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Mar 31

Winning Images for Yellowstone Forever’s 2026 Calendar

We are excited to present you with the winning images of the Yellowstone Forever 2026 Calendar Contest! We had an incredible response this year from photographers from across the country. With so many excellent images received, it is an understatement to say that the judging process was a challenging one.

A very big thank you to all who participated. There were so many top-notch images submitted that were deserving in their own right. We wish we were able to include more!

Purchase today here or by clicking the calendar cover image.

A lone bison walks across colorful geothermal ground with steam rising, under text reading Yellowstone 2026. The Yellowstone Forever logo is in the corner.

Cover and Monthly Features

A bison walking near the colorful edge of Grand Prismatic Spring.COVER | Richard Calkins
A large bull moose with impressive antlers and a snow-covered snout approaches directly through snow in a dark forest.MARCH | Laura Dowd
A coyote tilts its head back and howls with an open mouth while standing in sagebrush in a green, grassy field.JUNE | Larry Taylor
A illuminated geyser erupts a glowing column of steam into a clear, starry night sky above a dark silhouetted ridge.SEPTEMBER | Zack Clothier
A pack of three wolves walking in single file through snow.DECEMBER | Steve Santel
A herd of American bison with snow-dusted faces walks forward in a line through deep snow toward the camera in winter.JANUARY | J. Michael Darter
Vibrant green and pink aurora borealis lights stretch across the sky above snow-dusted, steep canyon walls and a river.APRIL | Evan Watts
A grizzly bear surrounded by vibrant pink wildflowers in summer.JULY | Julia Cook
Two elk on the white travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.OCTOBER | Lisa Culpepper
A herd of elk moves across a golden grassy field at sunset with steep, sunlit mountains looming in the background.INSIDE BACK COVER | Mason Messner
Sunlight filters through bare trees onto a winding, unfrozen stream cutting through snow-covered grass in winter.FEBRUARY | David Kingham
A small black bear cub stands on its hind legs hugging its mother's muzzle beside a large tree trunk in a forest.MAY | Rob Pajewski
A bright double rainbow arches over a winding river valley and golden grassy fields framing green evergreen trees.AUGUST | David McGinnis
A great gray owl with striking yellow eyes perches on a mossy tree branch during a light, gentle snowfall.NOVEMBER | Benjamin Bluhm

Small Feature Images

Tall frost-covered trees glow in early light against a foggy valley floor and dark pine-forested hills in winter.JANUARY | Jenny Golding
Three small grizzly bear cubs with light fur around their necks walk together outdoors near fallen tree branches.MAY | Scott Brovsky
Scenic view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and river below.SEPTEMBER | Rick Kramer
A tiny Northern Pygmy-Owl perched on a bare tree branch.FEBRUARY | Trent Sizemore
A bighorn sheep ewe and her small lamb lie peacefully together in a mountain field filled with purple lupine flowers.JUNE | Wayne Wolfersberger
A powerful geyser shoots a towering plume of steam into a blue sky, creating a vibrant rainbow across the foreground.OCTOBER | Janet Jones
A Mountain Bluebird in flight, photographed by Diana Pajewski for Yellowstone.MARCH | Diana Pajewski
A winding stream through a bright green meadow reflects vibrant pink sunset clouds beneath a distant treed horizon.JULY | Dean Sauskojus
An American marten perched in a pine tree looking downward.NOVEMBER | Stacy Gessler
A majestic bald eagle perches on a bare, weathered tree branch, bowing its white head against a soft blue backdrop.APRIL | Rich Kirchner
A tipi stands illuminated beside Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone under a vivid Milky Way galaxy stretching across the sky.AUGUST | Julie Barrick
Two river otters touching noses above an icy winter waterline.DECEMBER | Devon Pradhuman

Honorable Mentions

2026 Yellowstone Forever Calendar Contest honorable mention image of Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon with a rainbow.Jennifer Warner
A mother black bear rests atop a large boulder surrounded by green foliage as two small cubs explore nearby rocks.Brian Barton
An American marten with brown fur and a bright orange throat patch perches on light-colored rocks in the sunlight.Ann Skelton
2026 Yellowstone Forever Calendar Contest honorable mention image of a digging badger.Lauren Bunker
A red fox stands alert in a snowy landscape behind tall, frost-covered grass blades in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.Jeff Brennemen
A tiny black bear cub walking across a snow-dusted fallen log while light snowflakes fall in a blurred meadow setting.Rob Harwood
A large bull elk with large antlers bugles with its neck stretched back in a golden grassy field against dark trees.Scott Thompson
Steam rises from Great Fountain Geyser's terraced pools at sunrise under an orange and yellow sky in Yellowstone.Carol Polich
A frost-dusted American bison charges forward through deep snow towards the camera, leading a herd in a winter scene.Patrick Vallely
An abstract close-up of flowing hydrothermal water forming white and rusty orange fibrous bacterial mats over rocks.Kathy Lichtendahl
A grizzly sow and her three small cubs standing close together in a grassy spring meadow in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.Jim Futterer
Rainbow over the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, photographed by Victor Rangel.Victor Rangel