Reading New Comedian of the Year 2026 will take place at The Purple Turtle on Friday 15 May between 7:30pm and 9:30pm.

8 new comedians will battle it out to win a paid spot at Mates Rates Comedy Club and a cash prize.

What do I need to do?

All competitors will perform 5 minutes of stand up comedy.

Please be advised - If you over run you will be disqualified.

Am I a new comedian?

If you are willing to travel to Reading on a Friday night to perform 5 minutes of material congratulations… you are a new comedian!

Who decides who wins?

The decision on who wins Reading New Comedian of the Year 2026 will be made by an independent industry panel and an audience vote.

How do I apply?

All applications for Reading Indie Comedy Festival 2026 are closed. We will open applications for 2027 around autumtn this year so keep an eye on the comedy forums and this page.

Unfortunately, we are only able to contact sucessful applicants!