malta was recognized as a Bronze Winner for Conservation.

Henley Spiers' composition of a northern gannet seemed to burst through the sun as it pierced down through the water was awarded the Gold Winner for Birds in the Environment and the overall Bird Photographer of the Year 2026.