Five stand-up comedians have been nominated for the 2026 Next Big Thing award, which aims to spotlight acts deserving of wider public attention.

The shortlist features Bella Hull, Christopher MacArthur-Boyd, Gbemi Oladipo, Lorna Rose Treen and Mike Rice, chosen following a poll of more than 100 comedy industry professionals across the UK.

Hull, who made a breakout appearance on Have I Got News For You, won praise from The Guardian for her recent show Doctors Hate Her, with critics highlighting her ‘wonderfully honed stage persona’. Hull said it was ‘such a lovely surprise and an honour’ to be honoured for the award, which is run by the British Comedy Guide.

Glaswegian comedian Macarthur-Boyd has built his audience by releasing full stand-up shows on YouTube and co-hosts the podcast Here Comes The Guillotine with Frankie Boyle and Susie McCabe. The Daily Record said he’s ‘on the cusp of something big’. 

He said today: ‘Christopher Macarthur-Boyd said: ‘I’m delighted to be nominated as Next Big Thing… 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.’

Oladipo, a regular in London comedy clubs and on social media, co-hosts the monthly We Saw That comedy night with Andrew Mensah. He joked of his nomination : ‘Thank you for not giving this to Andrew Mensah.

Alternative sketch comedian Treen has won Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe, appeared on The One Show and amassed 147,000 TikTok followers through her multi-character performances and viral sketches. The New York Times called her the ‘buzziest of the buzzy’.

She 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!’

Rice, known for his solo tours Cruel Little Man and Nasty Character, has 127,000 Instagram followers and co-hosts the hit podcast Mike and Vittorio’s Guide to Parenting, which ‘virtually never mentions parenting’. He said of his nomination: ‘Long live Mike. Mike is king. Honoured to get the nod!

Sketch group Tarot won the inaugural award in 2025.

An expert panel drew up the shortlist following the wider vote and will meet in early February to choose the winner. They are are Edinburgh Comedy Awards judge Gráinne Smyth, UKTV commissioning executive Jason Dawson, Chortle editor Steve Bennett, Pepper&Salt editor Katerina Partolina Schwartz, Leith Comedy Presents director Rosalind Romer and critic Mark Muldoon, who is chair.

Muldoon said: ‘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.’