Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 shortlist unveiled with eclipse, auroras and deep-space wonders
Thousands of striking images of the night sky have been shortlisted for the 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, with photographers from around the world capturing everything from dramatic eclipses to colourful nebulae and the Milky Way.
Organised by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the annual competition attracted almost 4,000 entries from 66 countries. The contest, supported by ZWO and run in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, celebrates both amateur and professional astrophotographers.
Among this year’s shortlisted photographs is British photographer James McBeath’s image Moody Partial Solar Eclipse, taken during the partial solar eclipse on 29 March 2025. The photograph shows the Sun appearing through fast-moving cloud, creating a dramatic interpretation of one of the year’s most closely watched astronomical events.
The shortlist also features a wide variety of celestial scenes, including colourful nebulae, meteor showers and sweeping views of the Milky Way. Other selected photographs capture the first full Moon of 2026 rising above the Paris skyline, an aurora shaped like an eagle and cherry blossom trees illuminated beneath the night sky along Japan’s Funakawa River.
Now in its 18th year, Astronomy Photographer of the Year will once again be judged by a panel of experts from the worlds of astronomy and the arts. Winners will be chosen across nine competition categories, alongside two special awards and the overall Astronomy Photographer of the Year title.
The successful photographers will be revealed on 17 September.
Winning images, together with a selection of shortlisted entries, will go on display in a dedicated exhibition at the National Maritime Museum from 18 September, giving visitors the opportunity to see some of the world’s finest astrophotography in person.
An official companion book featuring the winning and shortlisted photographs will also be released. It will first be available through Royal Museums Greenwich from the exhibition opening before going on wider sale through bookshops from 2 October.
The annual competition has become one of the world’s leading showcases for astrophotography, highlighting both remarkable astronomical events and the creativity of photographers who capture them.
Visit Royal Museums Greenwich to see the shortlisted images.
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