Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 (the sixty-second edition) is now open, and the clock is already ticking. Entries close on 4 December 2025, with one photographer ultimately claiming the iconic Grand Title and £10,000. Hosted by London’s Natural History Museum, WPY62 spans single-image and multi-image storytelling, all focused on truthful, ethical depictions of the natural world. Adult entry costs £35, while the Young competition remains free to enter, with entries grouped by age. Among the many online photography competitions, this one consistently sits at the top of most calendars.
Expect a broad range of categories, from “Animals in their Environment” and “Natural Artistry” to “Photojournalism” and the multiple-image Portfolio and Story awards. Beyond the Grand Title, there are cash awards for several special distinctions, plus category winners and highly commended placements featured in the exhibition and annual book. Submissions are made online, with RAWs and high-res files requested only if shortlisted.
For photographers focused on wildlife, conservation and environmental storytelling, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 offers high-visibility, factual recognition. It is a serious, ethics-led competition: no AI imagery, no baiting or staged interference, and strict authenticity checks. The result is a trusted stage for work that stands up to scrutiny and travels on a world tour of museums and venues.
Contents
Prizes
Prizes are awarded across the Adult and Young competitions, with the Grand Title as the top distinction.
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Grand Title): £10,000, trophy and personalised certificate.
- Portfolio Award (27+): £2,500, personalised certificate, trip to London for the awards ceremony, and publication in the WPY Portfolio book.
- Photojournalist Story Award: £2,500, personalised certificate, trip to London, and publication in the WPY Portfolio book.
- Rising Star Portfolio Award (18–26): £1,500, personalised certificate, portfolio review by a WPY alumnus, trip to London, and publication in the WPY Portfolio book.
- Impact Award: £750 and personalised certificate (plus trip to London if a physical ceremony is held).
- Adult Category Winners: £1,250 and personalised certificate, trip to London, and publication in the WPY Portfolio book.
- Adult Category Highly Commended: Personalised certificate, invitation to the awards ceremony, and publication in the WPY Portfolio book.
- Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Grand Title): £1,500, trophy and personalised certificate, a two-day masterclass with a professional photographer, and a feature in the Museum’s Wild World magazine.
- Young Category Winners: £500 and personalised certificate, trip to London, and book publication.
- Young Runners-up / Highly Commended: Certificates, awards-night invitations and book publication.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
Entrants can submit up to 25 photos across the following categories. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 welcomes both single images and multi-image series, celebrating the full range of wildlife and environmental photography.
- Animals in their Environment – portraits of species within their natural surroundings.
- Animal Portraits – close studies capturing personality and detail.
- Behaviour: separate awards for Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Invertebrates and Mammals.
- Plants and Fungi – images highlighting botanical or fungal life forms.
- Under Water – life beneath the surface, from oceans to freshwater ecosystems.
- Urban Wildlife – interactions between nature and human spaces.
- Natural Artistry – abstract or creative compositions found in nature.
- Oceans: The Bigger Picture and Wetlands: The Bigger Picture – focused environmental storytelling.
- Photojournalism – stories and single frames documenting environmental and conservation issues.
- Portfolio Award (27+) and Rising Star Portfolio Award (18–26).
- Photojournalist Story Award – multiple images developing a visual narrative.
The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is divided by age: 10 and under, 11–14, and 15–17. Each young entrant can submit up to ten images on any nature-related theme.
Dates and Entry Fees
Closing date: 4 December 2025.
Adult entry fee: £35.
The fee is waived for entrants aged 18–26 on the closing date and for residents of a long list of eligible countries.
Young competition: Free to enter.
How to Enter:
Enter via the official portal. Upload JPEGs saved at high quality (Photoshop level 8 or higher), Adobe RGB (1998), 1920 px on the long side, with no borders, watermarks or signatures. You may submit up to 25 photos in total (Adult) across categories; the same image can be entered in more than one category. If shortlisted, you will be asked for RAW/original files and a high-resolution TIFF for printing. Provide accurate captions, including location and story context.
About the Jury
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 is judged by an international panel chaired by photo editor Kathy Moran (USA). The announced jury includes:
- Laurent Ballesta (France).
- Jasper Doest (The Netherlands).
- Florence Goupil (Peru).
- Blanca Huertas (UK/Colombia).
- Clement Kiragu (Kenya).
- Sudhir Shivaram (India).
Entries are reviewed anonymously in two rounds, with authenticity checks in the final round.
Why Enter Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025?
There’s a reason Wildlife Photographer of the Year has endured for over six decades. Winning, or even being shortlisted, means joining a legacy of photographers whose work defines how the world sees nature. The competition doesn’t just offer prizes, it offers global visibility. Every winning image tours internationally with the exhibition, appears in the official WPY book, and is showcased by one of the most respected museums in the world.
Beyond the prestige, WPY’s values stand out. It promotes honesty in storytelling, conservation awareness, and a deep respect for the wild. Each image is checked for authenticity, ensuring that what audiences see is real, not manipulated. For photographers exploring the best photography contests, WPY remains a benchmark (especially for those working in wildlife, nature, underwater and photojournalism). Few contests match its influence or reach.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Adult competition is open to entrants aged 18+; Young competition to ages 17 and under (by 4 December 2025). Adult entrants may submit up to 25 images total across categories; Young entrants may submit up to 10 images in their age group. Photographs must depict non-captive, wild nature; AI-generated images are not allowed. Baiting, luring or any means of attraction, staged interference, or actions that distress wildlife or damage habitats are prohibited. Entries must be authentic and recent; Adult entries require capture dates after October 2020. If shortlisted, RAW/original files and high-resolution TIFFs are required for verification and exhibition production.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains with photographers. Awarded images may be used to promote the competition and displayed at the Natural History Museum and touring venues worldwide. The Museum and its licensees receive a licence to exhibit, publicise and publish awarded images in connection with the competition and its exhibitions, with credit given where practicable. Publication includes inclusion in the annual WPY Portfolio book and related media. Non-awarded digital entries are not retained after results are announced.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
