The List has announced the longlists for its 2026 Festival Awards, celebrating the outstanding breadth of talent showcased across Edinburgh’s world-famous festivals.
Now in its third year, The List Festival Awards recognise achievements spanning visual art, literature, film, theatre, comedy, dance and cabaret, highlighting the quality and diversity of work on offer throughout August.
The newly announced Fringe longlists cover categories including Best Comedy Show, Best Cabaret Show, Best Dance, Circus & Physical Theatre Show, Best Kids Show, Best LGBTQIA+ Show, Best Show From Adelaide, and the International Fringe Encore Series Edinburgh Prize.
Among the productions recognised are Man Sings The Same Song Over And Over Again For An Hour, Elf Lyons Is The Woman On The Edge, Collaborator, The Palestinian Circus: Step And A Half, Daddy, BearGirl and One Man Musical.
This year also sees the launch of the McTavish Award, presented by The Stand Comedy Club in partnership with The List Magazine and The Comedy Unit. The prize will recognise the most outstanding show by a Scottish or Scottish-based act and includes £2,500, a Fringe run or tour in The Stand’s venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, plus development mentoring with The Comedy Unit for TV or radio.
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The List Festival Awards 2026 will once again bring together artists, industry professionals and festival organisations for an afternoon celebrating the creativity and ambition that defines Edinburgh in August.
A new partnership with Edinburgh College will spotlight emerging creative talent, with students from the HND Visual Communication course designing each award laurel as part of the ceremony.
Brian Donaldson, editor of The List, comments: “We’re delighted to announce the mid-month longlists for our Fringe Cabaret, Kids, Dance, Circus & Physical Theatre, and Comedy awards as well as number of our partner prizes. Our reviewers and scouts have been out seeing dozens of shows since the Fringe kicked off and these lists celebrate the shows and acts that have made the biggest impression on us so far. Over the next week, we’ll be seeing many more shows as we work towards our final shortlists, reflecting the excitement, brilliance, diversity and occasional weirdness that the Fringe does so well.”
The winners will be revealed at The List Festival Awards 2026 ceremony on Friday 28 August at W Edinburgh.
More information can be found here.
