EDINBURGH 2026: Pick of the Programme - Comedy Debuts
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from 7-31 August 2026
With over 3000 shows now on sale for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, trying to narrow down what to see can be a bit of a task. BWW Scotland editor Natalie O'Donoghue has selected her top ten picks across different categories in the festival programme to highlight the comedy debuts you really don't want to miss this year!
At 17, Eva moved from Livingston to Costa Rica on her own. She dropped out of school and moved to Costa Rica a boy-mad wee bam. She came back a bald lesbian without shoes. A fast, brutally funny debut about how you can take the girl out of Livingston, but maybe Costa Rica is too far.
Anna Thomas: How To Juggle A Ferret
In her debut hour, Anna recounts tales of hibernation, loss and what to do when life gives you ferrets. Winner of the BBC New Comedy Award. Finalist of the Sean Lock Comedy Award. Co-host of the Early Worms podcast with Phil Ellis.
In her 20s, Tia took enough psychedelics to frighten a shaman – mushrooms, acid, ayahuasca – and somehow came out the other side more herself than ever. This show is a funny, honest, scientific exploration through the dangers and discoveries of the wild medicines that cracked her open. Equal parts cautionary tale and spiritual stand-up.
Jack Ansett: Looks Like A Bit Of Me!
I, Jack Ansett (Taskmaster NZ), am making my Edinburgh Debut! Please come! I'd also like to take this opportunity to plug a young up-and-comer Sam Campbell, who I think could do really well in the UK market if he can get in front of enough people. Yes, you'd rather buy tickets to the big acts, McIntyre, Minchin, Jack Ansett – but it is always good to take a shot on a lesser-known face.
Aarian Mehrabani: How's Your Head?
Aarian is a triple threat. Brown, blind and bi. Arguably already too many things to talk about in a debut stand-up hour. Then 2024 came, and he only had to go and get f**king brain cancer. The highly anticipated debut stand-up show from the multi award-winning writer of the 2023 Fringe hit It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure.
Winner of the first season of BBC's The Traitors, Hannah Byczkowski digs into death in her debut hour. In her hilarious, no-nonsense style, Hannah explores everything from craft projects for loved one's ashes, funeral faux pas and why she's not running from serial killers. Hannah is the co-host and creator of the hit podcast Ghost Huns with over 5 million listens and 1.3 million followers on TikTok
Keeley Hazell: Everyone's Seen My Tits
Loosely based on the memoir of the same name, Keeley, a former Page 3 model, is auditioning to play “Keeley”... a version of herself she no longer recognises. As the audition unfolds, so does her past: a breakup, a return to the council estate she grew up on, and the surreal experience of sitting in a writers' room as her trauma is turned into television. A show about class, identity, and being erased.
Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian
One Canadian needs to make you laugh, otherwise she will be deported. Join Kate as she navigates proving herself to get a Global Talent Visa, getting dominated on Vinted, and breaking up with an identical twin. As seen on Breaking the News, BBC Scotland, Roast Battle League and Channel 4.
Hudson Hughes: At Your Service
For nearly 20 years, Rev Derek Gritt has brought a little bit of holy into Britain's homes with his TV show At Your Service – now only available online (which is FINE!). Mega-fan Jane Plemley's last wish was to have her funeral delivered by the Reverend, so this week he's heading to the quaint village of Godsby-Upon-Treen. As usual, he'll lead the service, chat church and answer your burning questions. Except the ones about Jane. She's NOT a witch.
Emmy and Golden-Globe winning comedian Guy Branum goes on a joke-dense slide show journey through religion and science arguing that he, as a clinically obese gay man, does not serve any practical purpose. Guy recruits his audience to look at the origins of homophobia and anti-fat bias and asks how correct they might be. He uses this journey to explore how we tell stories about people traditionally ignored, why he's bad at telling stories, the 1984 Tony Awards, the first and only time he's been in love, and, of course, the biology and evolution of fruit.
The full programme is available at www.edfringe.com
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