The Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 winners have been announced, with French photographer Julien Anton taking the top award for a striking image of a male seahorse accompanied by two juveniles off Tahiti. The competition, which drew thousands of entries from photographers worldwide, highlights both the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems, with several categories spotlighting conservation issues such as overtourism, overfishing and plastic pollution alongside more hopeful stories of scientific innovation.

British photographer Jenny Stock won the Female Fifty Fathoms Award, while other category winners included Mitsuna Kawai (Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds, a ribbonfish off Japan), Rui Duarte (Human Connection, volunteers rescuing a stranded pilot whale), Gergo Rugli (Adventure, dolphins with surfers in Sydney), James Ferrara (Conservation Impact, a whale shark surrounded by tourists) and Matty Smith (Ocean Fine Art, a nurse shark with remoras). Thomas Pavy won the Conservation Hope category for an image of scientific divers using laser-calibrated technology 180ft (55m) below the surface in French Polynesia, showcasing new methods to survey and protect marine life.