Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the prestigious and highly anticipated global competition, has officially launched its sixty-second edition. Photographers from all backgrounds, nationalities, and experience levels are invited to submit their entries.
The competition has also announced its esteemed international jury, which includes two-time Grand Title winner, Laurent Ballesta. The panel of experts will select the top 100 images, including the 16 winners in categories such as mammal behavior, urban wildlife, and underwater photography. The competition also features three categories for young photographers aged 17 and under.
In addition to promoting diversity and inclusion, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is committed to ethical wildlife practices. As such, the competition has updated its rules on baiting, now completely prohibiting any form of baiting except for scientific research, which must be clearly stated in the image caption.
Entrants aged 26 and under will continue to receive free entry to the competition, and a waived fee is also available for photographers from 114 countries that have historically been underrepresented in the competition.
The international jury for this year’s competition is made up of seven experts in wildlife and conservation. Kathy Moran, the Chair of the Jury, expressed her excitement for the competition and the trust the photographic community has placed in them to uphold the highest standards.
Gemma Ward, the Competition Manager, also shared her enthusiasm for the competition and its ability to spark global conversations and inspire change through the power of photography. She also highlighted the importance of balancing the responsibility of capturing powerful images with ethical practices in the field.
The jury for this year’s competition includes Kathy Moran from the USA, Laurent Ballesta from France, Jasper Doest from the Netherlands, Florence Goupil from Peru, Blanca Huertas from the UK/Colombia, Clement Kiragu from Kenya, and Sudhir Shivaram from India.
The competition is now open for entries and will close on December 4, 2025. Full details, including rules, categories, and prizes, can be found on the competition’s website. The winners of the sixty-first competition were recently announced at a ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London, with over 60,000 entries from 113 countries.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is organized by the Natural History Museum, London, a world-renowned scientific research center and one of the most visited museums in the world. The museum’s mission is to create advocates for the planet and inspire action for nature.