“The globally acclaimed Panda Awards, the ‘Green Oscars’ of the international wildlife film and TV industry, have sat at the heart of the Wildscreen Festival since 1982. They celebrate the very best in the natural world storytelling craft, and remain the highest honour in the industry.

“The 2026 competition has 18 categories and three special awards, including the coveted Golden Panda for the best overall production.

“2026 sees the introduction of a brand-new Digital-First Panda Award category, recognising the importance of digital-first storytelling in diversifying the stories of nature being told, the storytellers and the audiences being reached.”

The 2026 festival takes place Oct. 19-22 in the UK. Deadlines:

• Earlybird: February 24, 2026
• Regular: April 16, 2026
• Late: May 13, 2026