Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 2025 Locations Dates Tickets

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition continues to captivate audiences across the UK and internationally, bringing extraordinary nature photography to museums and galleries from London to Milan. Now in its sixth decade, the competition run by the Natural History Museum draws tens of thousands of entries annually, showcasing the work of photographers who capture wildlife at its most striking.

The sixty-first edition opened in October 2025, featuring one hundred winning and shortlisted images selected from 60,636 entries. These photographs travel to venues across the country and around the world, offering visitors the chance to experience exceptional wildlife imagery up close. Whether the exhibition visits Bristol, Edinburgh, or international destinations, each location brings the same commitment to celebrating nature through the lens.

This guide covers everything visitors need to know about the current exhibition cycle, from confirmed locations and dates to ticket information and what’s available in the book and shop.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Locations

The exhibition tours nationally and internationally, bringing images from the competition to venues across the UK and beyond. Not all locations host every edition, and dates vary from year to year. Here is what is confirmed for the current cycle.

UK Tour Details

The Natural History Museum notes that the exhibition tours to venues across the United Kingdom, though specific dates for locations beyond London and Bristol are not always published in advance. Bristol previously hosted the sixtieth edition starting in October, before the current sixty-first run began. Those planning visits should check individual museum websites for the latest schedules.

Edinburgh and Cardiff have been home to the exhibition in past years. However, no confirmed 2025 or 2026 dates for either city appeared in available sources as of April 2026. Visitors hoping to see the exhibition in Scotland or Wales may find it worthwhile to monitor announcements from local museums or the Natural History Museum’s own channels.

International Touring

Beyond the UK, the exhibition reaches audiences across Europe and North America. Milan, organized by Associazione Culturale Radicediunopercento, wrapped its run in late January 2026. The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto concluded in March 2026, while the Royal BC Museum in Victoria finished its display in April 2026.

Key Facts at a Glance

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

The sixty-first edition of the competition culminated in an awards ceremony held on October 14, 2025, at the Natural History Museum in London. Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin hosted the event, which was broadcast live on the museum’s YouTube channel. This ceremony revealed the category winners, Grand Title award recipients, and Young Grand Title winners selected from thousands of entries.

The exhibition showcasing these winning images opened shortly after, on October 17, 2025, at the Natural History Museum’s East Pavilion Gallery in South Kensington. This central London venue provides generous space for displaying the one hundred images that made it through the selection process.

Bristol Run

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery opened its run of the sixty-first edition on October 31, 2025, offering audiences in the south-west of England the chance to view the exhibition. This venue has hosted previous editions, having displayed the sixtieth edition starting in October the previous year.

Bristol’s run has now closed. Visitors who missed it can still experience the exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London, which continues until July 2026.

How Images Are Selected

Photographers from around the world submit their work to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition each year. The sixty-first edition attracted 60,636 entries, from which a panel of judges selected one hundred images for display. These photographs exemplify creativity, originality, and technical excellence in wildlife photography. The competition covers categories ranging from mammal behaviour to underwater scenes, ensuring a diverse representation of nature through the lens.

Special Access Options

The Natural History Museum offers several options for visitors with specific access needs. Guided tours run from 09:00 to 09:45, providing an early start before general opening. Relaxed viewings take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00, designed for disabled and neurodiverse visitors. Large print guides and audio descriptions are available, with the latter introduced from late November in Bristol and likely available throughout the London run.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winners

The awards ceremony on October 14, 2025, revealed the photographers whose work had been selected as the finest among tens of thousands of entries. Category winners, the Grand Title, and the Young Grand Title were announced at this event, held at the Natural History Museum and broadcast live online.

Detailed winner names are not fully listed in all available sources. However, promotional materials for the exhibition highlight images by photographers including Jason Gulley and Parham Pourahmad. The full list of category winners can be explored on the Natural History Museum’s dedicated Wildlife Photographer of the Year website.

The People’s Choice Award

While details of a People’s Choice vote for the sixty-first edition were not found in available sources, a separate announcement emerged in March 2026. An Iberian lynx photograph was named the 2026 People’s Choice winner, with coverage from major outlets including the BBC highlighting this remarkable image. This distinction reflects public appreciation for a particular photograph among the entries, separate from the official competition awards.

Grand Title and Young Grand Title

The most prestigious accolades in the competition are the Grand Title and Young Grand Title awards. These recognise outstanding individual images that embody the spirit of wildlife photography at its highest level. The sixty-first edition’s winners were celebrated at the October ceremony, with the images subsequently displayed in the touring exhibition.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

The sixty-second edition of the competition, corresponding to the 2026 competition cycle, is currently underway or upcoming. Details about this edition will emerge as the year progresses, with updates expected from the Natural History Museum.

