The finalists have been announced for the Comedy Bloomers LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2026 which takes place at the Comedy Store on Tuesday 10 November.

Now in its fifth year, the competition has attracted more than 140 comedians from across the UK. The finalists will battle it out for the title of LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2026 and a £1,000 cash prize, with audiences and judges Chloe Petts, Tia Kofi, Josh Jones and James Barr helping decide the winner, hosted by Ciara O’Connor and featuring last year’s winner Sydney May as headline act.

The competition is the UK’s only dedicated showcase of its kind, giving emerging LGBTQ+ comedians a chance to find audiences and get their comedy in front of the wider industry.

That opportunity matters. A survey of more than 100 comedians conducted by Comedy Bloomers recently found that just four per cent said access to agents and managers was accessible, while 76 per cent identified a lack of industry connections as a barrier to career progression.

Chris Smith, founder of Comedy Bloomers, said: “In the comedy world, talent alone isn’t always enough to get your foot in the door and this is particularly true in queer comedy. We created this competition to give emerging LGBTQ+ comedians the platform, audience and connections they need to take that next step.”

Chloe Petts said: “It is an incredible privilege to see the outstanding talent our community has to offer. I feel so proud watching people exist fully as themselves. And mainly I can’t wait to have a big laugh.”

And the finalists are: