The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 celebrates one of the most entertaining sides of nature: the unexpected, humorous moments that appear when animals behave in ways that look almost human. From perfectly timed expressions to chaotic animal interactions, this international competition has become one of the most recognizable wildlife photography contests currently open to photographers around the world.
Founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the competition combines humor with a strong conservation message. Over the years it has grown rapidly, receiving close to 10,000 submissions from photographers in more than 100 countries in recent editions. The awards aim to raise awareness about wildlife protection while celebrating creativity and storytelling through photography. For photographers searching for free photography competitions, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards offer an opportunity to gain global exposure while contributing to conservation awareness.
The contest invites humorous wildlife images across multiple categories, ranging from mammals and birds to underwater wildlife and short video clips. Finalists are typically announced in autumn, with winners revealed later in the year. Photographers interested in discovering similar opportunities can also explore our list of photography competitions, where we regularly publish new global photography contests and awards.
Dates and Entry Fees
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards follow a clear annual schedule from the opening of submissions to the announcement of the winners.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Contest Opens | Already Open |
| Deadline for Entries | June 30 (11:59 pm BST) |
| Finalists Announced | October |
| Winners Announced and Awards Ceremony | December |
Entry Fees: Participation in the contest is completely free, making it one of the free photo contests currently available to wildlife photographers worldwide.
Categories
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards include several categories designed to showcase humorous moments captured in different wildlife environments.
- Alex Walker’s Serian Mammals Category: Funny moments involving mammals photographed in the wild.
- Spectrum Photo Birds Category: Humorous images featuring birds behaving in unexpected ways.
- ThinkTANK Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects Category: A category dedicated to smaller wildlife species.
- Fish and Other Aquatic Species Category: Underwater or aquatic wildlife captured in amusing situations.
- Amazing Internet Portfolio Category: A set of four related images that together tell a humorous wildlife story.
- Nikon Junior Category: Reserved for photographers aged 16 or under.
- Nikon Young Photographer Category: Dedicated to photographers aged 25 or under.
- Video Clip Category: Short wildlife videos showing entertaining animal behavior.
- People’s Choice Award: Finalists automatically enter a public vote to determine the audience’s favorite image.
Contest Prizes
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards offer a combination of travel experiences, photography equipment, and international recognition for the most entertaining wildlife images.
- Comedy Wildlife Photographer of the Year: The overall winner receives the official title, a handcrafted metal trophy created by the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania, and a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience in Kenya’s Maasai Mara with Alex Walker’s Serian.
- Category Winners: Winners of the individual categories receive official certificates and prizes from the competition partners.
- People’s Choice Award: The finalist receiving the most public votes wins an additional sponsored prize.
- Junior and Special Awards: Additional prizes are presented to young photographers and selected category winners depending on the year’s edition.
Other Free Contests
About the Jury
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are judged by a panel that includes wildlife photographers, conservation advocates, filmmakers, and media personalities. Their experience ensures that both photographic quality and comedic storytelling are considered during the judging process.
- Daisy Gilardini
- Kate Humble
- Cam Whitnall
- Hugh Dennis
- Roxy Furman
- Will Travers OBE
- Bella Lack
- Will Burrard-Lucas
- Luke Inman
- Lara Jackson
- Andrew Skirrow
- Simon Pollock
- Charlie Hamilton James
- Charlotte Kemsley
- Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE
- Tom Sullam
Why Enter Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards?
Few competitions focus exclusively on humor in wildlife photography. This unique approach has helped the contest gain international media attention, with finalist images regularly shared by major publications and conservation organizations. The contest therefore occupies a distinctive place among global wildlife photo awards.
Another defining element of the competition is its conservation message. By presenting animals in playful or relatable situations, the awards encourage audiences to appreciate wildlife and support habitat protection. This mix of humor, storytelling, and conservation has helped the competition grow into one of the most recognizable comedy photo awards currently open to photographers.
For photographers who enjoy capturing unexpected wildlife moments, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards remain one of the best online photography awards currently available.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Entrants must be the creators and copyright holders of the images they submit. Photographs must depict genuine wildlife behavior and should not involve situations that disturb animals or alter their natural environment. Digital manipulation that changes the authenticity of the scene is not allowed.
Participants may submit multiple images across categories. Portfolio entries require a set of four images and the video category accepts short wildlife clips following the technical guidelines provided by the organizers.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain full copyright of their submitted images. By entering the competition, participants grant the organizers permission to use the photographs for promotional purposes related to the awards, including exhibitions, media coverage, and online promotion.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
