If you love stunning wildlife photos and breathtaking views, you’re in for a serious treat. THE 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (AGNPOTY) The competition has just dropped the shortlist of 100 incredible images and the internet is collectively losing its mind. Now in its 23rd year, this huge competition hosted by South Australian Museum gathered 2,129 entries from around the world.
The judges had the impossible task of narrowing these down into 10 awesome categories – covering everything from tiny macro details and minor talent to stunning landscape photography and endangered species. The resulting shortlist is an absolute masterclass in patience and storytelling.
Watch John Harrison’s stunning capture of a group of king penguins having a hilariously awkward confrontation with a massive elephant seal. Or Lewis Burnett’s short photograph of a tiger-snouted seahorse floating against a backdrop of bright pink soft coral – proving that underwater photography can look straight out of a fantasy film.
The tiny details are just as impressive. Photographers captured clusters of newborn spiders hanging like a “spider piñata” and translucent green bug nymphs huddling together for camouflage. From a great egret running proudly with its fresh catch to a tiny loggerhead sea turtle hatchling making a big splash in the ocean at sunset, each shot captures a fleeting, emotional moment.
Honestly, this nature photography contest proves that our planet is full of magic if you know when to look. It’s a beautiful reminder of why we need to protect these wild places!
“A group of king penguins pauses in mid-March as an elephant seal objects. Confidently striding up the shoreline earlier, the penguins reconsider their course in the face of overwhelming size and sound. This fleeting interspecies negotiation, where determination meets dominance, shows that even the boldest knows when it must follow a procession.”
“Fairyfloss depicts the aptly named tiger-snouted seahorse at home in its kingdom. These seahorses are usually found in murky, sediment-rich environments, which often lead to unappealing images. This site is known for its spectacular soft coral growths, so I was able to photograph this iconic species with their species.”
“We spotted a faint yellow blob nestling in the grass; tiny arachnids gathered after hatching. They do this to stay safe while they absorb the egg’s nutrients and complete their first germination. Something had disturbed them, as a small clump of arachnids hangs by a thread – not like a piñata!”
“The translucent green nymphs of the coppery orange bug congregate near their vacated egg raft after hatching. During this first stage, they remain clumped together before dispersing after molting. Their light green color provides effective camouflage, making them difficult to spot. They are often mistaken for other insect species.”
“Huddled on a Zodiac boat in icy waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, I patiently waited for an Adélie penguin to be propelled from the water to the safety of an iceberg. Persistence paid off as I captured this penguin in an almost suspended state, as if posing for the camera.”
“A pygmy seahorse clings to a pink mermaid fan, blending seamlessly into its surroundings. A narrow beam of light isolates the tiny subject from the reef, while a slower shutter speed turns its habitat into a soft, short blue.”
“As the flood from the River Lachlan receded, large numbers of waterfowl were feeding at a water hole. When this great egret took a fish out of the water and lifted it up as it left, I was able to create an impressive image, showing the egret’s long neck and lance.”
“The sun was about to set. I had been watching them for the last five hours, flying through the bushes covering the headland, fighting in the air and chattering incessantly in large groups. I wanted to capture this action and luckily I managed to get a photo that I was quite happy with.”
“As I lay on the sand behind this hatchling nest at sunset, I thought how the statistics are against their survival. Then, that he might be the one in 1,000 who survives against the odds, returning to the same beach to nest in several decades.”