People’s Choice and Upcoming Announcements

The announcement of the 2026 People’s Choice winner, featuring an Iberian lynx image, suggests that public voting mechanisms exist alongside the official judging process. This type of recognition allows photography enthusiasts and the general public to engage with the competition, highlighting images that resonate with audiences.

Further announcements regarding the sixty-second edition, including the awards ceremony date, exhibition schedule, and confirmed touring locations beyond those already listed, are anticipated in the months ahead. Visitors wishing to stay informed should monitor the Natural History Museum’s official channels for updates.

Looking Ahead

For those who wish to experience future editions, planning ahead is advisable. The London run for the sixty-first edition continues until July 2026, providing ample opportunity to visit. For subsequent editions, ticket releases, venue announcements, and opening dates will be published through the museum’s website and exhibition pages.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Book and Shop

The exhibition experience extends beyond the gallery walls. Many visitors seek to own prints, books, and other items inspired by the competition. The Natural History Museum offers exhibition merchandise, including maps and guides, through its museum shop.

Publications

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has produced official books for many years, documenting winning images and the stories behind them. These publications serve as both a record of the competition and a source of inspiration for photographers and nature enthusiasts. The availability of specific titles may vary, and interested buyers should check the Natural History Museum shop or authorised retailers for current stock.

Merchandise and Gifts

Exhibition merchandise at the Natural History Museum typically includes items such as postcards, prints, and guidebooks related to the current display. Visitors to the London venue can browse the shop on-site, while the museum’s online store may offer additional options for those unable to visit in person.

Key Dates in the Exhibition Timeline

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has been touring since the Natural History Museum took over organisation in 1965. Here are the key dates and milestones relevant to the current sixty-first edition and its touring schedule.

1. October 14, 2025 — Awards ceremony held at the Natural History Museum in London, hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin.
2. October 17, 2025 — Sixty-first edition exhibition opened at the Natural History Museum, East Pavilion Gallery.
3. October 31, 2025 — Bristol Museum & Art Gallery opened its run of the sixty-first edition.
4. November 8, 2025 — Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto began displaying the exhibition.
5. November 15, 2025 — Museo della Permanente in Milan opened its exhibition run.
6. January 25, 2026 — Milan’s run concluded.
7. March 25, 2026 — 2026 People’s Choice winner announced: Iberian lynx photograph.
8. March 29, 2026 — Toronto’s run at the Royal Ontario Museum concluded.
9. April 19, 2026 — Royal BC Museum in Victoria concluded its display.
10. July 12, 2026 — London exhibition at the Natural History Museum is scheduled to close.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear

Given the volume of information surrounding a major international touring exhibition, it is worth distinguishing between what is established and what remains open to further confirmation.

The Competition’s Background and Purpose

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition began in 1965 and has grown into the world’s most prestigious nature photography event. The Natural History Museum in London has organised the competition for decades, attracting submissions from photographers at all levels, from emerging talent to established professionals.

The exhibition serves a purpose beyond display. By touring to venues across the UK and internationally, it brings wildlife photography to diverse audiences and reinforces the museum’s mission to inspire conservation of the natural world. The images selected each year represent not only technical mastery but also stories about animals, habitats, and the challenges facing wildlife today.

This dual role, as both a competition and a vehicle for conservation messaging, distinguishes the event from other photography showcases. Visitors leave not only with an appreciation for exceptional imagery but also with a deeper understanding of why protecting nature matters.

Sources and References

Information in this guide draws from several authoritative sources, including official museum announcements and exhibition listings.

The Natural History Museum describes the exhibition as celebrating “the diversity of life on Earth” and notes the competition’s role in showcasing “the most extraordinary and beautiful images of the natural world.”

— Natural History Museum, nhm.ac.uk

Coverage from the BBC in March 2026 reported on the Iberian lynx photograph winning the People’s Choice award, highlighting the public’s strong response to the image.

— BBC News

Additional details come from the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery exhibition pages, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Royal BC Museum, all of which provided venue-specific dates, access information, and logistical details for their respective runs.

Summary

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition offers visitors across the UK and internationally the chance to experience extraordinary nature photography. The sixty-first edition, featuring one hundred images from over sixty thousand entries, opened in London in October 2025 and continues until July 2026.

Bristol’s run has closed, but London remains accessible, with off-peak tickets from £15.50 and a range of accessibility options available. International venues in Milan, Toronto, and Victoria have also displayed the exhibition, while confirmed dates for Edinburgh and Cardiff in this cycle were not available as of April 2026. The 2026 People’s Choice award went to an Iberian lynx photograph, underscoring the powerful impact of wildlife imagery.

Those planning a visit should check official museum websites for the latest information on venues, tickets, and upcoming announcements regarding the next edition.

Frequently Asked Questions