British Wildlife Photography Awards 2026
The British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) is now in its 15th year and one of the more long-running UK wildlife photography competitions. The awards run with director Will Nicholls and cover the breadth of British nature photography across twelve categories.
Categories: Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black and White, British Seasons, Coast and Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife, Wild Woods, Documentary Series, and Video. The £10,000 main prize is awarded across the program. Photos must be taken in Britain or the British Isles, made after January 1, 2019, and the rules forbid compositing, sky swapping, or object removal — post-processing is permitted within those constraints. AI-generated work is strictly prohibited.
Eligibility is open globally — photographers from anywhere can submit, provided the images themselves were taken in the British Isles. The Youth competition (17 and under) is free to enter; the adult competition fee is £35 to £40 depending on category and entry tier.
Selected work tours the UK as a traveling exhibition and is published in the Collection 14 coffee-table book. Proceeds from the auction of award-winning prints are donated to Birds on the Brink charity.
The 2026 jury comprises wildlife photographers Ellie Rothnie, David Chapman, Lara Jackson (also a conservation biologist), Neil McIntyre, Danny Green, underwater photographer Gina Goodman, and BWPA Director and wildlife cameraman Will Nicholls. The 2026 deadline is June 7; winners announced March 2027.
Jury: Ellie Rothnie, Wildlife Photographer · David Chapman, Wildlife Photographer · Lara Jackson, Conservation Biologist & Wildlife Photographer · Neil McIntyre, Wildlife Photographer · Gina Goodman, Underwater Photographer · Danny Green, Wildlife Photographer · Will Nicholls, BWPA Director & Wildlife Cameraman
Organized by British Wildlife Photography Awards