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77 Outstanding Pet Photos That Earned A Spot In The 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Finals
The International Pet Photography Awards have announced the finalists for their 2026 competition, highlighting some of the year's most remarkable images of companion animals. Now in its eighth year, the awards continue to recognize excellence in pet photography while showcasing the creativity, technical skill, and storytelling behind the genre.
This year's competition was the largest to date, attracting 4,220 entries from photographers in 48 countries. The finalists were selected across 12 categories, with four new additions making their debut: Commissioned Portfolio, In-Camera Artistry, Phone, and Studio, joining established categories such as Action, Creative, Documentary, Canine Portrait, Feline Portrait, Pets and People, and Open Portrait.
The images were evaluated by a panel of 27 internationally recognized animal photographers and industry experts, with finalists determined by the highest combined scores across multiple submissions. The category winners, along with the overall International Pet Photographer of the Year, will be announced during a live online ceremony on August 1, 2026. Until then, we've selected some of our favorite finalist photographs for you to enjoy below.
More info: petphotographyawards.com | Facebook | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Pets And People Category - "Teenagers" By Jaana Vuola
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#2
Equine Portrait Category Finalist - "Smiling Seahorse" By Roberta Holden
#3
Pets And People Category - "Gentle" By Jaana Vuola
#4
Pets And People Category - "I'm Your Constant In The Chaos (1)" By Cris Skinner
#5
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "Cattitude" By Belinda Richards
#6
Equine Portrait Category Finalist - "Oldie Friends" By Diane Bliessen
#7
Equine Portrait Category Finalist - "Curious Icelandic Horse Foal, Huldumey And Mare Hyndla" By Iris Van Velzen
#8
Pets And People Category - "Compassion" By Jaana Vuola
#9
Phone Category - "Peeking Cat" By He Huapei
#10
Documentary Category Finalist - "Working As A Team" By Rebecca Williams
#11
Studio Category - "Moose" By Carolyn Bray
#12
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "Winter Whiskers" By Betty Brodie
#13
Pets And People Category - "I'm Your Constant In The Chaos (2)" By Cris Skinner
#14
Open Portrait Category Finalist - "Tempest Storm" By Adam Claus
#15
Open Portrait Category Finalist - "Teddy's Tribute" By Jennifer Chassagnol
#16
Canine Portrait Category Finalist - "A Piece Of Art" By Kairi Laiapea
#17
Equine Portrait Category Finalist - "Majestic Friesian" By Renate Zuidema
#18
Action Category Finalist - "Weightless" By Shandess Griffin
#19
Open Portrait Category Finalist - "The Watchman" By Adam Claus
#21
Pet Photographer Of The Year Finalist - "The Vegan Hunt" By Inge Heimensen
#22
Pets And People Category - Finalist By Linda Glomb
#23
Phone Category - "Blending With Light And Dust" By He Huapei
#24
Studio Category - Finalist By Rachel Mccready
#26
Canine Portrait Category Finalist - "Call Of The Wild" By Callie Soden
#28
Action Category Finalist - "A Podenco Thing" By Linda Glomb
#30
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "The Fairywood Watcher" By Lenne Renders
#32
Pets And People Category - Finalist By Linda Glomb
#33
Phone Category - "If Not Box, Why Box Shaped?" By Monica Plummer
#34
Studio Category - "Faithful Gaze" By Hanneke Naaktgeboren
#35
Action Category Finalist - "Levitating" By Chantal Levesque
#36
Documentary Category Finalist - "Joy Against The Odds" By Magdalena Szklarska
#37
Studio Category - Finalist By Rachel Mccready
#38
Documentary Category Finalist - "A Small Gesture" By Kelly Borgers
#39
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "Golden Perch" By Betty Brodie
#40
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "The Back View" By Katie Brockman
#41
In-Camera Artistry Category Finalist - "Claws Monet: Mischief" By Katie Brockman
#43
Pets And People Category - "I'm Your Constant In The Chaos (4)" By Cris Skinner
#44
Pets And People Category Finalist By Renate Zuidema
#45
Documentary Category Finalist - "A Hero's Leap" By Nicole Hrustyk
#47
In-Camera Artistry Category Finalist - "Jump" By He Huapei
#48
Open Portrait Category Finalist By Louise Wolbers
#49
Pet Photographer Of The Year Finalist - "Amazing Grace" By Callie Soden
#52
Canine Portrait Category Finalist - "Hidden Waterfall" By Marc Vandijck
#53
Canine Portrait Category Finalist - "Echoes Of Elegance" By Renate Zuidema
#54
Documentary Category Finalist - "A Pause To Untangle Ice Fishing By Dog Sled In Northwest Greenland" By Roberta Holden
#56
Open Portrait Category Finalist - "Little Snake And The Nutan" By Ellen Reus
#57
Pets And People Category - "Sjeherazade" By Sandra Ferwerda
#59
Phone Category - "The Watchful Gaze" By Christel Wellens
#60
Action Category Finalist - "Time To Run" By Laetitia Delval
#61
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "Tongue Out" By Katie Brockman
#62
Phone Category - "Gentle Giant" By Melisa Lagemann
#63
Phone Category - "Curious Soul" By Monica Plummer
#65
Studio Category Finalist By Rachel Mccready
#66
Action Category Finalist - "Hop, Skip And Jump" By Frankie Adamson
#67
Feline Portrait Category Finalist - "Wodan The Aristocat" By Mirka Koot
#68
In-Camera Artistry Category Finalist - "Starstruck" By Andrea Zachrau
#69
Open Portrait Category Finalist - "It's All In The Yellow" By Noel Lakeman-Strijdonk
#70
Phone Category - "Spring's Sweetest Surprise" By Cerrina Smith
#71
Pet Photographer Of The Year Finalist - "Temptation" By Callie Soden
#74
Phone Category - "Safe Haven" By Cerrina Smith
#75
In-Camera Artistry Category Finalist - "Queen Of The Castle" By Sanna Sander
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Auntriarch 2 days ago
I may come back to this, several times... It's Hidrèlèy again isn't it, bless you
Laszlo Larthlanc 2 days ago
These are all frame-worthy images, and if there were ever a coffee-table book of these images I would buy several and give them as gifts. Thank you again, Hidrėlėy.
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 2 days ago
I have certainly died and gone to heaven with all these long and pointy dogs! Thank you for these - thank you so much!
Auntriarch 2 days ago
I may come back to this, several times... It's Hidrèlèy again isn't it, bless you
Laszlo Larthlanc 2 days ago
These are all frame-worthy images, and if there were ever a coffee-table book of these images I would buy several and give them as gifts. Thank you again, Hidrėlėy.
Multa Nocte (she/her/8647) 2 days ago
I have certainly died and gone to heaven with all these long and pointy dogs! Thank you for these - thank you so much!
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