The Edinburgh Comedy Award for 2026 was awarded today to Chris Cantrill, in a ceremony at Ghillie Dhu in the west end of the city.
Cantrill’s show Rewilding, at Monkey Barrel, centred around his reliance on his wife and his move to the countryside which incorporates a fictional story based on the Sycamore Gap tree.
He was presented with his award by previous winner Richard Gadd and last year’s newcomer Ayoade Bamgboye in a rushed ceremony which left him with just seven minutes to get to his venue in order to perform his show.
The award for best Newcomer was won by London based Irish comic Marty Gleeson for her show Dog Ear,
The Panel Prize was awarded to One Joke, by Liebenspiel, a show in which multiple comedians tell a single joke to raise money for charity. Produced by Benjamin Alborough and Ellie BW of Liebenspiel, One Joke is compered by Jonathan Oldfield, headlined by Lorna Rose Treen and featuring 60 comedians, in a project the company said was: “an administrative nightmare.” Nevertheless the show has been confirmed for a big venue at the Pleasance for next year.
Shortlisted for the Audible Best Show Award were
Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All
Harriet Dyer: Easily Distra…
Lara Ricote: INKLING
Li Jin Hao: Falling From a Moon
Spencer Jones: Dogs
The nominees for the Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award were:
Dom McGovern: Prize Hog
Fatiha El-Ghorri: Cockney Stacking Doll
Freddie Meredith: Need a Light?
Marty Gleeson: Dog Ear
Omar Badawy: Guided Detour
Tom Towelling Teaches You to Knit
UNDERGROUND MONK SHOW
Nica Burns CBE, Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, and Emma Brünjes, Executive Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said:
“In Chris and Marty we have two outstanding winners: both are exceptional comedians, writers and performers who have crafted wonderful shows to win the accolades of Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer. There is so much talent at the Edinburgh Fringe and comedy is again the largest category this year. With so much talent to choose from, the judges’ debate was knowledgeable, exciting and passionate. Congratulations to Chris and Marty and all the comedians shortlisted – you are all terrific.”
Liz Lewin, Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK and Chair of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2026 panel, said: “It was wonderful to be part of a judging panel and process that gave such careful, thorough and enjoyable consideration to such a range of outstanding comedians, any one of whom would have been a winner to be proud of. In Chris and Marty we see two very different but equally brilliant writers and performers who have both conjured something that only they could have.”
Tonight (Saturday 29th August), BBC Radio 4 will air a special showcase featuring the nominees for the 2026 Audible Best Comedy Show and the Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award. The showcase will be broadcast at 11pm and available to catch up on BBC Sounds, bringing highlights of the Fringe to listeners all over the UK.
