An Australian photographer has taken out the top prize at the World Nature Photography Awards, with Queensland-based photographer Jono Allen named World Nature Photographer of the Year for 2026.
Allen’s winning image captures a rare white humpback whale swimming closely with her mother, highlighting a quiet and intimate moment in the ocean.
Captured at Vava’u, Tonga, this rare white humpback calf - named Mãhina, meaning “moon” in Tongan - "glowed like a beam of light through the deep blue," he said.
Only 1 in 40,000 humpbacks are born with this lack of pigmentation.
"Sharing this moment with Mãhina and her protective mother is a memory that will live with me forever. It was undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary days I have ever experienced in the ocean - and perhaps ever will," he said.
The 2026 edition of the awards attracted entries from photographers in 51 countries across six continents, showcasing images that reflect the beauty, power and vulnerability of the natural world.
Adrian Dinsdale, co-founder of the World Nature Photography Awards, said the standard of work continues to rise as the competition grows. He noted that this year’s winning images serve as a reminder of both the wonder of the planet and the importance of protecting it.
