Breathtaking images from Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 finalists

Astonishing photographs of rainbows, lightning strikes and incredible cloud formations are among the finalists in the Weather Photographer of the Year 2026 competition. This year’s edition attracted 5,500 entries, and a judging panel whittled them down to 30 finalists, according to a statement from the UK’s Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS), which organizes the competition. Now it’s up to the public to choose the winner, with voting open until November 5. “This competition continues to show us just how powerful photography can be in connecting people with weather and our changing climate,” Liz Bentley, chief executive of the RMetS, said in the statement. “The incredible images shortlisted this year don’t just showcase the breathtaking, dramatic beauty of our skies, they also serve as a critical reminder of the impacts of climate change,” she added. Other finalists include photos of mist rolling over hills in Vietnam, a massive chunk of ice calving from a glacier in Argentina and smoke from wildfires obscuring the New York City skyline.