Wildlife Photographer of the Year

3 December 2026 to 4 April 2027

Spectacular animal portraits, surprising glimpses into the wilderness and moving stories from nature: the exhibition ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ invites visitors to discover our planet from new perspectives. The award-winning photographs showcase the beauty and diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms, offer fascinating glimpses into hidden habitats and, at the same time, highlight the vulnerability of our planet’s ecosystem.

Whether they capture striking encounters with wild animals, rare moments in the cycle of life or extraordinary scenes from the world’s most remote regions, the photographs tell stories that extend far beyond the captured moment. With great patience, a trained eye and a keen sense of light, perspective and the decisive moment, the photographers succeed in capturing nature in all its diversity. The result is imagery that surprises, moves and inspires wonder. It offers new perspectives on familiar species as well as on animals and habitats that would otherwise remain hidden from many people.

The exhibition combines exceptional photographic art with a closer look at the challenges of our time. For alongside the beauty of nature, its vulnerability and the consequences of human intervention are also laid bare. Endangered species, disappearing habitats and environmental changes form an important backdrop to many of the photographs. Without the intention of lecturing, the images encourage us to look more closely, to question familiar perspectives and to find the answer to how we can preserve our planet’s biodiversity.

The exhibition’s unique impact stems from the interplay of aesthetics, knowledge and emotion. Each photograph offers a unique window onto nature and reveals the complex relationships between animals, plants and their habitats. Thus, the exhibition becomes a discovery journey through the fascinating world of nature, full of surprising moments, striking encounters and moving stories. It is made for nature lovers as well as photography enthusiasts who wishes to be inspired by extraordinary images.

The exhibition is based on the international ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ competition, organised by the Natural History Museum in London. Since 1965, it has recognised outstanding nature and wildlife photography from around the world. A distinguished jury assesses the submitted entries on the basis of photographic quality, originality and the ability to bring out the special stories of nature. This competition is one of the most prestigious international awards in nature photography and offers photographers a platform to show the beauty, diversity and vulnerability of our planet to a wide audience.

‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ is therefore far more than an exhibition of extraordinary photographs: It is an invitation to become more aware of nature, to rediscover its wonders and to recognise its importance for life on Earth. A visual experience that inspires wonder, evokes emotions and leaves a lasting impression after the visit.

Location: Karl Freund-Galerie and Oberlichtsaal

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.

As part of the exhibition, our ‘Animals in Front of the Camera’ photography competition will be taking place again in 2026.

Take part and show us your best wildlife photographs!

Take a look at our first entries.