Nikon Reveals 2026 Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists

The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards has revealed its finalists after receiving more than 10,000 submissions from 112 countries, selecting humorous animal photographs and videos that highlight wildlife through creative imagery.

According to organizers, the record-setting competition shortlist includes 40 individual finalists, three U16 finalists, four portfolio finalists and nine video finalists. The winners will be announced in London on December 8.

The annual competition was created in 2015 to use humor as a way to promote wildlife conservation. Co-founder Tom Sullam said the awards have expanded from a small conservation effort into a global event.

"The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards started very gently, somewhere out on the vast plains of the Serengeti," said Tom Sullam, competition co-founder.

Sullam said the contest has continued growing internationally and aims to reach wider audiences while maintaining its focus on wildlife awareness.

"The competition is now truly global, and a decade or so on, we want to make it even bigger, funnier, and more far-reaching than ever," said Tom Sullam, competition co-founder.

The organizer linked humor with emotional connections to wildlife and conservation efforts.

"We use humour to get people to feel empathy towards wildlife, and it’s that empathy that creates behavioural change for the better," said Tom Sullam, competition co-founder.

Finalist images include a mantis appearing to pose on a leaf in Peru, a squirrel launching toward a young great horned owl in California, and a Bornean orangutan photographed with a raised finger.

Photographer Tanner Mansell described the orangutan image, which shows the animal after finishing a meal in the wild, with a question about whether the animal understood its gesture.

"Even though he was completely wild and just enjoying his food, I couldn't help wondering, 'Does he know what he's doing?'" wrote Tanner Mansell, photographer.

Other finalists feature brown bears in Alaska appearing to playfully interact, a sparrowhawk in Scotland captured in a dramatic pose, and walruses photographed in Svalbard, Norway.

Photographer Rosie Barrett captured three yearling brown bears in Finland, including one that appeared to strike a pose for the camera.

"Pretty sure he knew it was for Instagram..un-bear-lieavable!" wrote Rosie Barrett, photographer.

Charles Janson photographed two teenage brown bears sparring in Chinitna Bay, Alaska, a behavior that can help prepare bears for future adult interactions.

"There is debate about whether the facial expressions of these bears are at all equivalent to human smiles – but I like to think that they are," said Charles Janson, photographer.