The GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year has announced the 2026 winners of its annual photo competition, showing the impressive creative range of European contemporary nature photography.
This year and for the first time in the 26-year-history of the competition organized by the German Society for Nature Photography, the overall title was awarded to an image from the Plants and Fungi category entitled “Hidden Worlds” by Hungarian photographer Imre Potyó, featuring a pin mold growing on bat guano with hibernating bats in the background.
Winning photographer Potyó is a scientist, environmental expert and nature photographer. For 13 years, he has been photographing hibernating bats in protected, restricted-access mine tunnels in Hungary’s Börzsöny Mountains.
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“This image speaks to a larger truth about the natural world: much of life exists beyond our immediate awareness, in places we seldom visit and among organisms we rarely notice,” says juror Tom Gilks. “Even within this single frame, bats, fungi and countless microorganisms form part of a web of relationships that quietly sustains life while remaining largely unseen.
“Photography has a unique ability to make such connections visible, transforming what might otherwise remain obscure into something we can understand, appreciate and ultimately care about.
“At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, many of these worlds are disappearing before they have even been properly documented, let alone understood.”
The winning image as well as the winners and finalists in nine categories, the Fritz Pölking Prize and the Rewilding Europe Award were selected from more than 26,000 photos submitted by amateur and professional photographers from 46 countries.
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With strict rules against digital manipulation, the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year honors the breadth of nature photography subjects, as well as the use of new techniques, innovation and creativity and the courage to pursue unconventional compositions.
European Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Winners
‘Hidden World,’ Overall winner; Börzsöny Mountains of Hungary
“I have been photographing hibernating bats for 13 years in restricted-access mine tunnels in the Börzsöny Mountains of Hungary,” says Potyó. “A key characteristic of the Lesser Horseshoe bat is that during hibernating it occasionally wakes and leaves its roost to hunt flying insects. In doing so, the bat leaves behind droppings that gradually accumulate into a continuous dark layer.
“And this is where the real wonder begins: in the beam of a torch, a whitish coating can be seen on the guano—a small pin mold thriving in this unusual habitat. I captured the mold in the foreground with the hibernating bats visible in the background. The photograph was taken during a controlled bat count and without disturbing the animals.”
‘The Cat and a Thousand Lanterns,’ Category winner, Mammals; Alto Mugello, Italy
In the wild, romantic mountain landscape of Alto Mugello, Italy, a European wildcat moves silently through the night, framed by the ethereal dance of countless fireflies. Capturing this fleeting encounter required months of preparation to ensure that the wildlife remained entirely undisturbed.
‘Black Wolf,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Mammals; Yellowstone National Park
This image was taken in Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
There are few better places to observe and photograph wolves,” says Wolf. “Even so, these animals are elusive and encounters are a matter of luck.
“Around 50% of the wolves in Yellowstone are black and although I have seen and photographed them many times before, I always felt that I had not yet captured a truly compelling image.
“During this particular visit, I encountered the Wapiti Pack which had taken down a bison along Firehole River and consists mostly of black individuals. It was an extraordinary experience, given that wolf sightings in Yellowstone typically last only a few minutes.”
‘The Florist,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Mammals; Botv Chobe River, Botswana
Every year between April and May, vast amounts of water from Angola inundate the floodplains of the Chobe River in Botswana, creating ideal conditions for numerous water lilies to flourish.
“I spent many days out on a boat, hoping to photograph wildlife feeding on the nutrient-rich floating vegetation,” says Steel. “One afternoon, in perfect light, everything came together as an African elephant strolled leisurely through the shallow water, plucking flower after flower.
European Wildlife: Birds
‘Secret Paths,’ Category winner, Birds; Olsztyn in Warnia region, Poland
“During molt, common cranes lose all their flight feathers at once, rendering them earthbound for several weeks,” Wieczorek explains. “During this period, they remain extremely vigilant and usually hide in wet forests where they can find food.
“At dawn, the cranes walk from their roosting sites via secret paths through reed beds to their feeding grounds and typically return via the same route.”
