12 rising stars of comedy to see at Edinburgh Fringe 2026
With the Edinburgh Fringe upon us, here are our tips for the next big things to catch before they’re famous
It’s that time of year again. When comedy hopefuls from around the country and indeed the world venture to Scotland’s picturesque capital city to partake in the biggest arts festival on the planet. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe remains a pivotal rights of passage for budding performers everywhere, as they all vie to get your bum on their seats. But who is worthy of your attention? How do you possibly choose from the endless options? Here are our select and noteworthy dozen for your consideration.
Em Humble
The show: Lady of the Lakes
What is it?
Humble is most widely known for her viral ‘Every Northern character in a musical’ skit, which is admittedly brilliant. But there’s an irony in that being the singular point of reference for so many, seeing as Humble is such an insanely gifted comedy multi-hyphenate. The wonderfully Waititi-esque ‘Chicken Girl’ showcases so many of her talents, while the medieval premise of her Edinburgh debut sounds like the perfect vehicle to add yet another hyphen.
Where is it?
16:20, Below at Pleasance Courtyard
Raj Poojara
The show: Dice
What is it?
It can be disheartening to watch so many British-born South Asian standups continually mock their own for the benefit and approval of the Caucasian gaze. It’s cheap, hack and demeaning. Thankfully to counter that there’s Raj Poojara. Here is an impossibly charming comic who can be as scathing and frank about the Asian diaspora and internal family politics as anyone, but it is all from a place of absolute truth, acute self-knowledge, and most of all, love.
Where is it?
16:35, Bunker Three at Pleasance Courtyard
Marty Gleeson
The show: Dog Ear
What is it?
So much of Gleeson’s work is born of such bizarre and idiosyncratic concepts, that it invites adjectives such as ‘whimsical’, ‘absurdist’ and ‘surreal’. That is all true but it kind of does her a disservice. This is not comedy to thoughtfully stroke your chin at. Fundamentally, she is sublimely and relentlessly daft. It is what makes her such a special talent. The fact that she is collaborating with Abby Wambaugh is extremely exciting and makes all the sense in the world.
Where is it?
19:15, Bunker One at Pleasance Courtyard
Cheryl Hurst
The show: Lots More Mr Nice Guy
What is it?
Hurst is still very early in her comedy journey with plenty of time to tone her craft, but she is already making herself very hard to ignore on the UK circuit. It’s always a great sign when a relatively new comic can aim the most scathing barbs at an unsuspecting audience and they lap it up and ask for more. Hurst has charisma to burn and a quick wit that always keeps the punters onside. She is in scintillating form and way ahead of schedule.
Where is it? 12:10, Hoot 6 at Hoots @ The Apex
Dave Durkan
The show: Durk in Progress
What is it? Durkan’s Edinburgh stay may only involve a week-long residency – and a ‘Durk in progress’ at that – but it only makes the requirement to catch him all the more urgent. Seemingly omnipresent on everyone’s social media feeds with his gloriously acute and expertly observed skits, he is even more thrilling IRL. Only in person do you get to fully experience how well-rounded, nuanced and fully realised his sublime character comedy really is.
Where is it? 18:20, Basement at The Gilded Saloon (10-16 Aug)
Kat Higgins
The show: In Memory of Me
What is it?
Ireland has of course a proud and storied heritage of stand-up comedy rooted in seanchaí – from Dave Allen to Tommy Tiernan to the sublime Aoife Dunne. They sure know how to spin a yarn and keep the audience captivated. To that list we can now add Kat Higgins. She is a masterful storyteller in the rich Irish tradition, and does it with such authority, intimacy and charm. Higgins is utterly hilarious and has the rare gift of holding any size of room in the palm of her hand.
Where is it?
17:10, Nic 9 at Hoots @ Nicolson Square
Imogen Andrews
The show: The Unlikeable Worms
What is it? Andrews’ unlikeable worms are brilliantly realised in her online skits but the question is how effectively do they translate from socials to stage? Thankfully, Andrews thrives in the longer form. Freed from beat-the-scroll constraints, she is able to imbue each character with far more depth. They’re still ridiculous but Andrews shows them to be trying as well as trying and that’s weirdly endearing – think Hyacinth Bucket or Stath Charalambos. Andrews proves herself to be one of our most exciting talents.
Where is it? 21:30, Ace Dome at Pleasance Dome
Cecily Hitchcock
The show: Family Recipe
What is it?
One thing immediately strikes you about Hitchcock on stage: she is precisely where she is meant to be and absolutely who she is meant to be. It can take years to truly find yourself in comedy and it’s lovely to see that Hitchcock so emphatically has. She is an arresting and irresistible performer, and her origin story promises to be as weird, wonderful and riveting as she is.
Where is it?
20:10, Cellar at Pleasance Courtyard
Sam Serrano
The show: Mars
What is it?
Serrano has been honing their craft on the unforgiving North West circuit for a few years now and it’s about time the world knew about British comedy’s best kept secret. They are a gem. Being gender-fluid, non-binary, bisexual and dyspraxic means Serrano has faced their fair share of challenges, but they come out punching with the kind of dark, hopeful and self-deprecating humour capable of unfolding the arms of the most blokey of front row blokes.
Where is it?
21:35, Stand 4 at The Stand Comedy Club 3 & 4
Fab Goualin
The show: Mixed Messages
What is it?
Whenever a show is sold as exploring ‘identity’ and ‘belonging’ – particularly when themes such as racial heritage and sexual orientation are concerned – it is in danger of sounding ‘worthy’ at the expense of laughs. Alas there are no such concerns here. Goualin is a wonderfully playful and witty performer who eases you into each subject with charm, killer punchlines and masterful callbacks. He is at his most fun when playing between the lines of culture and perception.
Where is it?:
17:40, Wee Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot
Paul Hilleard
The show: Grogg
What is it?
Hilleard is the kind of talent who feels like they somehow slipped through all the fakery and bullshit of the comedy industry while the gatekeepers were busy powdering their nostrils. A son of the post-industrial town of Pontypridd, he is an expert world builder and just a breathtaking wordsmith. Some of his one-liners are pure gold. He is testament to the truism that the more specific and personal you make your story, the more universal and impactful it becomes.
Where is it?
22:40, The Studio at Monkey Barrel Comedy
Dom McGovern
The show: Prize Hog
What is it?
McGovern is a uniquely bifurcated proposition as a comedy performer: the standup equivalent of Hollyoaks and Hollyoaks After Dark. On the one hand you’ve got the immensely charismatic raconteur of Prize Hog, able to flit between heartfelt themes and caustic camp like Oscar Wilde if he was a guest-presenter the One Show; on the other hand you’ve got the fully raucous and fully fabulous persona intensa evident at the scandalous Slay24 comedy night. Go and see both for the full Dom McGovern experience.
Where is it?
20:30, Bunker One at Pleasance Courtyard