Wildlife Photographer of the Year Launches its Sixty-Second Competition
Monday 20 October, 2025: Wildlife Photographer of the Year has officially launched its sixty-second competition, inviting entries from photographers of all nationalities, backgrounds, and experience levels. The esteemed, international expert judging panel for this year’s competition has also been announced, including two-time Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Title winner, Laurent Ballesta.
The competition has also updated its rule on baiting to further promote ethical wildlife practices. Going forward, any form of baiting will be prohibited, except in cases where the photograph is the result of legitimate scientific research. This change reflects the competition’s continued focus on celebrating the natural world with respect and integrity.
Entrants aged 26 and under will continue to receive free entry to the competition, with last year’s introduction of a fee waiver resulting in an 83.6% increase in entries from this age group. The waived fee also applies to photographers from 114 countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and Southern America that have been historically underrepresented in the competition.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is committed to increasing diversity and representation in the competition through initiatives such as offering discounted entry fees to organizations that support diversity in wildlife photography. The competition also features three categories for photographers aged 17 and under.
The judging panel for this year’s competition comprises seven experts from various wildlife and conservation fields. They will select the top 100 images, including the competition’s 16 winners in categories ranging from mammal behavior and urban wildlife to underwater and photojournalism. The competition also features three categories in the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for photographers aged 17 and under.
In addition to the main competition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year will also continue its Impact Award, which was launched for its sixtieth anniversary to highlight the power of photography in promoting wildlife conservation successes and positive action for the natural world.
Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury, says: “One of the great honors of serving on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year jury is the trust that the photographic community shares with us – trust that we respect their work, value their commitment to the natural world, and hold the competition to the highest standards. We believe in the community, and once again, we can’t wait to be amazed by their photography.”
Gemma Ward, Competition Manager, says: “We’re excited to unveil this year’s jury, who will choose the 100 winning images that capture the beauty of the natural world. Their selection will spotlight the power of wildlife photography to spark global conversations and inspire change.
“Wildlife photographers face the challenge of capturing powerful images while adhering to the highest ethical standards in their practice. This balance lies at the heart of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and we are proud to introduce our updated rule on baiting to further promote the protection of wild animals and their environments.”
The esteemed international jury for this year’s competition includes:
– Kathy Moran (USA) – Chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jury and former Deputy Director of Photography at National Geographic
– Laurent Ballesta (France) – Biologist, photographer, and two-time Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Title winner
– Jasper Doest (The Netherlands) – Photographer and National Geographic Explorer
– Florence Goupil (Peru) – Documentary photographer, National Geographic Explorer, and Sony Latin America World Photography Prize winner
– Blanca Huertas (UK/Colombia) – Entomologist and Senior Curator at the Natural History Museum, London
– Clement Kiragu (Kenya) – Wildlife photographer, cinematographer, and National Geographic Explorer
– Sudhir Shivaram (India) – Wildlife photographer, Sony India Brand Ambassador, and 2012 Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The competition is open for entries from October 20, 2025, to December 4, 2025. Adult entrants can submit up to 25 images for a £35 fee, while entrants aged 18-26 and 17 and under can submit up to 25 and 10 images, respectively, for free. Rules and categories are translated into 15 languages.
The winners of the sixty-first competition were recently revealed at a ceremony hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin at the Natural History Museum, London. The competition attracted over 60,000 entries from 113 countries.
About Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum, London’s, global platform for the world’s best nature photography and wildlife photojournalism. Its annual competition is open to photographers of all ages, nationalities, and experience levels, with over 60,000 entries received each year. The competition also includes outreach activities that engage millions of people worldwide, inviting them to celebrate and advocate for the natural world.
About the Natural History Museum, London
The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.