Mold on Bat Guano Wins 2026 European Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Key points

• Imre Potyó’s 'Hidden Worlds' won the overall prize, depicting pin mold on bat guano with hibernating bats in the background.
• It is the first time an image from the Plants and Fungi category has won the overall award in the competition’s 26-year history.
• The jury selected the winner from over 26,000 entries from 46 countries, a record for participation.
• The German Society for Nature Photography organized the event, awarding the Fritz Pölking Prize and the Rewilding Europe Award.
• Other category winners included Jan Wieczorek (Birds), Lorenzo Shoubridge (Mammals), and Fortunato Gatto (Plants & Fungi).

Background

This event is part of a broader trend in 2026 wildlife photography awards, where record participation and diverse subjects have been highlighted. Earlier in October, the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year was won by Federico Veronesi for an image of an elephant carrying a deceased calf, with over 65,000 entries from 121 countries. The European competition, run by the German Society for Nature Photography, has been active since 2001, focusing on images that reveal the vulnerability and beauty of the natural world.

How outlets are covering it

Discover Wildlife and Smithsonian Magazine both emphasized the significance of Potyó’s win as the first Plants and Fungi category winner, highlighting the jury’s focus on unseen ecosystems. Smithsonian noted the record participation of 26,000 entries and included detailed descriptions of other winners, such as Marc Siegle’s 'Little Housemates' and Henley Spiers’ 'Playing by Necessity.' The Atlantic focused on specific highly commended images, such as Audun Rikardsen’s 'A Seal’s Worst Nightmare,' providing technical details on the photography process. Kottke.org briefly mentioned the winners but primarily linked to the broader Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, indicating a distinction between the European and global awards. All sources agreed on the core facts but differed in the depth of coverage for secondary winners and the technical aspects of the photography.

Why it matters

The win underscores a shift in wildlife photography toward documenting micro-ecosystems and hidden biological relationships, rather than just charismatic megafauna. It highlights the importance of conservation in overlooked habitats, such as bat roosts, and reflects the growing recognition of fungi and plants as critical components of biodiversity. The record participation also indicates increasing global interest in nature photography as a tool for environmental awareness.

What to watch

The winning images will be exhibited as part of the competition’s public showcase, likely through the German Society for Nature Photography and partner organizations like Tecklenborg Verlag. The Rewilding Europe Award winner, a beaver image from a Polish city, may influence conservation discussions in urban wildlife corridors. Future competitions may continue to feature diverse categories, with potential for more micro-ecosystem or human-nature interaction themes.