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.