Gannet Dive Wins Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 Amid AI Concerns

Key points

• Henley Spiers won the overall prize for 'Sunball Rocket,' capturing a northern gannet diving at speeds exceeding 50 mph in Shetland, Scotland.
• The competition received more than 24,000 entries and awarded winners in eight categories, including Best Portrait, Bird Behavior, and Conservation.
• 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad won the Young Bird Photographer of the Year for 'Moonlit Night,' featuring a great horned owl in Los Gatos, California.
• The competition donated over £5,000 to Birds on the Brink, a charity supporting grassroots bird conservation projects globally.
• Director Will Nicholls highlighted the value of authentic photography in response to the rise of AI-generated imagery.

Background

The Bird Photographer of the Year competition is in its 11th year, continuing a tradition of celebrating wildlife photography and supporting conservation. Recent related events include the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year shortlist, which featured 100 images from over 65,000 entries, and the crowning of New Zealand's black robin as Bird of the Year 2026, highlighting conservation successes. The 2026 Astronomy Photographer of the Year also recently concluded, with Ali Alobaidly winning for a Shark Nebula image.

How outlets are covering it

CNN, Popular Science, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Guardian all reported on the 2026 Bird Photographer of the Year winners, with CNN and Popular Science emphasizing the technical details of Spiers's gannet shot and the conservation donation. Smithsonian Magazine focused on the diversity of winning images, while The Guardian provided a comprehensive gallery of all category winners. All outlets highlighted Will Nicholls's statement on the importance of authentic photography in the age of AI, but CNN and Popular Science placed greater emphasis on the specific mechanics of the gannet dive and the conservation impact.

Why it matters

The competition underscores the ongoing value of authentic wildlife photography in an era dominated by AI-generated content. By awarding images that capture real moments in nature, the competition supports conservation efforts and raises public awareness about bird species and their habitats. The donation to Birds on the Brink directly funds grassroots conservation projects, highlighting the tangible impact of such initiatives.

What to watch

The winning images will be featured in a coffee table book published by Graffeg. The competition's conservation efforts will continue to support bird conservation projects globally, and the winners' images will likely be exhibited or promoted through various channels to raise awareness about bird species and their habitats.