Sneak peek: A preview of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023

The Natural History Museum will unveil the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition showcasing 100 extraordinary photographs from around the world on 13 October 2023 in London.

This year’s competition attracted an astounding 49,957 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 95 countries. During an intense week at the Museum, entries were judged anonymously on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence by an international panel of industry experts.

The winners of each category, and the prestigious Grand Title and Young Grand Title Awards, will be announced on 10 October 2023 at an awards ceremony hosted by wildlife TV presenters and conservationists Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin.

Among the newly released Highly Commended images is an unusual interaction of a macaque jumping on a deer photographed by Atsuyuki Ohshima, and the drama of a snow leopard hunting a Pallas’s cat witnessed by Donglin Zhou. Michał Siarek records the hopeful moment a team opens a crate to check on a tiger cub evacuated from Ukraine, and Jasper Doest shares the heart wrenching story of an elephant struck by a train in Gabon.

Chair of the judging panel, Kathy Moran says, ‘What most impressed the jury was the range of subjects, from absolute beauty, rarely seen behaviors and species to images that are stark reminders of what we are doing to the natural world. We felt a powerful tension between wonder and woe that we believe came together to create a thought-provoking collection of photographs.’

Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum says, ‘We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights whilst offering hope and achievable actions visitors can take to help protect the natural world.’

After the launch of the flagship exhibition at the Natural History Museum, it will embark on a UK and international tour, connecting millions of people with the world’s best wildlife photography and the call to act for the planet.

Notes to editors

Exhibition at Natural History Museum, London

• Opens Friday 13 October 2023 and closes Sunday 30 June 2024.
• Tickets are now on sale: www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year
• Adult tickets from £17.50*, concession tickets £14.00*, and child £10.50*. Off-peak Ault tickets from £15.00, off-peak concession ticket £12.00, and off-peak child ticket £9.00 (*Prices excluding optional Gift Aid donation to the Museum.)
• The exhibition is open Monday – Sunday, 10.00-17.50 (last admission at 16.30), and weekends sell out quickly.
• Get behind the lens of some of the world's best wildlife photographers with a new Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition tour: www.nhm.ac.uk/events/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-tour
• #WPY59

Sixtieth Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

• Opens for entries on Monday 16 October 2023.
• Closing for entries at 11.30am GMT on Thursday 7 December 2023.
• Entrants to the adult competition may enter up to 25 images for a £30 fee, which increases to £35 in the final week of the entry period from 11.30am GMT 30 November 2022 to 11.30am GMT 7 December.
• Entrants aged 17 and under may enter up to 10 images for free.
• Find out how to enter: www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/competition   

Images and media contact

Download photographs for print and online use: https://bit.ly/WPY59-PressPreview

To obtain the password, arrange interviews with photographers or judges or express interest in attending the Media preview of the exhibition at the Natural History Museum, please contact Josephine Higgins at the Natural History Museum press office:

Email: wildpress@nhm.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654

About Wildlife Photographer of the Year:

Wildlife Photographer of the Year was founded in 1965 by BBC Wildlife Magazine, then called Animals. The Natural History Museum joined forces in 1984 to create the competition as it is known today. The annual competition and touring exhibition is now run and owned by the Natural History Museum, London.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 33, edited by Rosamund Kidman Cox and with a foreword by Kathy Moran, is now available on pre-sale and will be published on 11 October 2023, RRP £28.

About the Natural History Museum:

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading science centre and one of the most visited attractions in the UK. A global source of curiosity, inspiration and joy.

Our vision is to build a future in which both people and the planet thrive.

We aim to be a catalyst for change, engaging advocates for the planet in everything that we do. Our 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency in all aspects of life.

Visit, join and support the Natural History Museum today. Protecting the planet. It's in our nature.