One　of　the　most　significant　boosts　for　reducing　energy　consumption　and　environmental　pollution　is　expected　to　be　the　photocatalytic　splitting　of　water,　which　is　a　cost-effective　and　ecologically　beneficial　method　of　hydrogen　(H2)　production　from　water　under　sunlight　irradiation.　Researchers　have　studied　various　photocatalytic　materials　and　systems　for　the　last　50 years;　however,　there　are　still　some　challenges　in　enhancing　the　lifetime　of　photo-generated　charge　carriers,　their　efficient　reactivity,　and　enabling　the　use　of　longer　wavelengths　of　incident　light　for　an　efficient　production　of　H2　under　sunlight　irradiation.　In　this　situation,　recent　studies　have　shown　that　selenium　(Se)-　and　tellurium　(Te)-enriched　cocatalysts　is　crucial　in　photocatalytic　systems　for　the　efficient　conversion　of　solar　energy　into　H2　production.　They　provide　a　variety　of　benefits,　including　efficient　photo-generation　of　charge　carriers　and　their　efficient　transfer,　increase　in　the　number　of　active　sites,　enhancement　in　the　electronic　conductivity,　and　optimization　of　cocatalyst-Hads　bonds.　In　the　present　review,　the　advancements　in　photocatalytic　H2　evolution　reactions　(HER)　using　Se-　and　Te-enriched　cocatalysts　are　discussed　in　detail.　In　particular,　the　construction　of　novel　transition　metal-based　Se-　and　Te-enriched　cocatalysts　are　summarized,　followed　by　their　benefits,　comparison,　and　mechanisms　to　improve　photocatalytic　water　splitting.　Finally,　as　conclusions,　a　comprehensive　outlook　on　the　research　development　of　Se-　and　Te-enriched　cocatalysts　is　identified　as　a　major　challenge,　and　various　ways　to　overcome　the　lower　efficiency　of　photocatalytic　HER　are　suggested　by　showing　an　appearance　of　cocatalysts　enriched　in　Se　and　Te　elements　is　one　of　the　highlights　in　the　photocatalytic　HER　research　field.　©　2023,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　B.V.