Something extraordinary is coming to Kent this spring, and it’s not to be missed! The Historic Dockyard Chatham is hosting the UK debut of the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition, and it is every bit as spectacular as it sounds. Running from 28 March to 31 August 2026, this is your chance to experience one of the world’s most prestigious ocean photography competitions in person, right here in the South East.
TL;DR: 116 stunning award-winning ocean photographs, selected from over 15,000 entries worldwide, are on display at The Historic Dockyard Chatham from 28 March to 31 August 2026. Entry is included in your standard Dockyard admission ticket. Perfect for families, nature lovers, and photography fans!
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a photography lover, or simply looking for an inspiring family day out in Kent, this exhibition delivers something truly unforgettable. From tiny microscopic sea creatures to sweeping open-ocean seascapes, the images on display will leave you and the kids completely wide-eyed with wonder.
Best of all? The exhibition is included in your standard Dockyard admission ticket, so there’s no extra cost to enjoy it!
What Is the Ocean Photographer of the Year Exhibition?
The Ocean Photographer of the Year is one of the world’s leading ocean photography competitions, run by London-based Oceanographic Magazine and co-presented with Blancpain as part of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment. Its mission is as beautiful as the images it celebrates: to showcase the stunning diversity of our blue planet while shining a powerful light on the very real challenges our oceans face.
Each year, the competition attracts entries from professional and amateur photographers alike. In 2026, judges reviewed more than 15,000 submissions from around the globe before selecting 116 extraordinary images for the exhibition. These aren’t just pretty pictures; they are windows into a world most of us will never see with our own eyes.
What Makes This Exhibition Special?
The exhibition spans an incredible range of categories, taking visitors on a journey through the ocean’s many moods and stories:
- Wildlife – jaw-dropping encounters with sharks, penguins, sea dragons, and more
- Human Connection – moving stories of people’s relationship with the sea
- Hope – images celebrating ocean conservation and resilience
- Adventure – surfers, divers, and explorers pushing boundaries
- Impact – unflinching documentation of climate change, coral bleaching, and pollution
- Young Photographers – inspiring work from the next generation of ocean storytellers
This breadth of themes makes it genuinely brilliant for families. The kids will be captivated by the wildlife shots, while the conservation stories give older children and adults plenty to think about and discuss.
Exhibition Highlights: Images You Won’t Want to Miss
With 116 photographs on display, there is genuinely something to stop everyone in their tracks. Here are some of the standout moments you can look forward to:
The Overall Winner: Yury Ivanov’s “Ladybugs of the Sea”
The headline image of the entire exhibition is the overall winning shot by Indonesia-based photographer Yury Ivanov, capturing two perfectly synchronised amphipods, tiny crustaceans nicknamed the “ladybugs of the sea.” It’s a photograph that makes you look twice and then a third time, marvelling at the intricate beauty of creatures that most people have never even heard of. Absolutely mesmerising!
Female Fifty Fathoms Award: Jailing Cai
Jailing Cai is recognised with the Female Fifty Fathoms Award for her inspiring body of underwater work. This award specifically celebrates women making waves (quite literally!) in the world of ocean photography, and Cai’s images are a testament to the incredible talent being recognised through this competition.
A Cast of Extraordinary Ocean Characters
Beyond the headline winners, the exhibition is packed with unforgettable images. Keep your eyes peeled for:
| What You’ll See | Why It’s Amazing |
|---|---|
| Drooling sea dragons | Bizarre, otherworldly creatures that look almost fictional |
| Playful penguins | Charming and funny, kids absolutely love these! |
| A puffin evading a thief | A split-second wildlife moment caught in stunning detail |
| Ethereal stingrays in sand clouds | Graceful and dreamlike, genuinely breathtaking |
| A candy crab in its pink coral kingdom | Tiny, colourful, and utterly magical |
| A surfer launching toward a rainbow | Pure human joy captured at the perfect moment |
| Rescuers saving a beached whale | A powerful, emotional conservation story |
The scale of the images ranges from microscopic marine life just 1.5cm across all the way to epic open-ocean encounters with sharks and whales. There is nothing else quite like it!
Why The Historic Dockyard Chatham Is the Perfect Setting
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting home for this exhibition. The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a place shaped by centuries of naval exploration, shipbuilding, and Britain’s deep relationship with the sea. Walking through an exhibition about the ocean’s beauty and fragility, surrounded by the buildings and ships that once powered Britain’s maritime history, adds a layer of meaning that really resonates.
*”We are very excited to be hosting Ocean Photographer of the Year for the very first time in the UK here at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The exhibition provides a unique glimpse into our mysterious and magical underwater world but also importantly highlights the challenges we face surrounding ocean health and climate change.”*Paul Barnard, COO, The Historic Dockyard Chatham
The Dockyard itself is a world-class attraction. It is home to the finest integrated collection of 18th-century manufacturing structures in Britain, and it is the only remaining Royal Navy Ropeyard from the original four still in operation. The Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition follows in the footsteps of the acclaimed Diving Deep: HMS Invincible 1744 exhibition, continuing the Dockyard’s proud tradition of maritime storytelling.
In short: you’re not just visiting a photography exhibition. You’re visiting one of Britain’s most remarkable historic sites, with one of the world’s most stunning ocean photography shows thrown in!
Practical Information: Everything You Need to Know
Planning your visit is nice and straightforward. Here’s all the key information you need:
Dates, Times, and Tickets
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exhibition dates | 28 March to 31 August 2026 |
| Opening hours | Monday to Sunday, 10:00am to 5:00pm |
| Ticket price | Included in standard Dockyard admission |
| Annual pass | Valid for one year, return visits free! |
| Online booking | Available with discounted ticket prices |
Top tip: Book your tickets online in advance to get the best price! The Dockyard’s annual pass is fantastic value if you’re planning to visit more than once, as it covers all return visits for a full year.
Is It Suitable for Kids?
Absolutely, yes! The exhibition is described as perfect for nature lovers, photography fans, and families. The wildlife images in particular are brilliant for sparking curiosity in younger visitors, and the sheer variety of subjects means even little ones with short attention spans will find plenty to exclaim over.
A typical visit to The Historic Dockyard Chatham takes around 4 to 5 hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the wider Dockyard alongside the exhibition. There are iconic historic ships, fascinating museums, and loads of outdoor space to enjoy too.
Getting There
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is located in Chatham, Kent, making it an easy and accessible day out for families across the South East and within reach of London. Parking is available on site.
Our Verdict: Should You Go?
One hundred percent, yes! The Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition at The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a genuinely rare treat. It’s the UK debut of a globally celebrated exhibition, it’s included in your admission price, and it sits within one of the most historically significant sites in the country. That’s a combination that’s very hard to beat.
For families, it ticks so many boxes:
- Educational – kids learn about ocean wildlife, conservation, and the environment
- Visually stunning – 116 world-class photographs that will genuinely take your breath away
- Great value – no extra cost on top of standard Dockyard admission
- All ages – from toddlers marvelling at penguins to teens inspired by the conservation stories
- A full day out – pair it with the wider Dockyard for a complete 4 to 5 hour adventure
The exhibition runs until 31 August 2026, so you have the whole spring and summer to plan your visit. But don’t leave it too late, this is a UK debut and word is spreading fast!
Head over to The Historic Dockyard Chatham on Day Out With The Kids to find out more and plan your visit today!