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OPY2026 entry window closes in:
Finalists announced in August.
Winners announced in September.
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KEEPING TIME: THE FIFTY FATHOMS, BY BLANCPAIN EXPLORE

Key dates & news

28 March

Chatham exhibition opens!

Major UK exhibition near London, opens to the public! Book tickets Debut exhibition at The Historical Dockyard Chatham - Link opens in a new window

1 April

Submissions window for OPY2026 opens

Make an early impression! Photographers can now enter OPY2026!

2 April

Bristol exhibition opens!

See all 116 winning images at unique Bristol venue! BOOK TICKETS Book tickets for OPY at SSGB - Link opens in a new window

22 April

San Francisco Bay Area exhibition opens!

See all 116 winning images at unique Alameda venue! Book tickets Book tickets to San Francisco OPY exhibition

30 June

Submissions window closes

The last day for photographers to enter OPY2026!

1 July

Judging begins

The judging process starts!

8 July

Judges gather in person

The judging panel gather in person to decide OPY2026 winners!

13 August

Finalists announced

The finalists of OPY2026 are announced

17 September

Winners announced!

OPY2026 winners are revealed!

OPY2025 WINNERS EVENT

Ocean photographers and VIPs gathered in London to celebrate the winners of Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025.

The ocean community gathered at Kanaloa House, London, on September 18, 2025, to celebrate the incredible cohort of winning photographers from OPY2025. Presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain, and with a stunning pop-up gallery created in collaboration with Canon, the evening was one of warmth, inspiration and connection.

About

The Ocean Photographer of the Year is a celebration of our beautiful blue planet, as well as a platform to highlight the many plights it is facing.

Ocean photographers of all disciplines and experience levels – amateurs and professionals alike – are invited to submit their most impactful imagery to be judged by a panel of ocean photographers, editors and museum/gallery curators. A total of 118 ocean images are recognised each year, connecting with millions of people around the world via digital, print and in-person exhibitions.

Rules / FAQs Prizes

Photo by Merche Llobera (OPY2024)

Categories

The grand title winner, the Ocean Photographer of the Year, is selected from submissions across nine categories. Each category is also recognised with a winner.

Categories are broad in their focus and open to interpretation. This is to make OPY as inclusive as possible and to ensure the bravest and boldest photographers can find a suitable category in which to enter their work. Underwater, from the air, on the coast or out at sea, each category is open to all ocean photographers. It is this confluence of disciplines that makes each final selection so special.

Previous winnersExplore & enter

Photo by Xiang Zhang (OPY2024)

EXHIBITIONS

Find your nearest Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition. Host cities and exhibition venues will be announced throughout 2025.

Experience the beauty, drama and power of OPY in person! Following on from several hugely successful years exhibiting winning images in an outdoor gallery by Tower Bridge, London, OPY moved indoors in 2023, opening a spectacular lightbox exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. 2025 exhibitions will include Sydney, Melbourne and Cape Town.

Find your nearestHost the exhibition

Organisers

Ocean Photographer of the Year is co-presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, two brands with the ocean at their heart.

Oceanographic and Blancpain are long-time collaborators, both possessing an inherent belief that purpose-driven storytelling has an important role to play in the pursuit of a better protected ocean. Photography is the most important element in such storytelling, a shared passion that has catapulted OPY to the forefront of Oceanographic’s and Blancpain’s collaborative endeavours.

Discover B.O.CMore about Blancpain

Winners and finalists 2025

See all winners about page