If your phone is overflowing with photos of your 4-legged companion, rest assured: you are far from being an isolated case! Whether they pose proudly on the sofa, leap in the garden or look like little aristocrats, our animals have a natural talent for finding themselves in front of the camera.
Every year, the International Pet Photography Awards celebrate these moments when our dogs, our cats and our other little companions become real stars. For this new edition, more than 4,200 applications from 48 countries were examined in 12 different categories, ranging from feline or canine portraits to creative photography, including action scenes or images featuring animals and their humans.
Between dogs full of energy, majestic cats and portraits worthy of real stars, the participants of the 2026 edition of this competition prove that our companions definitely have everything to shine! The proof with these 18 magnificent photos selected among the finalists:
1. “The Call of the Wild”
© Callie Soden/ 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
2. A little hunter in action
© Betty Brodie / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
3. “Weightless”
© Linda Glomb/ 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
4. “Safe Haven”
© Cerrina Smith / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
5. “A Podenco Story”
© Linda Glomb / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
6. “Teenagers”
© Jaana Vuola / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
7. “Time to dance”
© Laetitia Delval / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
8. “Wodan the Aristocat”
© Mirka Koot / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
9. “A break to untangle the threads of dog sledding ice fishing in northwest Greenland”
© Roberta Holden / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
10. “The Guardian”
© Adam Claus / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
11. Captured in mid-flight
© Nicole Hrustyk / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
12. “A Huntaway in the Hills”
© Rebecca Williams / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
13. A lovely bond between this horse and this little girl
© Jaana Vuola / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
14 “Triple Jump”
© Frankie Adamson / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
15. “Cattitude”
© Belinda Richards / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
16. “I am your anchor in chaos”
© Cris Skinner / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
17. “Goblin Jango” (or “Jango, the goblin”)
© Natalie Hodges / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock
18. “The Keeper of Fairywood”
© Lenne Renders / 2026 International Pet Photography Awards Craig Turner-Bullock