The Edinburgh Comedy Awards, widely regarded as UK comedy's most prestigious honours, have revealed the nominees vying for the coveted prize at this year's Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Among those in contention for the best show title is Lara Ricote, star of Channel 4 sitcom Make That Movie alongside Sam Campbell. Singaporean stand-up Li Jin Hao, a regular on the London comedy circuit and a best newcomer nominee two years ago, is now up for best show in 2026.
Returning nominees and first-timers
SNL UK writer Chris Cantrill is nominated for a fourth time, having previously been in the running in 2019, 2022 and 2024. Spencer Jones was a nominee in 2017 and 2019, while Dan Tiernan is nominated for the second year running. Harriet Dyer appears on the list for the first time.
London-based comics up for the best newcomer award include Hackney-born Taskmaster star Fatiha El-Ghorri, Freddie Meredith, a regular MOTH Club compere and star of BBC sitcom Such Brave Girls, and Irish-born comedian Marty Gleeson.
Awards ceremony details
The winners will be announced on Saturday, with the awards gala broadcast on BBC Radio 4 the same day at 11pm, as the month-long festival draws to a close. The awards will be presented by last year's best newcomer and subsequent SNL UK star Ayoade Bamgboye, and Richard Gadd, the 2016 award-winner whose show Baby Reindeer went on to become an international sensation on Netflix.
Full nominee lists
Audible Best Comedy Show nominees:
- Chris Cantrill: Rewilding
- Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All
- Harriet Dyer: Easily Distra...
- Lara Ricote: INKLING
- Li Jin Hao: Falling From a Moon
- Spencer Jones: Dogs
Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award nominees:
- 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
