Award-winning images reveal the beauty, drama and extraordinary diversity of wildlife from around the world
Some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife photography will go on show at the House of Manannan in Peel from Saturday 5 December 2026, as the internationally acclaimed Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition arrives on the Isle of Man.
Now in its sixty second year, the prestigious exhibition is on loan from the Natural History Museum in London and features 100 remarkable images celebrating the beauty, complexity and diversity of the natural world.
Selected from more than 65,000 entries submitted from 121 countries and territories, the photographs were chosen by an international panel of expert judges and announced at a prestigious event hosted by wildlife presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin. During an intensive week of judging at the Natural History Museum, entries were assessed anonymously for their creativity, originality and technical excellence.
From intimate glimpses of animal behaviour to spectacular encounters with some of the planet’s most fascinating species, the exhibition offers a compelling insight into the lives of wildlife around the world. Combining exceptional photography with powerful storytelling, the images aim to inspire wonder, deepen our connection with nature and encourage greater commitment to protecting the planet.
First launched in 1965, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is widely regarded as the world’s leading competition of its kind. Its annual exhibition tours internationally, reaching audiences of well over a million people and bringing the wonders of the natural world to visitors across the globe. The House of Manannan is among the first museums to host this year’s prestigious touring exhibition.
Among the exhibition’s highlights is Audun Rikardsen’s remarkable image of a polar bear seen from a seal’s perspective, as it peers down through a breathing hole in the Arctic sea ice. After discovering polar bear tracks near a seal hole, Rikardsen drilled a second hole nearby to position his underwater camera, linking it to a motion sensor on the ice above. After eight hours of waiting, the bear finally approached and peered down into the water, offering a rare glimpse of life beneath the ice.
The Grand Title winning photograph was taken by Federico Veronesi and captures the poignant sight of an elephant carrying its dead calf, offering a rare insight into complex animal behaviours.
The title of Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 was awarded to Oscar Whitfield, a young British photographer living in Zimbabwe. His winning image, Labour of Love, captures a dung beetle straining under the weight of its precious cargo.
In the 10 Years and Under category, Amelie Davis winning photograph highlights a common carder bee suspended in mid-air as it flies in to land and feast on a flower in southern England.
Amelie had been taking photographs of bees for several months. On this August afternoon the garden was ‘teeming with bees’. Without her camera, Amelie borrowed her dad’s smartphone and was able to record the delicate detail of a single wingbeat.
Laura McCoy, Curator for Natural History at Manx National Heritage, said:
“This year’s winning photographs show just how powerfully wildlife photography can change the way we see nature.
From the moving sight of an adult elephant carrying its dead calf to the remarkable determination of a dung beetle rolling a ball many times its own size, these images reveal the intimate, surprising and often profound moments that connect us to the natural world.
They are a powerful reminder that every species has a part to play in the web of life, and that understanding and protecting our planet’s wildlife has never been more important”.
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, said:
“Through a collection of truly extraordinary images, selected from a global reach of 121 countries and territories, this exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the wonder of our planet through the eyes of some of the world’s most talented photographers.
At a time when nature is under more pressure than ever before, these photographs remind us of both what is at stake and what is worth protecting. It will be impossible to leave without feeling a renewed sense of wonder for our incredible planet”.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year opens at the House of Manannan on Saturday 5 December 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027.
Admission to the exhibition costs £8 for adults and £4 for children, students and concessions*. Family tickets, covering two adults and two children, are available for £22. Advance booking is recommended, with tickets available now at www.manxnationalheritage.im – book here.
Isle of Man schools will benefit from a 50% discount for school groups of 10 or more children, with school groups encouraged to book visits using a dedicated promotional code issued to all island schools.
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