Summary
- The Royal Meteorological Society shortlisted 30 photographs from more than 5,500 entries.
- The images capture storms, rainbows, fog, glaciers and flooding.
- Voting for the Public Favourite closes on 5 November 2026.
- The winners will be announced on 17 November.
Event Details
Thirty photographs capturing everything from lightning bolts and tornadoes to floods and glaciers are competing for the public vote in Weather Photographer of the Year 2026.
The Royal Meteorological Society announced the shortlist on 27 October, selecting 30 images from more than 5,500 entries. The finalists depict weather and climate across 13 countries, and voting for the Public Favourite closes on 5 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Now in its eleventh year, the competition has a strong photographic history. The 2025 Weather Photographer of the Year winners included photographs of a complete circular rainbow and clouds resembling ocean waves. This year’s collection brings both the beauty of the atmosphere and the consequences of extreme conditions into view.
All 30 shortlisted photographs
From lightning illuminating an Oklahoma storm to quieter mist-filled landscapes, the first 21 photographs show how varied weather photography can be. Original titles and photographer credits appear in the captions.
Photographs of a changing climate
The final nine photographs focus on changing landscapes and communities facing extreme conditions: glaciers, wildfire smoke, drought and flooding. An image cannot explain climate science on its own, but it can make the consequences visible.
How to vote and when the winners are announced
Voting takes place in the official Royal Meteorological Society shortlist gallery. Open the photograph you want to support and follow the voting instructions on its page. The deadline is 5 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT; winners will be announced on 17 November 2026.
The public vote decides the Public Favourite award only. Winners of the other categories are selected by a judging panel spanning meteorology, photography and climate science. The 2026 photography submission period ended on 20 August; this is a public vote, not a call for new entries.
What we think
What makes this collection compelling is that powerful weather photography takes many forms. New York lightning and towering supercells grab attention immediately, but a thin layer of fog or ice crystals on wire fencing show just how much patient observation matters. A great weather photograph does not always require a dangerous storm chase.
The images also raise a question about photography and the world it documents. Alongside studies of light and shape are photographs of flooded settlements and fire-scarred landscapes. Their visual impact matters, but so do the people and places behind the frame.
Before voting, it is worth opening each entry in the official gallery and reading its story. Context can change how we see a photograph, and that is useful to remember whenever we photograph the natural world.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still submit a photograph to the 2026 competition?
No. Entries closed on 20 August 2026. The current stage is a public vote among the 30 shortlisted photographs.
When does public voting close?
Voting closes at 23:59 GMT on 5 November 2026.
Does the public vote choose the overall winner?
No. The vote decides the Public Favourite title. The main competition winners are chosen by the judging panel.
