On Sunday 17 May, Sydney’s biggest annual comedy event, the Sydney Comedy Festival, came to a close with the announcement of its 2026 award winners: Sean Collier, The Burton Brothers, Reuben Kaye and Frankie McNair who each took home a trophy along with a $1500 prize.
This year, the prestigious Best of the Fest Award was awarded to two artists, Reuben Kaye and Frankie McNair. Reuben Kaye’s show, Hard to Swallow, proved sharper, sexier and more political than ever, a show packed with taboo truths and big laughs. With razor‑sharp wit, Kaye skewered the world’s worst offenders, from the painfully loud to the quietly unhinged. Meanwhile, Frankie McNair’s show, Huge Ass Mindset explored a lifetime of anxiety, CPTSD and low self‑esteem, as Frankie refused to play small tackling self‑doubt with the question, “What would someone wildly confident do?”. Blending sharp honesty about trauma with delightfully chaotic moments (including the gloriously silly “MRS GOOGLY”), the show was equal parts heartfelt, relatable and unhinged.
The Best Newcomer Award was presented to Sean Collier for his show, Shitegeist. A late‑twenties lawyer‑turned‑comedian, Collier delivered absurd, existential comedy spanning societal collapse, internet culture, rugby concussions and meat pies. Balancing sharp observations with silly detours, the show leaned into its own brand of “brain rot,” leaving audiences laughing and slightly concerned.
The Festival’s Director’s Choice Award went to The Burton Brothers for their show, Tinseltown. 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 on‑set meltdowns, they played every role in a fast‑paced, laugh‑out‑loud trip through Tinseltown.
Sydney Comedy Festival general manager, James Declase said “Every year, selecting the award winners is an extremely difficult 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 participated this year, and an especially massive congratulations to Sean, Frankie, Reuben and The Burton Brothers for their standout shows. We can’t wait to see what comes next for them all”.
This year, in its 21st Anniversary, Sydney Comedy Festival delivered its biggest festival yet with packed rooms, sold‑out outdoor festivals, presenting 411 shows with close to 1000 performances across Sydney.
The Sydney Comedy Festival is proudly presented by Young Henry’s and supported by the NSW Government through strategic investment by Destination NSW
For more information visit www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au
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