{"id":915459,"date":"2026-10-04T05:04:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T05:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/915459\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T05:04:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T05:04:44","slug":"nikon-comedy-wildlife-awards-2026-finalists-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/915459\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026: Finalists Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The most wonderful time of the year has arrived, and no, we\u2019re not disgustingly eager about Christmas. We\u2019re actually talking about the shortlist for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026, proving once again that Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humour.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s competition received more than 10,000 entries from 112 countries, the highest number in the award\u2019s history, and the shortlist has now been narrowed down to 40 individual finalists. There are three entries in the under-16 category, four portfolio finalists and nine video finalists. The overall winner, category winners and Highly Commended entries won\u2019t be revealed until an awards night in London on Tuesday December 8, but the finalists alone are packed with shots that will make you belly chuckle.<\/p>\n

Among our favourites are Diego Perez\u2019s \u2018Sexy Mantis\u2019, a tiny green mantis photographed in Cusco, Peru, caught at just the right angle to make its hind legs disappear and its front legs look disarmingly human. You can practically hear it whispering, \u2018paint me like one of your French girls.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"A
\nPhotograph: Diego Perez \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsSexy Mantis <\/p>\n

Cliff Fawcett’s \u2018If I Can’t See You\u2019 captures a young elephant in South Africa\u2019s Addo National Park mid-blunder, slapping its own trunk across its eyes in a moment of pure toddler logic.<\/p>\n

\"An
\nPhotograph: Cliff Fawcett \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsIf I Can’t See You <\/p>\n

Over in the Philippines, Kyo Chen’s \u2018A Very Pressured Spadefish\u2019 catches a small fish swimming directly in front of a giant whale shark, wearing what can only be described as an expression of total dread.<\/p>\n

\"
\nPhotograph: Kyo Chen \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsA Very Pressured Spadefish <\/p>\n

Here are the rest of our favourites that had us in stitches, from a caiman with a 1950s quiff to a chameleon tiptoeing across hot sand like a tiny action hero.<\/p>\n

\"Angry
\nPhotograph: Jann Wittmer \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsAngry Bird <\/p>\n

\"Chameleon
\nPhotograpj: Robert Gondek \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsThe Ground is Lava <\/p>\n

\"A
\nPhotograph: Fabi Fregonesi \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsDid I sleep past my alarm? <\/p>\n

\"Lions
\nPhotograph: Barbara Seiberl-Stark \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsPush Over <\/p>\n

\"Zonkling\"
\nPhotograph: Celine nic Oireachtaigh \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsZonkling <\/p>\n

\"Beavers\"
\nPhotograph: Natalie Veekmans \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsThis is my best side <\/p>\n

\"Squirrel\"
\nPhotograph: Udo Harms \/ Nikon Comedy Wildlife AwardsLittle Godzilla <\/p>\n

Did you know\u00a0these five Latin American neighbourhoods have been named among the world\u2019s coolest by Time Out<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Plus: These seven train stations have just been named the world\u2019s most beautiful<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stay in the loop: sign up to our\u00a0free Time Out Travel newsletter<\/a>\u00a0for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n


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