Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 Shortlist Revealed
The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 shortlist features 18 images across categories including landscape, animal behaviour, macro, monochrome, and threatened species. Highlights include Kendra Campbell's 'One in 1,000' capturing a sea turtle hatchling at sunset, Gergo Rugli's 'Nereus' showing a wave breaking over a reef after a storm, and Mat Bell's 'Penguin Pose' of an Adélie penguin leaping from Antarctic waters. Other notable entries: Dianne Galbraith's macro shot of a spider on dandelion seeds, Georgina Steytler's 'Strutting Tern' depicting sooty tern courtship, and Douglas Gimesy's 'Koalas Are Dying for You to Slow Down' addressing road trauma. The competition is organized by Australian Geographic.
Key facts
- Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 shortlist includes 18 images.
- Categories include landscape, animal behaviour, macro, monochrome, threatened species, botanical, junior, and our impact.
- Kendra Campbell photographed a sea turtle hatchling at sunset for the threatened species category.
- Gergo Rugli captured a wave breaking over a reef after a storm in the landscape category.
- Mat Bell photographed an Adélie penguin leaping from water onto an iceberg in Antarctica.
- Douglas Gimesy's image highlights road trauma as a threat to koalas.
- François Brassard's macro shows spider ants immobilizing a pony ant.
- The competition is run by Australian Geographic.
Entities
Artists
- Kendra Campbell
- Gergo Rugli
- Dianne Galbraith
- Georgina Steytler
- Douglas Gimesy
- William Patino
- Donald Chin
- Cheng Kang
- François Brassard
- Simone Osborne
- Emma Perry
- Benjamin Alldridge
- Mat Bell
- Natalie Murray
- Arlo Wallace
- Matt Cornish
- Spencer Hitchen
- John Harrison
- David Stowe
- Matt Bell
- Paula McManus
- Jasmine Vink
- Andrew Peakcock
- Francois Brassard
- Matt Deakin
- Bernie Shore
Institutions
- Australian Geographic
- South Australian Museum
- PetaPixel
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- Antarctic peninsula
- Macquarie Island
- Sandy Bay
- Queensland
- Alpine high country
- New Zealand
- Antarctica
- New Guinea
- Adelaide
- Kybybolite
- Naracoorte
- South Australia
- Antarctic Peninsula