Edinburgh Comedy Awards

About Edinburgh Comedy Awards

THE UK'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS PRIZE IN COMEDY RETURNS, AS LIVE COMEDY GROWS TO A WHOPPING 39% OF THE 2024 EDINBURGH FRINGE PROGRAMME

Past winners and nominees have amassed: 2700 acting credits, 1072 writing credits and 116 directing credits.

Now in their 42nd year, 'the Oscars of Comedy' will light up the Edinburgh Fringe throughout August, spotlighting the next generation of comedic talent. The Edinburgh Comedy Awards continue to be the hallmark of comedy excellence and potential, with previous winners and nominees having 3088 screen credits between them. This year, a total of 563 comedy shows are eligible for the Awards.

Joining Nica Burns CBE, the long serving Awards Director, in sponsoring the Awards and returning from last year, are Donald Taffner (Jnr). of DLT Entertainment and The Victoria Wood Foundation. Donald, alongside Nica, continues a long-running commitment to supporting live comedy by continuing to sponsor the DLT Entertainment Best Newcomer Award and, in honour of his parents, is also sponsoring the Don and Eleanor Taffner Best Comedy Show.

The 'spirit of the fringe' panel prize, which was popularly renamed The Victoria Wood Award, celebrates a much-loved comedy genius and continues to be sponsored by The Victoria Wood Foundation.

Nica Burns CBE, Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said:

"Comedy has grown to a whopping 39% of the Fringe, showing nearly 20% growth in 20 years. In a year that the economics of taking a show to the Fringe are tougher than ever with accommodation costs going through the roof, comedians continue to make an enormous commitment to the development of their careers at the Fringe with all the possibilities that it offers. With audiences on budgets too, remember that every ticket you buy or every pound you put in the hat counts and is appreciated. Everyone going to the Edinburgh Fringe, whether performing or watching, is in their own way investing in the arts. Dear new government, please take note!"

Donald Taffner (Jnr), Chairman of DLT Entertainment UK Ltd, said:

"The Edinburgh Comedy Awards play a vital role in the success of the Fringe by not only honouring excellence but also spotlighting the comedy industry as a whole. We look forward to our involvement with the Awards again while also honouring my parents who founded our company 61 years ago and alwaysenjoyed helping people advance their careers in entertainment."

The Awards celebrate the best of both up-and-coming comedy and brand-new performers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, finding and spotlighting the next generation of talent and awarding comedy excellence across all genres of comedy. Over the years the Awards have been a springboard for outstanding comedy performers who have gone on to become household names at home and abroad.

The Awards Judging Panel and scouts operate an open-access, independent, thorough, inclusive and fair judging process comprising senior members of the comedy industry, comedy critics and comedy fans representing the public. The prize money for Best Comedy Show is £10,000 with £5,000 each for the Best Newcomer and The Victoria Wood Award winner.

The Shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 21st August 2024, the Nominees' photo-call will be on Thursday 22nd August 2024. The 42nd Edinburgh Comedy Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday 24th August 2024. Further information about the Panel for the Awards, and plans beyond 2024, will be revealed in due course.