The title of Ocean Photographer of the Year has been awarded to Yuta Shigeno, amidst a backdrop of the vast oceans that cover 71% of our planet, encompassing approximately 361 million square kilometers of water.
This immense and often overlooked area is honored each year through a global photography competition, which also emphasizes the critical importance of safeguarding the world’s marine environments.
The contenders for the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year have been announced, featuring a diverse array of oceanic life—from stunning moments in nature to stark reminders of ecological harm.
Noteworthy submissions include a striking photograph of two orcas collaboratively transporting a humpback whale calf and an image capturing a pygmy seahorse, which is barely the size of a grain of rice.
Will Harrison, the founder and director of this annual event, remarked that these images do more than reveal the underwater world; they tell the stories that are essential for our planet’s future.
The winners of the competition will be unveiled on September 11.
Below is a list of some finalists categorized by their respective achievements:
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Josh Blank
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Matty Smith
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Rafael Fernandez Caballero
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Ajiex Dharma
Ocean Photographer of the Year: John Kowitz
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Rachel Bigsby
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Ben Yávar
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Gergo Rugli
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Leticia Carbajal
Conservation (Impact) Category:
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Romain Barats
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Celia Kujala
Ocean Photographer of the Year: James Ferrara
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Francesca Page
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Leighton Lum
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Liu Xuzhong
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Anita Verde
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Lewis Jefferies
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Andrea Michelutti
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Iris Uijttewaal
Ocean Photographer of the Year: Bing Lin
