British Comedy Guide are pleased to announce the return of The Comedians’ Choice Awards to the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  This year, thanks to generous support from Angel Comedy and The Museum of Comedy, there will be a prize fund, with the winners of Best Show and Best Newcomer Awards each receiving a cash prize to help with the cost of their Edinburgh Fringe accommodation. 

There will be three awards:

Best Show - The best comedy show at the Fringe as voted by comedians.

Best Newcomer - The best debut hour of comedy at the Fringe as voted by comedians.

Best Person - The person who comedians feel deserve recognition for their contribution to the festival (this does not need to be a performer, it could be anyone involved in the comedy industry such as reviewers, producers, venue staff etc).

Founded in 2014, these unique awards set out to help highlight the amazing work of those who may well otherwise go unrecognised, as judged by those who understand their efforts the best: their peers. Every comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe is eligible to both cast a vote, and to be voted for. There is no panel of judges, no industry specialists – only the performers themselves decide whom amongst them is worthy of special recognition. Previous winners of The Comedians’ Choice Award for Best Show have included Mat Ewins, Julia Masli and Joz Norris. 

Voting is now open to all Fringe comedy performers here.

Nominated shows will be announced on 18th August before voting closes at 11:59am on Monday 19th August. For the very first time, the winners will be announced at The Comedians’ Choice Awards Ceremony which will take place at The Counting House Ballroom at 1am on the night of Monday 19th August (technically very early 20th August).

As has been widely discussed among fringe performers, the increased cost of accommodation is becoming a huge barrier to access, meaning that many performers cannot afford to bring their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. To get a clearer view of the issues we are asking that when comedians vote, they also share some information on their fringe accommodation this year. No individual answers will be made public but the responses will allow the organisers to further raise awareness of the situation and help to inform the appropriate level of financial support to be awarded.