Avalon have revealed a first wave of artists on their promoted line-up who are performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. The line-up includes last year’s Best Show nominee Katie Norris with her latest musical comedy offerings; multiple-award-winning stand-up, writer, actor and podcaster Rob Auton; and viral sensation and multi-award-winning hip-hop comedian MC Hammersmith. Additionally, audiences will have a chance to see a debut Fringe appearance from critically acclaimed stand-up, best-selling author and podcast host Emma Doran; while Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025 Golden Gibbo award winner Kate Dolan and critically acclaimed comic and writer Andrew Doherty are set to return with their latest shows. Fringe favourites including award winning comedian Garrett Millerick; one of the country’s most in demand political satirists and comics Matt Forde; comedian, podcaster and author of ‘Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? A Comedian’s Guide to Autism’ Pierre Novellie; and legendary contestants on BAFTA and Rose D’Or winning Taskmaster, multi-award-winning Phil Ellis; and star of RTS Award winning Junior Taskmaster, and host of hit cult podcast Three Bean Salad, Mike Wozniak will present their brand-new shows, while more acts are set to be announced in due course.

During the last 36 years, Avalon have worked with more Edinburgh Comedy Award winners and nominees than any other company including: Chris Addison, Greg Davies, Dave Gorman, Frank Skinner, Harry Hill, The Mighty Boosh, Al Murray, Russell Kane, Alex Horne, Roisin Conaty, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, Garth Marenghi, Lucy Beaumont, John Kearns, Bilal Zafar, Glenn Moore, Ciarán Dowd, Sara Barron, Sophie Duker, Huge Davies, Lauren Pattison, Phil Ellis, Ania Magliano, Ahir Shah, 2024’s Best Newcomer Joe Kent-Walters, 2025’s Best Show nominees Katie Norris and Sam Jay, as well as three of only eight female winners of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award; Jenny Eclair, Laura Solon and Rose Matafeo.

The first wave of Avalon’s promoted line-up for 2026 includes:

Andrew Doherty – Reviewers Welcome…TO DIE!

Emma Doran – Emmaculate

Garrett Millerick – We Tried It Your Way

Kate Dolan – Trout

Katie Norris – Mother Succubus

Matt Forde – Project Holy Moly

Matt Forde – The Political Party Podcast

MC Hammersmith – Ice Ice Nepo Baby

Mike Wozniak – The Bench

Phil Ellis – Bath Mat

Pierre Novellie – Okay, One More Then Bedtime

Rob Auton – JUPITER

Andrew Doherty – Reviewers Welcome…TO DIE!

““His performance is a treat…the finest horror pastiche I can recall on the fringe since Garth Marenghi hit his spine-chilling peak”” ★★★★
Brian Logan, The Guardian

This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe sees the return of rising star Andrew Doherty, following the release of his debut comedy drama on BBC Radio 4, The Real Housewives of The Wife House, featuring Ambika Mod. The star, creator and heartthrob known for his sell-out hits Gay Witch Sex Cult and Sad Gay AIDS Play will perform a brand new comedy-horror, a late-night-slasher-spooktacular called ‘Reviewers Welcome…TO DIE!’. (Reviewers enter at your peril!) “A one-man performance masterclass… Doherty’s an energetic and engaging writer and performer with an infectious sense of character mischief” ★★★★ (Ashley Davies, The Scotsman). “ witty, dark, and at times, deranged…met by roaring laughter” ★★★★ (The Skinny).

Emma Doran – Emmaculate

“End-to-end laughs…you’d be mad to miss her” ★★★★
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard

Irish comedian, best-selling author, podcast host and online star Emma Doran (LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland) makes her Edinburgh Fringe debut with smash hit stand-up show Emmaculate. This rambunctious hour lays bare the many trials and tribulations of Emma’s blended family, jam-packed with razor-sharp observations, riotous on-stage antics and conspiratorial gossipmongering. The month long Fringe run follows a triumphant UK and Ireland tour of the show, which has sold out an astonishing 80+ dates, with a second leg (including a date at the iconic London Palladium) just announced for Autumn 2026 up until Spring 2027. This past year has also seen Emma return for series 2 of Irish sketch show No Worries If Not! on RTÉ (which she wrote and starred in), appear on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show alongside Miriam Margoyles and surpass over half a million followers across social channels and 2.5 million TikTok likes for her comedy sketches. Emma currently co-hosts the podcast Keep It Tight alongside fellow stand-up and LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland contestant Deirdre O’Kane. “Wickedly funny” (Brian Logan, The Guardian), “Uproariously funny… a fiercely accomplished and fully formed talent” ★★★★ (Jay Richardson, The Reviews Hub).

Garrett Millerick – We Tried It Your Way

“a masterclass” ★★★★
Mark Monahan, The Telegraph

Creator of BBC Radio 4’s hit sitcom, Do Gooders, award-winning comedian Garrett Millerick returns with a unique live comedy experiment… Garrett’s built an AI of himself to see if it’s better at comedy than him. Maybe he can finally retire?  Join Garrett and Garrett for a blistering hour of the no-holds-barred iconoclastic stand up that has made him one of the stand out acts of his generation. Garrett recently performed stand-up on legendary US late night show Conan and has been consistently recommended as the top comedy shows to see at the Fringe. In 2024, Garrett embarked on his largest tour to date with his latest hour, Garrett Millerick Needs More Space, chosen as one of The Telegraph’s best autumn tours.  That same year Garrett created, wrote and starred in his first sitcom, Do Gooders, for BBC Radio 4 and Sounds, returning for a second series in September 2025. Set in the offices of a mid-level charity, the show has been shortlisted for two 2025 BBC Audio Drama Awards and named critic’s choice in The Sunday Times, Radio Times, The Guardian, The Times, and Chortle. “has the room erupting with laughter. Cathartic. Clever. Funny.”  (Kate Copstick, The Scotsman ★★★★). “wonderfully funny” (Dominic Maxwell, The Times ★★★★).

Kate Dolan – Trout

“irrepressibly funny… reminiscent of Jim Carrey” ★★★★
Jay Richardson, The Scotsman

Multi-award-winning comedian Kate Dolan is bringing her third consecutive show to this year’s Fringe, with a brand-new hour of her rapid fire, high-energy and absurdist stand-up. Trout unspools the idea that in 2026 being a fish in the river might be nicer than a woman on land. One of the best-reviewed shows at the Fringe (British Comedy Guide), Kate’s 2025 show, The Critic, saw her win the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025 Golden Gibbo Award for best independent local artist, making her the first Brit, and first non-Australian in over 20 years, to win the award. It subsequently transferred to the Fringe where she won The Skinny x Fest Bestie Awards 2025 Breakthrough Act. Kate’s critically-acclaimed debut show, A Different Kind of Unhinged, cemented her reputation as a comedic force, and she won the Adelaide Fringe 2024 Emerging Artist Award. Kate is the creator and star of the brand-new improvised sketch show History Untold (Grouse House TV) and co-hosts the podcast Becoming Best Friends alongside fellow comedian Danielle Walker. “Absurdly good…a gloriously daft, energetic hour with lots of big laughs” ★★★★ (Veronica Lee, Daily Mail). “Her performance screams star quality” ★★★★ (Steve Bennett, Chortle).

Katie Norris – Mother Succubus

“wonderfully batty and unapologetic” ★★★★
Brian Logan, The Guardian

Katie Norris will return to the Fringe following her Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination for Best Show last year. In ‘Mother Succubus’, Katie will once again delight audiences with her signature style of chaotic comedy, delightfully silly songs and pitch perfect vocals. Boys of the manosphere: prepare to be spooked. Women with cats: your leader has returned. The stand-up, actress and singer is a previous winner of Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2025 and a past winner of the Musical Comedy Awards 2023. Katie will appear in the Channel 4 sitcom Make That Movie and recently appeared on the Christmas special of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4). She can be heard on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show, Newsjack and DMs are Open. “so skilful it deserves its nomination” ★★★★ (Bruce Dessau, The Standard). “the most delightful hour of silliness – like a vitamin shot for your happiness levels… a deliciously authentic, upbeat character who’s a joy to be around” ★★★★ (Ashley Davies, The Scotsman).

