Comedian Chris Cantrill won the best comedy show prize at the 46th Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his solo hour Rewilding, while Irish comedian Marty Gleeson claimed the best newcomer award for her show Dog Ear, according to announcements made at the festival ceremony.
Chris Cantrill Wins Best Comedy Show for Rewilding
Chris Cantrill secured the Audible Best Comedy Show award on Saturday, August 29, 2026, prevailing over a field of 550 eligible shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, according to reporting by The Guardian and The Irish Times. His winning show, Rewilding, is described in festival coverage as a twisted tale about a peaceful countryside community disrupted by an act of vandalism. The victory includes a £10,000 cash prize, sponsored by Audible.
The win marks Cantrill’s fourth nomination for the top festival accolade. He was previously nominated twice as one half of the comedy duo The Delightful Sausage—alongside Amy Gledhill—in 2019 and 2022, and again for a solo show in 2024. Notably, Gledhill won the best comedy show award in 2024, meaning both members of the former double act have claimed the prize within a three-year span.
Marty Gleeson Named Best Newcomer for Dog Ear
Marty Gleeson took home the Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award for her debut hour Dog Ear, a dry and surreal stand-up show inspired by her time studying art in Limerick. Gleeson’s background includes reaching the finals of the BBC New Comedy Award and Channel 4’s Sean Lock Awards, alongside winning the title of LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year in 2024. The newcomer prize carries a £5,000 award.
The judging panel for the 2026 awards was chaired by Liz Lewin, director of comedy series at Netflix UK. Lewin stated that the panel spent extensive time evaluating a diverse range of performers before selecting the winners. Festival directors Nica Burns and Emma Brünjes issued a joint statement praising both recipients as exceptional writers and performers.
Panel Prize and Ceremony Details
The Audible Panel Prize, celebrating its 20th anniversary, was awarded to the charity benefit show One Joke. Produced by Benjamin Alborough and Ellie BW of Liebenspiel, the format features 60 comedians each telling a single joke before leaving the stage. The panel prize comes with £5,000 sponsored by the Victoria Wood Foundation.
The ceremony was hosted by previous Edinburgh Comedy Award winners Richard Gadd—who won best comedy in 2016 for Baby Reindeer—and Ayoade Bamgboye, who claimed the best newcomer title in 2025. The judging panel reached their final shortlist after scouts and panellists collectively watched more than 1,000 eligible performances across the festival run.
Keep reading