Wildlife Photographer of the Year - London Exhibition 2026

About the Exhibition: Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A female elephant carries a dead calf across a dry riverbed. A dung beetle braces itself against a ball that dominates the frame. These are the two overall winning photographs in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. For the first time in the competition's 62-year history, both the adult and young overall winners are black and white.

The 2026 selection was chosen from 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories. An international panel judged the photographs anonymously for originality, technical excellence, ethical practice and creativity. The subjects range from large mammals to organisms barely visible to the naked eye. Some pictures depended on journeys to remote habitats; others began with close attention to a garden or a patch of woodland.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. At the Natural History Museum, the exhibition brings living animals and their habitats into focus alongside the permanent galleries. Take time to read the stories behind the photographs: they explain both the behaviour on show and the patience needed to capture it. For other cultural stops during your trip, browse our Exhibitions in London.

Images to Look For at Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Planning Your Visit: Dates, Tickets & Tips

The exhibition runs from 16 October 2026 to 11 July 2027. Book ahead, particularly for weekends and school holidays. Adult tickets cost £17 off-peak, £19 standard or £21 peak, excluding an optional Gift Aid donation. Off-peak visits fall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during term time; the museum's booking calendar determines the rate for your date.

We recommend allowing 60–90 minutes to look at the photographs and read their stories. Give yourself longer if you are interested in photographic technique or the conservation issues behind the pictures. Exhibition hours are 10:00–17:50, with last admission at 16:30; the museum closes from 24 to 26 December. South Kensington station serves the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines and is around five minutes away on foot. Allow time for bag checks before your exhibition slot.

The exhibition requires a separate ticket sold by the Natural History Museum; entry to the permanent galleries remains free, and you can visit them independently or with a private guide. If you plan to visit the permanent galleries before your exhibition slot, check the museum's entry arrangements for your intended arrival time.

Why Visit Wildlife Photographer of the Year?

The exhibition is rewarding even if you have little interest in cameras. The pictures raise questions about how animals live and how we understand their behaviour; the accompanying stories give you a way to explore those questions. For photographers, the variety of approaches is part of the appeal, from a borrowed smartphone to carefully combined close-up exposures.

For international visitors, the British settings offer a chance to notice wildlife beyond London's museum walls. Surrey, Cornwall and West Sussex appear alongside Namibia and Zimbabwe. Those local encounters give the exhibition a lasting value: they encourage closer attention to the gardens, parks and woodland you might otherwise pass through without stopping.

Practical Information

• Dates: 16 October 2026 – 11 July 2027.
• Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00–17:50; last exhibition admission 16:30. Closed 24–26 December.
• Location: Central Building, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD.
• Tickets: Sold by the Natural History Museum. Off-peak / standard / peak: adults aged 18+ £17 / £19 / £21; children aged 4–17 £8.50 / £9.50 / £10.50; students, jobseekers and disabled adults £13.60 / £15.20 / £16.80; disabled children aged 4–17 £6.80 / £7.60 / £8.40; Art Fund adults aged 16+ £8.50 / £9.50 / £10.50; Art Fund children aged 4–15 £4.25 / £4.75 / £5.25. Under-fours and disabled visitors' companions enter free; museum members also receive free entry. Prices exclude an optional Gift Aid donation. Check eligibility and your date with the official ticket office.
• Guided tours: Not available inside the exhibition with London Museum Tours. Our private tour of the Natural History Museum covers the permanent collection and can be booked for the same day.
• How to Get There: South Kensington Tube station, approximately five minutes on foot; Gloucester Road is another option. Both serve the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines.

Final Thoughts on Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Give Wildlife Photographer of the Year enough time for the quieter pictures as well as the two overall winners. Read how each photograph was made, then return to the details you first noticed: the wing of a bee or the tiny structures on a piece of wood. The stories behind the images make that second look worthwhile. Our museum tours and exhibition guides can help you plan the rest of your day in London.

Author: The London Museum Tours Team

This article was curated by the London Museum Tours team. We run private guided tours of the permanent collections of London's great museums, and we write about the city's temporary exhibitions to help you plan the perfect visit. We do not sell exhibition tickets: they are available only from the host museum.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year – FAQ

• Where can I buy tickets for Wildlife Photographer of the Year?

  Tickets are sold only by the Natural History Museum, online through its official ticket office or at the museum subject to availability. London Museum Tours does not sell exhibition tickets and cannot book them on your behalf.

• Can I visit Wildlife Photographer of the Year with a London Museum Tours guide?

  No. You visit the exhibition independently with your own ticket from the Natural History Museum; our private tours cover its permanent collection only. You can combine a 2-hour collection tour with the exhibition on the same day, in either order.

• How do I combine Wildlife Photographer of the Year with a guided tour of the Natural History Museum?

  Book your exhibition slot first with the Natural History Museum, then arrange your private collection tour around it. We recommend 60–90 minutes for the exhibition, 2 hours for the tour and a gap of about 30 minutes between them. Entry to the permanent galleries is free; check the museum's entry arrangements if your tour comes before the exhibition.

• Which days have the cheapest adult tickets?

  The Natural History Museum sells £17 off-peak adult tickets for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during term time. Standard adult entry is £19 and peak entry is £21, excluding an optional Gift Aid donation; use the museum's calendar to check your date.

• Is the exhibition suitable for children?

  Children may enjoy the photographs of insects and other familiar wildlife, although some images show dead animals. Consider how comfortable your child is with those subjects when planning a visit. The Natural History Museum sells reduced-price tickets for children aged 4–17, while children under four enter free.

• Is there step-free access and support for disabled visitors?

  The exhibition has step-free access, seating, a large-print guide and audio descriptions for selected photographs. The Natural History Museum also offers relaxed viewings and free exhibition entry for a disabled visitor's companion. Check the museum's current arrangements when planning your visit.

• How long should I allow inside the exhibition?

  We recommend allowing 60–90 minutes to look at the photographs and read their stories. Allow longer if you are interested in photographic technique or conservation, and extra time for any visit to the museum's permanent galleries.