2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year Finalists Announced

The 2026 International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition has selected 101 finalists from nearly 1,600 entries worldwide. The top honor was awarded to Azim Khan Ronnie, a journalist whose winning image captures agricultural workers harvesting red chili. The competition, now in its second year, features photographs taken from drones, airplanes, and building tops. Subjects range from erupting volcanoes and geological formations to architecture and cultural events. Among the finalists is Marcin Zając, whose drone photograph offers a unique perspective of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, a structure completed nearly 90 years ago. Other notable entries include Paolo Lazzarotti's "Complete Rainbow" (Italy), Sanghamitra Sarkar's "Wari" (India), and Clément Coudeyre's "The Floor Is Lava" (Iceland). The full gallery of top 101 photos is available on the contest's website.