Taken near Olsztyn in the Warnia region of Poland. On average, 10% to 20% of cranes fall victim of predators – foxes and raccoon dogs – during molt.
‘Water Rocket,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Birds; Kiskunság Lakes, Hungary
“This photograph was taken in January at the Kiskunság Lakes in Hungary,” says Daroczi. “As these salt lakes are very shallow, they freeze over the winter and dry out completely in summer. They serve as important breeding and resting habitats for numerous bird species.
“Because of the mild winter, the ice on the lakes started melting in January. Waterbirds appeared almost immediately — mainly ducks and geese. The drone perspective offered an interesting sight as the birds churned up the mud, creating striking shapes and patterns.”
‘Sky Surfer,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Birds; Arctic island of Hornøya in the Barents Sea
“Each March, tens of thousands of seabirds return to the windswept Arctic island of Hornøya in the Barents Sea for the breeding season in a highly synchronized migration event,” recalls Kenyon.
“The deafening calls and the swirling movements of immense flocks passing just a few meters overhead were truly breathtaking. European shags are giants compared to the smaller aukz and as I watched them weaving through the fast-moving streams of common guillemots, I realised there was potential for a striking and dynamic image.
“When a shag came in to land, perfectly framed by countless guillemots, I was finally able to capture the photograph I had long envisioned.”
Underwater World & Other Animals
‘Man-Made Disaster,’ Category winner, Underwater World; Mar Menor coastal lagoon, Spain
Moribund Mediterranean jellies struggle to take off from a layer of hypoxic water at the bottom of Mar Menor coastal lagoon, Spain.
Mar Menor (meaning “minor”, or “lesser” sea) is the largest Spanish coastal lagoon, and the settling basin of Campo de Cartagena region – the so-called “Europe´s Orchard” – one of the largest suppliers of vegetables in the subcontinent.
Since 2016, the lagoon has shown signs of environmental collapse after decades of uncontrolled spill of agriculture organic waste, and those from the massive tourism development around it. A massive death of sealife have succeeded since.
Deprived of oxygen and light, water-made jellies break down and vanish quickly. The chronic crisis of Mar Menor has already become a paradigm of the conflict between ocean conservancy and economic development on a western country.
‘Turbulent Feeding Patch,’ 2nd place, Underwater World; Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
A marine iguana forages underwater. Despite their threatening appearance, marine iguanas are a vegetarian species who allow an intimate approach by humans both above and below water.
“Marine iguanas are endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador,” says Spiers. “They are most often seen basking in the sun, their dark bodies perfectly camouflaged against the black lava rocks. As ectothermic reptiles, they rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. This is particularly important as they dive into the cold waters surrounding the archipelago to forage, primarily on marine algae.
“I followed this individual into the water and watched with fascination as it propelled itself swiftly and purposefully through the powerful surf with the aid of its muscular tail. While I was tossed about by the waves, the marine iguana clung firmly to a rock with its sharp claws and began methodically grazing on algae.”
Category winner, Other animals; Saxony, Germany
I have been taking photographs in the Lausitz Biosphere Reserve in Saxony for 13 years,” says Morawitz. “It was there, one early September morning in a small copse, that I discovered the perfect, dome-shaped web of a common canopy spider.
“A ray of sunlight made the web shimmer in iridescent colours against the dark backdrop of the trees, like a planet in space, with stars twinkling above. The spider was perched just below the highest point of the web.”
‘Goose Barnacles,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Other Animals; Playa de las Catedrales, Galicia, Spain
Goose barnacles are not shellfish at all, but sessile crustaceans belonging to the barnacle subclass.
“I photographed this colony at low tide on Playa de las Catedrales in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, “says Bosboom. “Known locally as percebes, they are regarded as one of Spain’s most prized – and probably most expensive – seafood delicacies.
“The harvesters who collect them sometimes risk their lives to prise them from wave-battered rocks. At certain times of the year, particularly around Christmas, a kilogram of these remarkable creatures can fetch several hundred euros. Here, these beautiful animals appear in their natural habitat.”
