On Sunday 17\u00a0May, Sydney\u2019s biggest annual comedy event, the\u202fSydney Comedy Festival,\u202fcame\u00a0to a close\u00a0with the announcement of its 2026\u00a0award winners:\u00a0Sean Collier, The Burton Brothers, Reuben Kaye and\u00a0Frankie McNair\u00a0who each took home\u00a0a trophy along with a\u00a0$1500 prize.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year, the prestigious\u202fBest of the Fest Award\u202fwas awarded to\u00a0two artists,\u00a0Reuben Kaye\u00a0and\u00a0Frankie McNair. Reuben Kaye\u2019s show,\u00a0Hard to Swallow,\u00a0proved sharper,\u00a0sexier\u00a0and more political than ever, a show packed with taboo truths and big laughs. With razor\u2011sharp wit, Kaye skewered the world\u2019s worst offenders, from the painfully loud to the quietly unhinged. Meanwhile, Frankie McNair\u2019s show,\u00a0Huge Ass Mindset\u00a0explored a lifetime of anxiety, CPTSD and low self\u2011esteem, as Frankie refused to play small tackling self\u2011doubt with the question, \u201cWhat would someone wildly confident do?\u201d.\u00a0Blending sharp honesty about trauma with delightfully chaotic moments (including the gloriously silly \u201cMRS GOOGLY\u201d), the show was equal parts heartfelt,\u00a0relatable\u00a0and unhinged.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u202fBest Newcomer Award\u202fwas presented to\u00a0Sean Collier\u00a0for his show,\u00a0Shitegeist. A\u00a0late\u2011twenties\u00a0lawyer\u2011turned\u2011comedian, Collier delivered absurd, existential comedy spanning societal collapse, internet culture, rugby\u00a0concussions\u00a0and meat pies. Balancing sharp observations with silly detours, the show leaned into its own brand of \u201cbrain rot,\u201d leaving audiences laughing and slightly concerned.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Festival\u2019s\u202fDirector\u2019s Choice Award\u202fwent to\u202fThe Burton Brothers\u00a0for their show,\u00a0Tinseltown. Lights, camera, chaos: the Burton Brothers took on Hollywood with a sketch show that crammed an entire blockbuster into one hour. From red carpets to\u00a0on\u2011set\u00a0meltdowns, they played every role in a\u00a0fast\u2011paced,\u00a0laugh\u2011out\u2011loud\u00a0trip through Tinseltown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney Comedy Festival general manager, James Declase said \u201cEvery year, selecting the award winners is an extremely\u00a0difficult task, and this year proved no different. With the Festival presenting its biggest program to date, featuring more than 400 shows, the standard has reached new heights. A huge thank you to all the artists who\u00a0participated\u00a0this year, and an especially massive congratulations to Sean, Frankie,\u00a0Reuben\u00a0and The Burton Brothers for their standout shows. We\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0wait to see what comes next for them all\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year,\u00a0in\u00a0its 21st\u00a0Anniversary,\u00a0Sydney Comedy Festival\u202fdelivered\u00a0its biggest festival yet with\u00a0packed rooms,\u202fsold\u2011out\u202foutdoor festivals,\u00a0presenting 411 shows with close to 1000 performances across Sydney.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Sydney Comedy Festival is proudly presented by Young Henry\u2019s and supported by the NSW Government through strategic investment by Destination NSW\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u202fFor more information visit\u202fwww.sydneycomedyfest.com.au<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n