The five nominees for the 2026 Next Big Thing award have been announced. Returning for a second outing after debuting in 2025, the prize aims to name one act every year: the one most deserving of the public’s attention, as well as the media’s spotlight.
In January - when media and the arts world typically highlight key new talent for the upcoming year - the Next Big Thing award wants to support the comedians most deserving of a breakthrough into mass public consciousness.
The five nominees are Bella Hull (pictured), Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Gbemi Oladipo, Lorna Rose Treen and Mike Rice.
British Comedy Guide conducted a UK-wide poll of over 100 professionals from across the comedy industry, asking for the acts they believed most represented the future of comedy. From that longlist, an expert panel then whittled the names down to a final shortlisted five.
In full, they are:
A breakout name following an acclaimed debut appearance on Have I Got News For You, Bella Hull’s most recent show Doctors Hate Her had The Guardian praising her “wonderfully honed stage persona“ and delighting in a show where “jokes are piled on jokes”.
Part of a new generation of comics building their audience by releasing full stand-up shows on YouTube, Glaswegian Christopher Macarthur-Boyd is already flying high in his native country thanks to his ‘sad clever’ comedy, as well as Here Comes The Guillotine, the podcast he hosts alongside Frankie Boyle and Susie McCabe. The Daily Record have remarked that he’s “on the cusp of something big, and you don't want to miss it”.
A regular face both in London comedy clubs and across social media, Chortle has praised Gbemi Oladipo’s “powerhouse presence”, with critics also drawing attention to the We Saw That monthly comedy night he hosts alongside pal Andrew Mensah. British Comedy Guide has stated they are “a complete joy. I could listen to Mensah and Oladipo for hours and not get bored”.
An alternative comedian who’s still managed to win ‘Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe’, appear on The One Show and rack up 147k TikTok followers, Lorna Rose Treen is known for her multi-character performances and viral sketches and parody interview clips, causing the New York Times to call her the “buzziest of the buzzy”.
Rounding off the 2026 nominees is Mike Rice. Well-known for his solo shows, including his most recent tours Cruel Little Man and Nasty Character, Rice has built up a 127k Instagram following for his stand-up clips, as well as - thanks to Mike and Vittorio’s Guide to Parenting - a hit podcast that virtually never mentions parenting, which he co-hosts with fellow London-based Irish comic Vittorio Angelone.
Upon learning of her nomination, Bella Hull commented “it's such a lovely surprise and an honour to be nominated for the Next Big Thing award. Thanks so much to the British Comedy Guide for this recognition!”. Christopher Macarthur-Boyd said “I’m delighted to be nominated as Next Big Thing by British Comedy Guide. Having already won an award for Best Breakthrough Act in my career over six years ago, I’m hoping that this prediction of success actually comes true”.
Gbemi Olaipo remarked “thank you for not giving this to Andrew Mensah - love to all the people who voted for me”. Lorna Rose Treen said “it is so nice to be nominated for the Next Big Thing award. I’m 5ft7, always wanted to be 6ft and thought I’d stopped growing. I can’t wait to get bigger! No but genuinely this is really nice thank you!”. Mike Rice, finally, responded “long live Mike. Mike is king. Honoured to get the nod!”.
One of the nominees will join sketch group Tarot, the inaugural winners of the award, who The Times quoted as being “surprised and delighted” by their victory. They commented “I genuinely think none of us thought we'd win it, and it’s slightly sunk our reputation as hip underdogs”. Their fellow 2025 nominees were Celya AB, Dan Tiernan, Josh Pugh, Katie Norris, Michael Odewale, Olga Koch, Paddy Young, Rachel Fairburn and Rob Copland.
The expert panel that decided the nominees were: Gráinne Smyth (Edinburgh Comedy Awards judge), Jason Dawson (commissioning executive, UKTV), Katerina Partolina Schwartz (editor, Pepper&Salt), Mark Muldoon (panel chair. Journalist/critic: British Comedy Guide, Chortle), Rosalind Romer (director, Leith Comedy Presents) and Steve Bennett (editor, Chortle). They will meet again at the start of February to decide the winner of the 2026 Next Big Thing award.
Mark Muldoon, Next Big Thing award founder, says: “I’m delighted with our 2026 nominees. The panel certainly didn’t have it easy: live comedy has never been better or more exciting than it is right now. This list of five comics proves that and showcases the full range of what this artform is capable of. We hope that fans will find their new favourite comedian in this list, and that the TV appearances and magazine cover shoot offers will start flooding in.
