Winners announced for The List Festival Awards 2026

Winners include Elf Lyons, Sarah Hester Ross, Marc Brew and more, covering the length and breadth of Festival season

The winners of The List Festival Awards have been announced, celebrating the wealth of creativity and talent across Art, Book, Film, Fringe and International festivals.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Edinburgh Art Festival - Best Rising Scottish Artist

(Supported by Set! Productions)

Lee McCormack: A Magic Lantern (Craigmillar Now)

A Magic Lantern is the first solo exhibition by Niddrie photographer and former community worker Lee McCormack. Her powerful and sensitive photographs capture domestic scenes and social action between the late 1970s to early 2000s.

Edinburgh International Book Festival - Best Rising Scottish Author

(Supported by Big Think Agency)

Alycia Pirmohamed

Poet and winner of the Nan Shepherd Prize with non-fiction debut, Alycia Pirmohamed’s Shorelines questions the legacies of migration and explores how place and identity intertwine .

Edinburgh International Film Festival - Best Scottish Film

(Supported by Arbikie Distillery)

These Violent Delights (Christopher Hampson, Oscar Sansom )

Scottish Ballet’s intoxicating, beautifully realised retelling of the classic Shakespeare tragedy, Romeo & Juliet, combines stunning choreography, gorgeous costuming and fluid cinematography.

Edinburgh International Festival – Best International Show

(Supported by Ghost Light Global)

A Trial: after An Enemy Of The People (Christiane Jatahy)

Transplanting Ibsen’s themes to contemporary Brazil, A Trial: After An Enemy Of The People offers a sharp look at authoritarianism, fake news and public judgement. Ever inventive and deeply political, Christiane Jatahy combines audience participation and filmed footage, creating a one-of-a-kind performance.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Best Cabaret Show

(Supported by Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Edinburgh)

Sarah Hester Ross: Serving C*nt (Sarah Hester Ross)

International touring cabaret artist Sarah Hester Ross brings her viral songs and razor-sharp humour to a one-woman show packed with powerhouse vocals and cabaret chaos.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Best Comedy Show

(Supported by Whyte & Mackay)

Man Sings The Same Song Over And Over Again For An Hour (Conk)

Award-winning comedian Conk spends an hour singing the same song on repeat, turning a simple musical premise from a live experiment into a hilarious feat of absurdity.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Best Dance, Circus & Physical Theatre Show (Supported by YourScene)

Collaborator (Ockham’s Razor)

Ockham’s Razor return with an intimate duet crafted and performed by artistic directors Alex and Charlotte, in an irreverent, highly physical and heartfelt exploration of the negotiation involved in making something: a decision, a work of art, a life.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Best Kids Show

(Supported by Data Thistle)

Boys Don't Dance (Marc Brew)

Boys Don't Dance is a poignant dance theatre show by acclaimed disabled artist Marc Brew, reflecting on his lifelong journey defying societal expectations to embrace his love for dance. Combining movement with BMX and wheels, storytelling, and an uplifting 80s soundtrack, Boys Don’t Dance creates an immersive experience for audiences.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Best LGBTQIA+ Show

(Supported by Pure Life Plus)

Megasquirt: Fully Loaded (Megasquirt)

Megasquirt, an experimental comedy music project from Brooklyn, is an unhinged hybrid concert/sketch show promising a high-octane flood of gay brain rot set to a sickening beat.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Best Show From Adelaide

(Supported by Adelaide Fringe)

DUST (Charlaina Thompson)

This true story is dedicated to the servicemen who fought for their country, the seven men who tragically died in the Lofthouse Colliery disaster of 1973, and every miner who lived their lives in darkness so we could live in the light.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe – International Fringe Encore Series Edinburgh Prize

Big Stuff (Baram and Snieckus)

Acclaimed Canadian Second City comedy duo Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus bring their signature blend of storytelling and improvisation to a hilarious, heartfelt exploration of the things we leave behind.

Bragi Award

Common Tongue (JGProducing, Fraser Scott)

A fast-paced, riotous one-person show exploring the impact of language, identity and their intersections in Scotland. Bonnie’s life has been defined by words; the right ones, the wrong ones and the ones used against her.

McTavish Award

Chris Forbes: Father Christmas, (Brass Tacks Comedy, Chris Forbes)

Brass Tacks Comedy brings a deeply personal stand-up show from critically acclaimed Scottish comedian Chris Forbes, blending big laughs and beautiful storytelling in a heartfelt exploration of festive joy, family and the Christmas Day that changed everything. An irreverent, moving and hilarious take on the season for anyone who loves, or hates, Christmas.

The List Festival Awards 2026 brings together artists, industry professionals and festival organisations for an afternoon celebrating the creativity and ambition that defines Edinburgh in August. Hosts W Edinburgh welcomed guests with a celebratory drink and canapes.

This year’s awards also spotlight emerging creative talent through a partnership with Edinburgh College. Students from the HND Visual Communication course have individually designed each laurel, giving local designers the opportunity to contribute directly to one of the festival season’s major industry celebrations. The HND Visual Communication course, specialising in graphic design, is an award-winning studio-based programme offering students opportunities to work at the forefront of contemporary design practice through industry engagement and live creative briefs.

Brian Donaldson, editor of The List, comments: ‘Deciding the winners for these awards from the shortlists we announced earlier this week was no mean task. But that’s a good problem to have and another indication that this year’s Edinburgh Festival has showcased a wealth of talent that we are very lucky to have performing on our doorstep. We’re already looking forward to 2027 and wondering how this year can possibly be topped.’

The List Festival Awards 2026, W Hotel, Friday 28 August; main picture: Toby Trees.

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