2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year Exhibition
12 December 2025 - 21 January 2026
This summer, the Two Oceans Aquarium is proud to host the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 Exhibition - the first time this internationally renowned showcase is being held on African soil. Every Aquarium visitor and every annual member can access the full exhibition for free, with no add-on fees, no special ticket, and no booking required beyond your normal Aquarium entry.
What to expect
Explore the full winning collection from the 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, including the overall winning image by Indonesia-based macro photographer Yury Ivanov. From intimate macro worlds to sweeping scenes of ocean life, this exhibition captures the wonder, fragility, and urgency of our blue planet.
Presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, and supported by Canon, the exhibition celebrates photographers who give the ocean a voice — shining a light on beauty, science, and conservation in equal measure.
The 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year gallery promises to be a visual and textural experience to remember, and the Two Oceans Aquarium is proud to serve as host, sharing this marvelous spectacle with you. The photographic exhibition includes ocean moments that capture the full range of human and animal experiences - from penguins and puffins in pursuit of prey, to the sculpture-like textures of a Weddell seal and the emotion of conservationist captured during the intensity of wildlife rescues.
General information
When: 12 December 2025 – 21 January 2026
Where: Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
How to book:
- Access with any regular Aquarium ticket
- Free access for all Aquarium annual members
- No extra cost. No special ticket. Your regular entry gets you everything.
- Purchase tickets online to skip the queue or buy in person at the Aquarium's ticket office.
Why this exhibition matters
“Exhibitions such as these shine a light on the magnificence of the ocean and its inhabitants, illustrating what we have to lose without action. This aligns with what the Two Oceans Aquarium stands for: conservation, education and research with the aim of inspiring action for the future well-being of our oceans.”
- Alichia Nortjie, Guest Experience Manager
The Ocean Photographer of the Year programme champions:
- Raising global awareness of ocean beauty and vulnerability
- Supporting scientific research
- Driving tangible conservation efforts, including the creation of marine protected areas
“The winners of this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year remind us that photography is more than art – it is a bridge. Their images connect people to the ocean in ways words cannot, reaching those who may never dive in it or paddle on it, but whose lives are deeply intertwined with it. In a time of planetary urgency, this year’s photographers invite the world to see, feel, and ultimately care. Their work is critical, because we protect what we understand.”
- Will Harrison, Director of Ocean Photographer of the Year
Simply visit the Two Oceans Aquarium between 12 December 2025 and 21 January 2026 to experience the 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition. No additional ticket is required.