Josef Stefan wins People’s Choice Award of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

Following a record-breaking 85,917 votes, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026 has concluded to announce Austrian photographer, Josef Stefan, as the winner for his photograph of a playful lynx in Ciudad Real, Spain.

‘Flying Rodent’ secured the top spot against twenty-three other shortlisted photographs, all chosen from 60,636 entries from 113 countries and territories, in addition to the 100 winning images announced in October 2025. The images were selected by an international judging panel of photography, wildlife, conservation and science experts, as well as the Natural History Museum, London.

Josef was delighted when the opportunity arose to spend two weeks observing lynx from a hide at Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain. His winning image depicts a young lynx playfully throwing a rodent into the air before killing and devouring it, which is common behaviour for the species. The whole game lasted 20 minutes before the lynx got bored, then taking the rodent behind a bush to eat it.

The four ‘highly commended’ images that also impressed wildlife lovers across the globe include a group of flamingos standing out against a stark industrial backdrop of power lines in in Walvis Bay, Namibia, by Alexandre Brisson and a mother polar bear and her three cubs pausing peacefully in the summer heat on the Hudson Bay coast, Canada, by Christopher Paetkau.

Also highly commended are Will Nicholls’ image of a silhouetted pair of young bear cubs rearing up and play-fighting in the middle of a quiet road in Jasper National Park, Canada, and Kohei Nagira’s photograph of a sika deer carrying the interlocked severed head of a rival male that had died after their battle.

Josef Stefan, winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026, says: “The journey to take this image was more than just another photographic adventure, it was the pursuit of a dream that had been with me for years: encountering the Iberian lynx, one of the rarest and most endangered wild cats in the world. In the early 2000s, this species was on the brink of extinction. Today, there are now over 2,000 thanks to consistent conservation efforts. The Iberian lynx is a living symbol of hope, showing what can happen when we take responsibility, act consciously and focus our attention where it’s most needed. Winning this award and being able to platform this message is the highlight of my 30 years as a nature photographer.”

Dr Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, London, says: “It’s been wonderful to see all the votes coming in to choose the photograph set for display in our flagship exhibition here at the Natural History Museum. Whether showcasing fascinating behaviour or platforming a powerful story, this year's selection of images was truly exceptional. Thank you to everyone who voted!”

The winner and four runners-up will be showcased on the voting screens in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, until the exhibition closes on Sunday 12 July 2026. 'Flying Rodent’ will also be featured on the gallery wall alongside the winning images in the main competition.