The finalists for the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have been announced – from a caiman wearing a ‘wig’ and a meerkat being made photo-ready, to a sleepy gosling and a surprise squirrel attack.
This year, the competition received more than 10,000 entries from around the world – the highest amount in its decade-long run, say the organisers.
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“What began as a small effort to raise awareness of wildlife conservation has grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined,” explains co-founder Tom Sulllam.
“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. We use humour to get people to feel empathy towards wildlife, and it’s that empathy that creates behavioural change for the better.”
A team of expert judges, which includes TV presenter Kate Humble, wildlife filmmaker Hannah Stitfall and climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith, will now pick their favourite images. The overall, category and highly commended winners will be announced on Tuesday 8 December.
2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists
Push over by Barbara Seiberl-Stark
Photographer Barbara Seiberl-Stark took this image by a riverbed in Ruckomechi, Zimbabwe, during their first safari trip. There were seven lions in total playing – making it “hard to decide in which direction or on what scene to point the camera,” she says.
Zonkling by Celine Nic Oireachtaigh
This adorable image of snoozy greylag goslings was taken at Finnamore Lakes in County Offaly, Ireland. Nic Oireachtaigh took the image using a 500mm lens, so they weren’t disturbed during their nap.
Did I sleep past my alarm? by Fabi-Fregonesi
This perfectly-timed shot of a blenny was the result of multiple targeted dives. It was hidden with a tiny, camouflaged tube on the reef and opened its mouth to feed for a split second.
Lessons by Heather Cudworth
Elephants are known for giving themselves dust baths – but this calf might have received more than it desired. “Mum paused for a moment then gathered a particularly large amount of debris,” explains photographer Heather Cudworth. “She pulled her trunk back as if she was winding up for a strike-out pitch, then proceeded to shower her youngster with presumably the most high-pressure dust bath he’d ever experienced, directly to the face!”
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Angry bird by Jan Wittmer
The goldcrest is Europe’s smallest bird, measuring no longer than 9cm and weighing about the same as a 5p coin. Here, Jan Wittmer captures the moment one came to a complete stop in front of the camera on the island of Helgoland, Germany.
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Are you kidding me? by Kevin Lohman
“A young great horned owl had barely settled onto its perch before a protective squirrel launched a surprise aerial tackle, knocking it into the grass below,” explains photographer Kevin Lohman. “The most unbelievable part? The squirrel repeated the stunt two more times. The owl and squirrel were shaken up, but unharmed.”
Sexy mantis by Diego Perez
Whether people thought this green mantis was sunbathing or striking a pose, they always seemed to laugh when photographer Diego Perez showed them the photo. He spent time trying to frame the inset in an unfamiliar way while on a night walk in Cusco, Peru.
Smile by Marek Jackowski
In Gold Harbour, South Georgia, king penguins and elephant seals share a busy shore – with the penguins quickly scattering to avoid the lumbering giants. “Right on cue, this absolute unit of a male seal popped up, hit me with a breathtaking 10/10 smile, and sent the chick panic-squad running for their lives,” says photographer Marek Jackowski.
Elvis by Paolo Torre
Photographer Paolo Torre captured the moment a caiman in the Pantanal emerged from the water with floating vegetation left on its head – giving it a certain 1950s rock-and-roll look.
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Morning calisthenics by Scott Suriano
This brown bear was caught appearing to do some warm-up exercises at Lake Clark, Alaska – including what looks like bicycle kicks.
Hair check before the family photo by Subi Sridharan
A group of meerkats in Namibia seem to be getting ready for their close-up. But one of them appeared to insist on giving a last-minute grooming inspection – much to the dismay of the little one.
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Out of water by Thong Duy Vu
Thong Duy Vu spotted a garden sunbird landing on a banana blossom and savouring the nectar. “After his treat, he hopped into the ‘tub’ and began enjoying the refreshing, cool water. He tilted his head this way, stretched his wings that way, and wagged his tail, sending droplets splashing all over his body,” he explained.
You can view the full list of finalists here.
