Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 finalists announced

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN

(CNN) — With almost three quarters of the world covered in water, it’s hardly surprising that the oceans provide such varied opportunities for marine photographers.

The huge diversity in artistic opportunity is clearly visible in the finalists for 2026’s Ocean Photographer of the Year award.

Finalists, who have just been announced, have captured magnificent shots of everything from fish protecting their young to human impact – good and bad.

Organizers received thousands of “extraordinary images,” according to a Thursday press release. The competition is divided into a range of categories, including wildlife, fine art and conservation.

Entries cover a huge range of subjects, showing drone, coastal and underwater perspectives.

Among the standout images is one that shows two orcas working together to carry a humpback whale calf they hunted, while another depicts an enormous oceanic sunfish.

A new category has been introduced this year titled “Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds” which, according to organizers, “turns the lens to the ocean’s smallest and least-seen inhabitants.”

Will Harrison, founder and director of the annual contest, said: “These photographs don’t just capture what’s beneath the surface; they surface the stories our planet most needs us to hear.”

“As the pressures on our ocean grow, so does the importance of the artists who bear witness to them,” he added.

“This year’s finalists have produced work of extraordinary depth and courage, and we’re proud that Ocean Photographer of the Year continues to be the platform where those stories reach the world,” he added.

The winners will be announced next month. A selection of finalists’ images can be seen in the gallery above.

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