Do you want to go to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for free?
Think you could handle more than 100 hours of comedy in two weeks?
Then you may have what it takes to be an Edinburgh Comedy Award Panellist.
We are offering you the chance to join the judging panel for Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Britain's most important prize for comedy as it celebrates 46 years of discovering comedy genius. You will be part of the panel voting for the Best Comedy Show and the Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
You need to be a regular visitor to live comedy and have bags of energy. You will be expected to see a minimum of six shows a day. Each day you will feed back your opinions of what you've seen to our administrative team and then contribute in the official panel meetings with your fellow panellists. Through this process we find the winners.
Krishna Kapur from London, one of our public panellists in 2025,says of his experience:
'Winning this competition allowed me to see an eclectic mix of 100+ shows across the subgenres of stand of comedy and meet many likeminded people who love stand-up comedy as much as I do. Being involved in the awards deliberation and adjudication was a unique experience and privilege. The was an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity. I would highly recommend this competition to anyone who has a strong passion for seeing stand-up comedy and its inner workings.'
Janet Jackson from Newcastle,one of our public panellists in 2025,says of her experience:
'Mix together old favourites, newcomers and acts that become new found favourites. Add to making friends and seeing the Fringe from a uniqueperspective. Top with the opportunity to give acts a life changing opportunity and you have the recipe for an incredible experience. Five stars!'
HOW TO ENTER
So show us your credentials. We are looking for real punters who know and care about comedy. You must be available to stay in Edinburgh from 15 - 29 August as a minimum. In return, Edinburgh Comedy Awards will provide you with accommodation, travel, show tickets and invitations to the best bars and parties in town! You will be supported throughout the process by our administrative team and our extended family of ex-panellists who are now our brilliant scouts.
1. Tell us in approx 350 words why you are the best candidate.
2. Write three short reviews, no more than 150 words each, of your three favourite live comedy acts.
3. Entries must reach us by 08 May 2026 at 12pm. If you are shortlisted, you will be required to attend an informal interview online on 19 or 21 May. Send your entry to team@comedyawards.co.uk.
4. The winners will be announced in July.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Entrants must be 18 or over and resident in the UK.
2. Entrants must be available full time and able to reside in Edinburgh from 15 - 29 August.
3. The competition is not open to employees of the Festival Fringe Society or anyone connected professionally with the comedy business.
4. The prize is a position on the Edinburgh Comedy Awards judging panel for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. The winner must attend approximately six shows a day, possibly more, and provide short reviews for all shows attended.
5. Only one entry per person.
6. The winners will be chosen by the Award Director Nica Burns and Producer, Emma Brunjes, and the decision is final.
7. The prize is non-transferable. There will be no cash prize.
8. No responsibility will be taken for entries lost, delayed or incomplete.
9. All costs incurred by the winners other than travel and accommodation are at the winner's expense.