This Glowing Sea Turtle Is a Crime Scene, and It Won Environmental Photography Award 2026

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has announced the winners of the 2026 Environmental Photography Award. The Grand Prize goes to Britta Jaschinski for Handprint on Sea Turtle, also the winner in the Changemakers category. At first glance, I saw some kind of glowing “space turtle,” and I liked it on its own. But look closer, and you’ll spot a human handprint, revealed under ultraviolet light using fluorescent powder dye.

If you guessed there must be a story behind this handprint, you’d be right. And it’s a bit of a detective story, too. The technique Britta used is the one forensic scientists use at the ZSL Wildlife Forensic Lab in London to collect evidence against poachers and wildlife traffickers. Six of the world’s seven sea turtle species are currently classified as threatened, endangered, or critically endangered.

Britta Jaschinski is a British-German wildlife photojournalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Time Magazine, and GEO. After winning the award, she said:

“My photo aims to highlight the fragility of species but also the vital role of science in protecting our extraordinary wildlife. While traces of human presence can be unsettling, this photograph tells a story of progress – where innovation gives wildlife a voice, transforming evidence into a powerful force for awareness and accountability.”

Contest Chairman Sergio Pitamitz noted that Britta “avoids graphic or sensational imagery, instead producing photographs that communicate clearly and effectively to a wide audience, including younger generations.”

More About the Competition

Now in its sixth year, the contest honors photographers who document environmental protection across five categories: Changemakers, Forests, Ocean, Humanity vs Nature, and Polar Regions. This year’s shortlist features 36 images by photographers from around the world.

One of the goals of the contest is to promote inspiring ecological stories through the power of images. They rely on photography as one of the pillars to drive awareness and engagement. As Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, explains:

“Environmental photography has the unique ability to make distant realities tangible and urgent. By revealing both the beauty and the vulnerability of our planet, these images challenge us to look closer, think deeper, and act more decisively. Through this Award, we aim to amplify the voices of those who bear witness in the field and to inspire a collective commitment to protecting the living world.”

Below are the winners and runners-up of each category. And if you want to see them in person, you can! The shortlisted photos will be exhibited on the Promenade du Larvotto in Monaco from May 28 to July 30, 2026, and they’ll start touring internationally after that. On the Environmental Photography Award website, you can view the full image selection and learn more about the upcoming exhibitions.

Environmental Photography Award 2026 Category Winners and Runner-Ups

• Winning photos of 2019 Environmental Photographer of the Year show devastating impact of climate change
• This year’s Environmental Photographer of the Year winners paint a bleak future for our planet
• Grim photo of dead flamingos wins 2022 Environmental Photographer of the Year
• Thought-provoking photo of insects as food wins Environmental Photographer of the Year 2023
• Unseen Heroes of the Ocean Floor Take the Spotlight in Environmental Photographer of the Year 2025
• This Glowing Sea Turtle Is a Crime Scene, and It Won Environmental Photographer of the Year 2026

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