Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026: The Funniest Animal Photos of the Year
The finalists for the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are in, picked from more than 10,000 entries, the most in the contest's history. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 8. Here are some of the standouts. To see the photos themselves, visit the official Comedy Wildlife site linked below.
Quick Facts
- Entries: 10,000+, a contest record
- Finalists: 40 single images, 4 portfolios, 9 videos, 3 under-16 entries
- Judges include: Kate Humble, Hannah Stitfall and Stuart Goldsmith
- Winners announced: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
The Standout Finalists
- Elvis by Paolo Torre: a caiman in Brazil's Pantanal surfaces with weeds on its head that look exactly like a 1950s pompadour.
- Are You Kidding Me? by Kevin Lohman: a protective squirrel launches a surprise flying tackle at a great horned owl.
- Morning Calisthenics by Scott Suriano: a brown bear in Alaska stretches out with what look like bicycle kicks.
- Smile by Marek Jackowski: a male elephant seal in South Georgia surfaces with a huge grin as penguins scatter.
- Sexy Mantis by Diego Perez: a green mantis in Peru strikes a pose like it is sunbathing.
- Hair Check Before the Family Photo by Subi Sridharan: one meerkat in Namibia grooms another right before the group shot.
- Push Over by Barbara Seiberl-Stark: a young lion in Zimbabwe appears to shove its sibling.
- Angry Bird by Jan Wittmer: a tiny goldcrest in Germany glares straight down the lens.
- Did I Sleep Past My Alarm? by Fabi Fregonesi: a blenny in Peru caught mid-yawn.
- Lessons by Heather Cudworth: a mother elephant gives her calf a very enthusiastic dust bath.
What Are the Comedy Wildlife Awards?
The awards started in 2015 to celebrate the funny side of nature and get people talking about wildlife conservation. Photographers from around the world enter shots of animals caught in silly moments. The pictures are real, unposed wild animals, which is what makes them so good.
When Are the Winners Announced?
The overall winner, category winners and highly commended entries will be announced on Tuesday, December 8, 2026. We will update this page with the results.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 Comedy Wildlife winners announced?
On Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
How many photos were entered in 2026?
More than 10,000, the most in the contest's history.
Who judges the Comedy Wildlife Awards?
The 2026 panel includes TV presenter Kate Humble, wildlife filmmaker Hannah Stitfall and climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith.
Related Stories
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- The Smartest Animals in History: 8 Real Animals Who Amazed Scientists
- Machli the Tigress: The Queen of Ranthambore Who Fought a Crocodile
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Sources
- Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards (official site): the finalist photos
- BBC Wildlife / Discover Wildlife: finalist titles and photographers
- My Modern Met: finalist counts and contest details
More true animal stories: From Paw to Tail Blog
Cover photo: Mathias Appel via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.