A deer carrying the rotting head of a rival and a lynx playing with its food are among the striking photographs shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026.
Hosted by the Natural History Museum in London, the competition allows people from anywhere in the world to vote for their favorite image online.
Other Stunning Highlights
The shortlist also features:
- A “superpod” of spinner dolphins driving their prey to the ocean’s surface.
- A tiger with a rare genetic pattern, showing unusually wide, dark stripes.
- Two heartbreaking polar bear images: one of a mother and her three cubs napping on bare ground in Canada, and another of a cub in Svalbard whose hunting trip ended tragically near a human settlement.
Voting and Exhibition Details
Voting for the People’s Choice Award closes on March 18, 2026, with the winner announced on March 25. The winning image will be displayed alongside 100 photos from last year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, which remains open until July 2026.
The competition, produced and developed by the Natural History Museum, celebrates extraordinary wildlife photography from around the world. Readers are encouraged to share their favorite images in the comments.