‘Flying Rodent’ secured the top spot against twenty-three other shortlisted photographs, all chosen from 60,636 entries from 113 countries and territories, in addition to the 100 winning images announced in October 2025. The images were selected by an international judging panel of photography, wildlife, conservation and science experts, as well as the Natural History Museum, London.
Josef was delighted when the opportunity arose to spend two weeks observing lynx from a hide at Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain. His winning image depicts a young lynx playfully throwing a rodent into the air before killing and devouring it, which is common behaviour for the species. The whole game lasted 20 minutes before the lynx got bored, then taking the rodent behind a bush to eat it.
The four ‘highly commended’ images that also impressed wildlife lovers across the globe include a group of flamingos standing out against a stark industrial backdrop of power lines in in Walvis Bay, Namibia, by Alexandre Brisson and a mother polar bear and her three cubs pausing peacefully in the summer heat on the Hudson Bay coast, Canada, by Christopher Paetkau.
Also highly commended are Will Nicholls’ image of a silhouetted pair of young bear cubs rearing up and play-fighting in the middle of a quiet road in Jasper National Park, Canada, and Kohei Nagira’s photograph of a sika deer carrying the interlocked severed head of a rival male that had died after their battle.
Josef Stefan, winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026, says: “The journey to take this image was more than just another photographic adventure, it was the pursuit of a dream that had been with me for years: encountering the Iberian lynx, one of the rarest and most endangered wild cats in the world. In the early 2000s, this species was on the brink of extinction. Today, there are now over 2,000 thanks to consistent conservation efforts. The Iberian lynx is a living symbol of hope, showing what can happen when we take responsibility, act consciously and focus our attention where it’s most needed. Winning this award and being able to platform this message is the highlight of my 30 years as a nature photographer.”
Dr Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, London, says: “It’s been wonderful to see all the votes coming in to choose the photograph set for display in our flagship exhibition here at the Natural History Museum. Whether showcasing fascinating behaviour or platforming a powerful story, this year's selection of images was truly exceptional. Thank you to everyone who voted!”
The winner and four runners-up will be showcased on the voting screens in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, until the exhibition closes on Sunday 12 July 2026. 'Flying Rodent’ will also be featured on the gallery wall alongside the winning images in the main competition.
Our Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.
Press pack including images and captions here
Exhibition link to include in all coverage: https://bit.ly/NuveenPeoplesChoice2026
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Media Contact
To arrange interviews or discuss media coverage, please contact Laura Gosney (Communications Manager) at [email protected]
Exhibition at Natural History Museum, London
Adult tickets from £18.00*, concession tickets £14.40*, and child tickets £9*. Off-peak Adult tickets from £15.50, off-peak concession ticket £12.40, and off-peak child ticket £7.75 (*Prices excluding optional Gift Aid donation to the Museum)
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About Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Now in its sixty-first year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum, London’s, global platform for the world’s best nature photography and wildlife photojournalism. Our annual competition, receiving over 60,000 entries, is open to photographers of all ages, nationalities and experience levels.
With our touring exhibition and outreach activities engaging millions around the globe every year, we invite ever more people to celebrate and advocate for the natural world. This year, we are touring across the UK and internationally to Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, with more locations to be confirmed.
About the Natural History Museum, London
The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and the UK's number one visitor attraction.
We are welcoming more than 7 million people to our blockbuster exhibitions, galleries and gardens and our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency - from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.
With over 80 million specimens, spanning 4.5 billion years, the breadth and depth of the Museum’s collection make it the most important of its kind in the world.
Through our NHM150 campaign, we are raising an additional £150 million to transform our iconic building and meet our mission of creating over 100 million advocates for the planet by 2031 – the Museum’s 150th anniversary.
About Nuveen
Nuveen is a global investment leader, managing $1.4T(1) in public and private assets for clients around the world. With broad expertise across income and alternatives, we invest in the growth of businesses, real estate, infrastructure, and natural capital, providing clients with the reliability, access, and foresight unique to our 125+ year heritage(2). Our prevailing perspective on the future drives our ambition to innovate and adapt our business to the changing needs of investors — all to pursue lasting performance for our clients, our communities, and our global economy.
(1) Assets under management as of 31 December 2025. Nuveen assets under management (AUM) is inclusive of underlying investment specialists. Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding.
(2) Nuveen traces its history to 1898 when the company began underwriting municipal bonds, and TIAA was founded in 1918.
