The exhibition Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026 showcases some of this year’s most spectacular underwater photographs from around the world.
The competition was first held in the United Kingdom in 1965 and is now one of the most prestigious underwater photography competitions in the world. In 2026, no fewer than 7,934 photographs were submitted from 28 different countries.
In 2026, the overall winner was photographer Matty Smith, whose stunning image captured two elephant seal pups during their first encounter with life in the ocean near the Falkland Islands. The photograph was taken in the soft evening light around sunset, creating an atmospheric backdrop for the seals’ first swim.
“The best underwater photographs offer something truly special. They provide us with access to moments and environments that very few people ever get to experience themselves. The exhibition highlights both the ocean’s remarkable diversity and the countless stories that unfold beneath the surface every day,” says Jon Diderichsen, CEO of Den Blå Planet, Denmark’s National Aquarium.
Visitors at Den Blå Planet admiring this year’s winning photograph by photographer Matty Smith, depicting curious baby elephant seals. The exhibition is on display until 31 October 2026.
Photographic Art Among Living Creatures
This year’s images capture rare, dramatic, and moving moments beneath the ocean’s surface. Highlights include an octopus guarding its eggs along with an intense close-up of a leopard seal in Antarctica, which the judges described as one of the finest photographs ever taken of the species.
The exhibition offers visitors a unique glimpse into a world that few people ever experience firsthand, while highlighting nature’s diversity, animal behaviour, and the oceans vital role in sustaining life on Earth.
At Den Blå Planet, more than 50 carefully curated photographs are presented in an atmospheric setting surrounded by aquariums, adding an extra dimension to the images when experienced side by side with the ocean’s living creatures.
