The winners of the highly regarded Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 competition have been revealed, spotlighting some of the most striking images captured beneath and across the sea.
This year’s contest drew thousands of entries from ocean photographers around the world, each offering a vivid look at the drama, beauty and surprises of marine life. From shadowy deep-sea scenes to dazzling moments near the surface, the winning photographs showcase the remarkable diversity of life in the planet’s oceans.
French photographer Julien Anton was named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 for a captivating image of a male seahorse accompanied by two tiny juveniles. In the photograph, the young seahorses drift in front of their father as his head bends downward — a powerful detail in a species where males carry and give birth to their offspring.
British photographer Jenny Stock earned the Female Fifty Fathoms Award, a peer-nominated honor launched in 2021 to recognize courageous and accomplished women working in ocean photography.
The first-ever Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds category was awarded to Mitsuna Kawai for an image of a ribbonfish photographed during a blackwater dive off the coast of Japan.
The Human Connection category was won by Rui Duarte for his striking image of volunteers battling to return a stranded pilot whale to the sea.
Gergo Rugli scooped the Adventure award with a shot of dolphins soaring through the surf alongside surfers at Sydney’s Tamarama Beach.
In the Conservation Impact category, James Ferrara’s haunting image of a whale shark hemmed in by a crowd of snorkellers and divers laid bare the growing toll of overtourism on marine life. Other shortlisted entries highlighted the devastating effects of overfishing, plastic pollution and the controversial slaughter of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands.
The Adventure category was won by Gergo Rugli, for an image of dolphins cresting a wave alongside surfers at Tamarama Beach in Sydney, Australia
French photographer Julien Anton won the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 award for his breathtaking image of a male seahorse with two tiny juveniles at his side
In the Conservation Impact category, James Ferrara’s haunting image of a whale shark hemmed in by a crowd of snorkellers and divers laid bare the growing toll of overtourism on marine life
The Ocean Fine Art category was won by Matty Smith for a breathtaking black-and-white portrait of a nurse shark gliding through the water flanked by remoras in perfect formation
Offering a more hopeful vision, Thomas Pavy won the Conservation Hope category with an image showcasing scientific divers using cutting-edge laser-calibrated technology to survey marine populations, underlining the innovative methods being used to protect the world’s oceans and the creatures that call them home.
The image was captured 180ft (55m) below water in the Tiputa Pass, Rangiroa Atoll, in French Polynesia.
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The Ocean Fine Art category was won by Matty Smith for a breathtaking black-and-white portrait of a nurse shark gliding through the water flanked by remoras in perfect formation.
On being named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026, Mr Anton said: ‘Winning Ocean Photographer of the Year is an immense honour – one I’m proud to share with my family, and with the local residents, naturalists and fishermen of Tahiti and Mo’orea whose knowledge made this image possible.
‘We spent countless hours searching in difficult conditions, with no guarantee of finding a single seahorse. That is what made the moment so extraordinary – when the juveniles turned back towards the adult, it felt like something far beyond what I had dared to hope for.
‘I am not a professional photographer; for me, photography is simply how I share what I see and feel. My hope is that this image can serve as a bridge between science, conservation and a world that deserves to know what is at stake.’
Reflecting on receiving the award, Stock said: ‘To be nominated by fellow photographers means more to me than I can easily put into words – this community is everything.
‘The Female Fifty Fathoms Award is particularly special because it celebrates the achievements and passion of women in ocean photography, and the women who have previously won it are exceptionally talented, so it’s a privilege to join their ranks.
The Human Connection category was won by Rui Duarte for his striking image of volunteers battling to return a stranded pilot whale to the sea
Thomas Pavy won the Conservation Hope category with an image showcasing scientific divers using cutting-edge laser-calibrated technology to survey marine populations in French Polynesia
The inaugural Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds category was won by Mitsuna Kawai with their ribbonfish in blackwater off the coast of Japan
British photographer Jenny Stock took home the Female Fifty Fathoms Award, created in 2021 to celebrate talented and fearless women in ocean photography
‘The connection to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch – one of diving’s most iconic timepieces – makes it even more extraordinary. I’m honoured beyond measure, and I hope this recognition inspires more women to pick up a camera and discover the magic that’s beneath the surface.’
Ocean Photographer of the Year founder and director, Will Harrison, said: ‘When Julien Anton’s image first appeared on screen, the judging panel fell silent. It is an image that demands reflection, pause for thought, and it certainly got that from us.
‘The image is full of quiet energy, even if some of that comes from us humans imprinting our own emotions on the photograph: the bow of the father’s head, the juveniles turning back towards him, the generational gap and the unknown futures of the newborns.
‘What kind of ocean are we leaving for those who come after us? It is ocean photography at its most powerful: intimate, urgent and impossible to ignore.’