From cheeky expressions to endearing encounters, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards celebrates the silly side of the animal kingdom.
Featuring a selection of favourite images from the past decade of this internationally renowned photography competition, alongside some of the finalists from the 2026 awards, the exhibition celebrates the extraordinary character and personality of animals across the globe.
Image Credit: Lee Frost Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards combines a love of wildlife photography with an important conservation message. The idea is that by connecting with animals through humour and positive emotion, we can develop a greater appreciation of the natural world and a desire to protect it.
The exhibition features a selection of finalists from this year’s competition. These finalists were chosen from over 10,000 entries and 112 different countries; and announced at the beginning of October, with the overall and category winners to be announced on Tuesday 8th December 2026. Visitors to see the exhibition in Banbury will have the opportunity to explore some of the shortlisted images and cast their vote in the People’s Choice Award, which remains open until 1st March 2027.
Image Credit: Dirk Koster Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Image Credit: Tibor Kercz Nikon Comedy Wildlife
Add your own words to the pictures
Visitors are invited to get creative with a selection of the exhibition’s photographs, with caption cards available to add their own funny captions and speech bubbles. It’s an opportunity to put visitor’s imagination to the test and give these animal characters a voice of their own.
Giving the photographs a second life
There’s also an opportunity to take home a little piece of the exhibition. The photographic prints on display will be available to purchase, with funds raised shared equally between Banbury Museum & Gallery and the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. Funds raised will support the Museum and the Awards’ chosen conservation charity, the Born Free Foundation.
The initiative is part of a drive to make the exhibition more sustainable, giving the photographs a new home rather than allowing display materials to go to waste. Each image is available as a one-off print, with prices starting at £25.
Any prints remaining after the exhibition will be offered free of charge to local charities and organisations, so that the images can continue to be enjoyed by the wider community.
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards runs at Banbury Museum & Gallery from 14th November 2026 to 7th March 2027.
To book your tickets follow the link below