BIAZA Photo Competition 2026 - the winners!

The wait is over! BIAZA (The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) has announced the winners of its annual photo competition, highlighting the wonder of zoos, aquariums, and nature.   

After the mammoth task of judging over eight-hundred entries, fourteen photos have been selected as the winners and runners-up in the 2026 BIAZA photography awards.  

From a playful elephant to a ceramic-looking crab; both iconic and overlooked wildlife are showcased across the winners:

Dr Jo Judge, the CEO of BIAZA said: “After a rigorous selection process, we are proud to showcase photography which demonstrates not only the wonder of wildlife, but the vital work of our member zoos and aquariums in welfare and conservation.” 

As a charity, BIAZA’s photo competition shines a spotlight on the work of zoos and aquariums in caring for and conserving the most incredible species on earth. The talented photographers offer an exclusive look into the fascinating lives of zoo and aquarium animals. 

A new category, ‘Human’ was also added in 2026 to highlight the faces of the community at the frontline of conservation and welfare. This comes off the heels of the ‘Native Species’ category introduced in 2025, which puts local wildlife beyond the zoos into focus. 

Dr Judge added “We’re grateful to everyone who entered the competition and those who voted in our native species category online. We believe these talented wildlife photographers have the power to inspire environmental change by revealing the wonder of the natural world.” 

Over 130 BIAZA member zoos and aquariums contributed to the restoration of nature by undertaking over 1000 conservation projects, 1600 research projects and over 700,000 educational visits in 2025. They have collectively spent over 34 million pounds on conservation in the last year alone, helping species from tiny glutinous snails to black rhino. 

Winning photos will be featured on BIAZA’s 2027 calendar, which will also contain dates for nature-lovers; from Penguin Awareness Day to David Attenborough’s birthday. Follow BIAZA on Facebook or Instagram to be the first to know when it will be available.