Glitz, glamour, tired performers enjoying complimentary refreshments and a warm place to rest in between their shows, we’re offering all that and more as we launch The List Festival Awards, which aims to shine a spotlight on some of the best arts and culture on show in Edinburgh throughout August.

We’re very excited to be adding this string to our bow, which is why we’ve put together a handy primer on everything you need to know about our prize-giving bonanza. When will the shortlists be announced? Which talented wee rascals have we persuaded to be our hosts? 

When and where are The List Festival Awards happening?

The List Festival Awards will take place on Friday 23 August from 3pm until 6pm at the prestigious Johnnie Walker Princes Street.

What awards are up for grabs?

We’re aiming to champion as much of the Festival as possible with these awards, and so each of our nine categories covers a host of genres, including art, literature and film, plus various Fringe selections and an International Festival prize.

Here are the categories in full:

• Art - Best rising Scottish artist
• Books - Best rising Scottish author
• Film - Best Scottish film
• Fringe - Best show 
• Fringe - International Fringe Encore Series Edinburgh Prize 
• Fringe - Sit-Up Award for best production with a social impact 
• Fringe - Best show from Adelaide
• Fringe - Spirit of The Fringe Award
• International - Best show

Who’s hosting?

We’ll be welcoming seasoned comic and goliath of the darkly satirical one-liner Mark Nelson and award-winning multi-hyphenate presenter, actor, comedian, writer and filmmaker Zara Janjua.

Our editor, Brian Donaldson, said: ‘For our inaugural Festival Awards, we wanted hosts who would bring wit, presence and verve to the event, and both Zara and Mark have all of that by the bucketload. August is a long and exhausting month but these awards will provide a real energy boost in that last week from the shortlists being announced on the Monday to the ceremony itself on the Friday. Then we can all have a good sleep in September.’

Who are our partners and sponsors?

We’re undertaking this exciting venture alongside Johnnie Walker Princes Street, with superlative support from Lothian Buses, Citizen Ticket, Ghost Light Global, LNER, Adelaide Fringe, SoHo Playhouse, Sit-Up Theatre, and Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood.

How will winners be picked?

Sifting through the thousands of shows that rock up to Edinburgh during August is no mean feat. That’s why we’ll be using reviewers and commentators who’ll cast their eyes over the Festival’s top shows. If an act gets a favourable review from us in the run-up to the awards, there’s a high likelihood we’ll chuck a nomination its way.

When will the shortlists be announced?

After a period of chin-stroking deliberations (maybe we’ll send some black smoke up a chimney, probably not), we’ll unveil our shortlists on Monday 19 August. Sit tight until then.

How do I get an invite?

The ceremony will be an invite-only shindig. If you hear from us, then you’re on the guestlist.

Why have we put on the awards?

Festival season is a time where a lot of the debates around culture dissipate in favour of a joyful, full-throated celebration of the arts. But it’s also when performers are testing new material, sweating buckets to push the boundaries of their art and creating ground-breaking work. We may dole out the occasional one-star rating to a stinker, but everyone at The List understands the hard work and dedication that goes into mounting a show at the Festival, and we want to celebrate the best of the best as much as we can.

These awards are our way of putting the finest performers at the forefront of the cultural conversation, whether they’re up-and-coming newbies or experienced veterans on the Festival scene. Basically, we want to do what we always do; crow about the shows we love and present them to a wider audience.

Another word from our editor: ‘Ever since we relaunched The List in March 2022, creating a new awards event at the Edinburgh Festival was one of our long-term goals. We might be here sooner than we thought but myself and our reviewing team will dive headlong into the challenge of producing shortlists and eventual winners that we can be excited about.’

The List Festival Awards 2024, Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Edinburgh, Friday 23 August.