Jan Wieczorek Wins Rewilding Europe Award 2026 for Urban Beaver Photograph
Jan Wieczorek, a photographer from Poland, received the Rewilding Europe Award 2026 for his striking black-and-white photograph titled Urban beavers, which captures beavers in Olsztyn thriving amid urban expansion. Over a span of 15 years, Wieczorek documented their lives, showcasing the stark contrast between their dam and the cityscape. He underscored the possibility of harmony between nature and urban development. Christoph Kaula, the runner-up, was honored for his image Managed revival, featuring a young European hamster in Germany, which highlights the importance of collaborative conservation. Other notable works included Fabian Thorand's Peaceful European bison, Silke Hüttche's The call of the eagles, and Lewis Jefferies's A new generation. The awards ceremony is set for October 23, 2026.
Key facts
- Jan Wieczorek won the Rewilding Europe Award 2026 for his image Urban beavers
- The award is a special category within the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition
- Wieczorek's black-and-white photograph shows beavers on a river in Olsztyn, Poland
- The photographer observed the beavers for about 15 years
- Christoph Kaula was runner-up with Managed revival, depicting a young European hamster handled by researchers in Germany
- Other commended photographers include Fabian Thorand, Silke Hüttche and Lewis Jefferies
- The images will be honored at the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 ceremony on October 23, 2026
- The award highlights wildlife comebacks across Europe and coexistence between people and nature
Entities
Artists
- Jan Wieczorek
- Christoph Kaula
- Fabian Thorand
- Silke Hüttche
- Lewis Jefferies
- Jon A. Juarez
- Viktoria Pezzei
Institutions
- Rewilding Europe
- European Wildlife Photographer of the Year
- European Photography Awards
- My Modern Met
- German Society for Nature Photography
- GDT
- National Lobster Hatchery
- PetaPixel
Locations
- Olsztyn
- Poland
- Germany
- Europe
- Anklamer Stadtbruch
- Cornwall
- England