European Wildlife: Plants and Fungi
‘Forest at the Edge,’ Category winner, Plants and Fungi; Boreal forest, Brooks Range, Alaska
This photograph was taken at the northern edge of the boreal forest beyond the Brooks Range in Alaska, where forest gradually gives way to Arctic tundra. At these latitudes, conditions are exceptionally harsh: permafrost limits the growth of trees while favouring mosses, lichens, sedges and dwarf shrubs.
The forest shown here was in the early stages of recovery following a wildfire.
Charred tree trunks still bear witness to the fire’s destructive impact, while new vegetation is already beginning to spread, helping to stabilize the soil and store carbon and the low vegetation glows in vivid autumn colors, creating a striking contrast with the blackened conifers. A landscape poised between destruction and renewal – a powerful symbol of the profound transformation taking place across a rapidly warming Arctic.
‘We Are Family,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended; Gdansk, Poland
“In northern Poland, in the area around Gdańsk where I live, extraordinary species of animals and plants are rare,” notes Mierzejewski. “Over the years, I have made many attempts to capture the large-flowered hemp-nettle in an interesting way and finally the effort pays off.”
‘Symphony in Green,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Plants and Fungi; Stolowe Mountains National Park, Poland
One late afternoon in Stolowe Mountains National Park in Poland, “I came across this group of false hellebores beneath a rock overhang.
“False hellebore has fascinated me photographically for many years, largely because I find the patterns and arrangement of its leaves so aesthetically compelling.
“Horsetail shoots emerging among the hellebores, while the soft light beneath the overhang created a mysterious atmosphere, made this particular situation especial.”
False hellebore is native to the temperate and subarctic zones of the Northern Hemisphere.
Humans And Nature: European WIldlife
‘Evolution,’ Category winner, Humans and Nature; Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand
“Travelling to Thailand, my hope was to see a Malayan sun bear in the wild,” says Bamboussek. “I got my wish, though not quite the way I had imagined.
“A bear had taken to dropping by the visitor center at Kaeng Krachan National Park, wandering fearlessly behind the rangers’ kitchen in search of food scraps. On this day, it climbed into the waste incinerator and fell asleep inside. And this, despite having some 3,000 square kilometres of habitat at its disposal within the park.
“Its behavior, in other words, had nothing to do with habitat loss or a degraded environment. What struck me was the contrast between this magnificent animal and one of humanity’s uglier inventions. The irony was complete when I noticed the manufacturer’s label: “Evolution”.
‘Bloodbath,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Humans and Nature; A barge in the Rio Ucayali in Peru
For thousands of years, black caimans ranked among the Amazon basin’s top predators.
Today, two traits work against them: They must surface to breathe and they taste exceptionally good.
Matters are made worse by the barges that ply the Rio Ucayali in Peru, often carrying hundreds of passengers for days at a stretch, all of whom need to be fed.
The poaching that results is efficient and methodical: Boats pull in at the bank; the animals are caught and butchered, tails and entrails discarded, heads frozen for the souvenir trade, and the meat fried and sold as chicharrón – a name properly reserved for crisp pork belly.
It’s an illegal, undignified end for an animal so close to the top of the food chain.
European Wildlife: Art In Nature
‘Between the Mountains,’ Category winner, Nature’s Studio
This photograph combines a 3.2-second exposure with two different focal lengths.
The griffon vulture circling above a large breeding cliff was captured at 400mm; shading the front lens quickly after the shutter fired kept it sharp despite the long exposure. The camera was then swung onto the surrounding valley and exposed further at 100mm.
Jan Leßmann and Hermann Hirsch have spent recent years developing this technique together and have been transparent about the underlying creative process.
‘Black Panther on the Hunt,’ Honorable Mention, Highly Commended, Nature’s Studio; Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya
Rouse succeeded with an artistic shot of an African female black leopard called Giza hunting at night in Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya The red glow in the background comes from the torch of a rider in a neighboring jeep.
All the winning and finalist images of the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year can be seen here.
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com