The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 has unveiled its finalists, celebrating the unexpected, expressive and often amusing moments found across the natural world.
This year's competition attracted a record more than 10,000 entries from photographers in 112 countries. The selected works capture spontaneous behaviour across diverse habitats, from Borneo's orangutans to tiny insects, birds and mammals in characterful everyday encounters.
Humour with a conservation purpose
Founded to encourage public engagement with wildlife conservation, the awards use humour as an accessible route to empathy. Co-founder Tom Sullam says the initiative has grown from a small awareness project into a global platform that helps audiences form stronger emotional connections with wildlife.
The final selection features 40 contenders whose natural timing, unusual perspectives and expressive animal behaviour turn ordinary moments into memorable visual stories. Alongside the main competition, the programme also includes youth submissions and the Sterna People's Choice Award.
The overall winners will be announced on December 8. By making wildlife feel relatable and engaging, the awards point to a future in which creativity can deepen public interest in protecting biodiversity.
