This summer, Need To Know Comedy will launch an ambitious slate of audience-driven comedy competitions at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with more than £3,500 in prize money on offer in total.
From stand-up tournaments and one-liner championships to the launch of a brand-new world title in joke stealing, the independently funded competitions aim to celebrate live comedy without sponsors, industry gatekeepers or judging panels deciding the outcome — putting audiences firmly in charge.
EDINBURGH FRINGE COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR RETURNS FOLLOWING 2025 SELL-OUT SUCCESS
After a sold-out debut in 2025, Edinburgh Fringe Comedian of the Year returns to discover the funniest comedian performing at the world’s largest arts festival.
Who will follow on from last year’s winner, Joe Da Costa?
In 2026, 100 comedians will compete in a knockout-format tournament for the title, trophy and increased £1,500 cash prize.
The competition runs daily from August 6–30 at The Three Sisters, with heats taking place in Maggie’s Front Room at 6:30pm from August 6–23. Semi-finals run August 26–29, before the Grand Final on August 30.
Each heat will feature five Fringe comedians competing for audience votes, with winners progressing directly to the semi-finals. Runners-up will have additional routes through the competition via repeat heats and audience wildcard voting.
The wildcard show, semi-finals and final will all take place in the venue’s Live Room at 5:30pm.
Audiences can attend in person and take part in the judging, or follow the competition daily online via the official YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@NeedToKnowComedy
Tickets:
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/edinburgh-fringe-comedian-of-the-year
Comedian applications:
https://forms.gle/JsC5BuNCN6TkmAYx6
(SOME GUY CALLED) DAVE JOKE OF THE FRINGE COMPETITION EXPANDS FOR 2026
The cult favourite one-liner contest also returns with an expanded offering, a new trophy and a doubled cash prize of £500.
The competition is open to comedians performing their own solo shows or appearing as named acts on daily split-bill shows during the Fringe. Entrants do not need to perform on the showcase shows in order to enter.
New for 2026 are daily Joke of the Fringe Showcase performances at The Three Sisters, where comedians will test the lines they hope can make the longlist.
A panel of acclaimed one-liner specialists — Milton Jones, Gary Delaney, Mark Simmons and Darren Walsh — will reduce entries to a shortlist of 25 jokes before a random group of Fringe-goers are found to select the Top 10 and eventual winner. ***That’s right, we’re no longer limiting the decision to a guy called Dave - SHOCK NEWS - APOLOGIES TO ALL GUYS CALLED DAVE.
Last year’s competition was won by Andy Gleeks with: “I had to visit the trauma unit last weekend. He prefers the term dad.”
The winning comedian will receive £500, the title, trophy and paid showcase spots during the final week of the Fringe. The Top 10 joke writers will also receive paid showcase appearances.
Showcases run daily from August 6–30 in Maggie’s Chamber at 2pm. August 6–23 performances will feature competition entrants, while August 24–30 will showcase the year’s Top 10 and winner.
Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/some-guy-called-dave-joke-of-the-fringe-showcase
Competition entry: https://forms.gle/pVuRX2ME7Fp99bVg6
INAUGURAL JOKE THIEVES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LAUNCHES AT THE FRINGE
The first-ever Joke Thieves World Championship will debut at this year’s Fringe — an expanded competitive version of the acclaimed live format in which comedians perform both their own material and each other’s jokes.
The competition is open to stand-ups, musical comedians and sketch acts, with performers battling for a championship belt and a £1,500 cash prize across 48 shows and two daily performances throughout the Fringe.
Described by The Guardian as “a brilliant format”, the show has previously been piloted for Comedy Central (US) and BBC Two (UK), featured on BBC Radio 4 Extra and earned critical acclaim including:
The tournament combines league tables with knockout rounds in what organisers describe as “the toughest test of comedians ever to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe”.
Heats run August 6–19, quarter-finals August 20–24 and August 26, semi-finals August 27–29, before a two-show Grand Final on August 30.
Shows take place daily at The Three Sisters:
• Live Room — 12:30pm
• Maggie’s Chamber — 8:15pm
All shows will be uploaded daily via the official Joke Thieves YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JokeThieves
Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/joke-thieves-world-championship
Competition entry: https://forms.gle/ZTgPe76RfifATpCY8
