20 Winning Images From the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards That Turn Wildlife Into Art
Published Feb. 23 2026, 8:13 a.m. ET
(L) Silver winner of the 'Behaviour – Mammals' category; (R) Gold winner of the 'Animal portraits' category. (Cover Image Source: World Nature Photography Awards 2026/(L) Michael Stavrakakis; (R) Mary Schrader)
When science meets art, nature happens. This year’s winning gallery of the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards is bubbling with images that depict this marriage of the two, wrapped in dramatic storytelling. A gorilla-butterfly encounter illustrates the beauty of relationships. The dark-skinned gorilla concentrates its intense, enlightened gaze upon the peppy little butterfly as it flutters carefree. The unflinching gaze of a protective lion mom is just as fierce as the gaze of this gorilla, which is tender. Meanwhile, a tiny creature enrobes itself in a silk cocoon, ready for metamorphosis. The grand prize, however, goes to Mãhina, the white humpback calf, as it adds another cherished memory to its family album.