Say Cheese! The Funniest Animal Photos of the Year Are Here
Quick Summary
The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has revealed its finalists! Photographers from 112 countries sent in over 10,000 funny animal photos — a new record. The winners will be announced in December, but the finalists are already making the whole world smile.
What Happened?
Every year, wildlife photographers share their best — and silliest — photos of animals caught doing hilarious things. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards celebrates these moments. This year is the competition’s 12th birthday, and it has never been bigger.
More than 10,000 photos arrived from photographers in 112 countries. That is the highest number of entries ever. Judges carefully selected 40 individual finalists, plus extra finalists for young photographers under 16, video entries, and photo portfolios.
Some of the highlights are truly delightful. One photo shows a water buffalo with a big clump of grass balanced perfectly on her head — making her look like she is wearing a fancy bonnet. Photographers named her Doris. Another shows a squirrel launching itself through the air toward a wide-eyed baby owl, like a tiny furry superhero. There is also a polar bear that seems to be having a very serious conversation with a seagull.
A photo of a caiman — a reptile related to crocodiles — appears to be wearing a wild wig made of floating plants. And a family of meerkats looks like they are getting a last-minute hairstyle check before a family portrait.
The competition was founded in 2015 by wildlife photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam. Their idea was simple: use humor to make people care about wildlife. When you laugh at an animal, you start to love it. And when you love it, you want to protect it.
This year, the awards are raising awareness for the Born Free Foundation, a charity that protects wild animals from harm and helps save threatened species around the world.
The overall winner will be announced at an awards night in London on December 8. The top prize is a dream safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara — one of Africa’s most spectacular wild places.
Why Does It Matter?
These funny photos do something important. They remind us that animals have personalities, quirky moments, and surprising lives. Every silly image is a snapshot of the real natural world — a world worth caring for and protecting.
The competition also celebrates photographers of all ages. Three of this year’s finalists are under 16 years old — proof that you do not have to be a grown-up to capture something amazing.
Big Words
- Wildlife photography — taking pictures of animals in their natural habitats.
- Finalist — someone who has been chosen as one of the best entries in a competition, but has not yet been named the winner.
- Conservation — the work of protecting animals, plants, and nature from harm or extinction.
- Portfolio — a collection of a photographer’s best work shown together.
- Habitat — the natural environment where an animal lives, such as a forest, ocean, or grassland.
Fun Fact
The Masai Mara in Kenya — the grand prize safari destination — is famous for the Great Migration, when over one million wildebeest travel across the plains in one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife events!
Think About It
If you could photograph any animal in the wild doing something funny or surprising, which animal would you choose and why?
Sources
- Smithsonian Magazine — See the Hilarious Animal Shenanigans Captured in Photos and Videos Shortlisted for the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
- Forbes — Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 — Finalists Revealed Alongside 2 London Exhibitions
- Yahoo Entertainment — Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 — Finalists Revealed Alongside Two London Exhibitions
- Popular Science — 18 hilarious photos from the 2026 Comedy Wildlife Awards