Toadally Awesome! The best wildlife photographs you’ll see today from British Wildlife Photography Awards

British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) have announced the winners of the 2026 competition! A striking image of a toad swimming across a pond with woodland in the background by Paul Hobson has taken the top prize in this prestigious award.

BWPA is an excellent showcase of nature photography in Britain and a crucial reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems still hold. More than 12,000 images were submitted into this year’s competition, with amateur and professional photographers competing for the £3,500 grand prize.

If you’re inspired by the photos you’re about to see, the 2027 competition is now open for entries.

British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026: A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond by Paul Hobson

“I am lucky to have a pond close to my house that has relatively clear water,” says Hobson. “Toads use this pond to breed in, and I decided I wanted to try to capture an image looking up from the bottom of the pond.”

To accomplish this, he housed the camera inside a home-built glass box complete with old tripod legs and ballast, and triggered the camera using an adapted long cable release.

“I had to wait quite a long time until a toad swam across the surface – most of them would usually swim below it and rest on the glass,” added Hobson. But he was eventually successful, and the outcome provides a rare view of a toad in its woodland home.

Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026: Feathery Pillow by Ben Lucas

The Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 was awarded to Ben Lucas for his charming image of a mute swan cygnet taking a nap on its sibling’s back. “Nature can often be so cruel, but tender moments like this warm my heart!” said Lucas.

About this year’s competition, Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA, says “This year’s winners celebrate the wonder, diversity and character of British wildlife in truly exceptional ways. From familiar species to rarely seen moments, the portfolio showcases the skill and passion of the photographers behind the lens. Together, they offer a joyful celebration of Britain’s natural world, while also reminding us why these places and species are so deserving of our care and protection.”

Photographers competed in 11 different categories in the adult competition: Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black & White, Coast & Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife, Wild Woods, with British Seasons and Documentary Series making up the special awards. There was also a Wildlife in HD Video award and 3 age groups in the youth competition: 11 and Under, 12-14 years, and 15-17 years.

All awarded images are published by Graffeg Books in a hardback coffee-table book, with a foreword by Actor, Writer and Director, Mackenzie Crook.

The 2027 competition is now open for entries at bwpawards.org, and invites photographers of all experience levels to submit their photos of Britain’s nature at its best.