Matt Forde – Project Holy Moly

“the most topically incisive impersonator on the block…exemplary in its vocal accuracy and political acumen. It’s laugh-a-minute stuff, underpinned by the kind of wisdom and natural resilience our leaders could learn from. He was always impressive, but he deserves his inevitable standing-ovation as never before.” ★★★★★
Dominic Cavendish, The Daily Telegraph

Fresh from wrapping up his biggest tour yet with last year’s acclaimed Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, and a second series of The Matt Forde Focus Group on BBC R4, leading political comedian and satirist Matt Forde (The Royal Variety Performance, Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal) embarks on a mission with impossible odds: find joy amid global political turmoil, the rising tide of populism, and his own ongoing health challenges – several years on from a bone cancer diagnosis. “flying the flag for satire…a meaty hour of impressions, gags and reflections…so much to admire here” ★★★★★ (Mail On Sunday). “An outstanding hour…nobody else serving up party-political humour at this level… perhaps the best routine in town. Stunning.” ★★★★ (The Times). “firing on all cylinders… His impression of the past and future President is easily his, well, Trump card… sublime portrayal” ★★★★ (Evening Standard).

Matt Forde – The Political Party

“Matt Forde’s podcast is like Top of the Pops for Westminster…phenomenally popular fortnightly show…refreshingly positive”
Patricia Nicol, The Sunday Times

Building on his acclaimed West End Political Party podcast residency, Matt Forde (Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal) returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to record three live episodes, with guests to be announced. With over 11 million downloads, Matt Forde’s Political Party has earned multiple nominations from the British Podcast Awards and Chortle Awards and is regularly highlighted as a top podcast pick in the press. Previous guests include: Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Tony Blair, Kemi Badenoch, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Angela Rayner, Zack Polanksi, Michael Heseltine, Anthony Scaramucci, Alastair Campbell, Gordon Brown and Gary Neville. “Forde’s Political Party podcasts have become essential listening for both comedy fans and Westminster wonks” (Evening Standard) ,“our foremost satirical stand-up” ★★★★ (The Sunday Times), “smart, funny ideas” ★★★★ (The Times).

MC Hammersmith – Ice Ice Nepo Baby

“Endlessly impressive and unbelievably quick-witted, MC Hammersmith may be the most talented man at the Fringe… If you’re going to see just one show this Fringe, make it this one.” ★★★★★
Elodie Marriott, Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

Multi award-winning hip-hop comedian, social media sensation and Edinburgh Fringe favourite MC Hammersmith (posh west London’s leading freestyle rapper with over half a billion views online) returns to the festival with a brand new show, Ice Ice Nepo Baby. When MC Hammersmith turned 18, his parents (MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice) revealed he was adopted (!). His two famous dads helped him ascend to the top of the rap game. He now embarks on a quest to find his biological family, the only way he knows how: by performing an hour of improvised hip hop comedy based on audience suggestions. As well as being the tour support for Jason Manford on his live arena tour, MC Hammersmith has performed alongside famous hip-hop and rap artists – most notably rapping for Dave in a viral “Guess The Musician” Beta Squad video, and being invited to freestyle at R.A. The Rugged Man’s London live show. He is also a writer for acclaimed YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History, and online he writes and performs scripted hip hop comedy tracks to his 1M+ social media followers. “An improvised hip-hop masterpiece” ★★★★★ (Emily Phillips, Voice Magazine), “Stomach-achingly funny raps” ★★★★★ (EdFringeReview.com).

Mike Wozniak – The Bench

“Wozniak is a mighty talent“
Dominic Maxwell, The Times

Legendary contestant on BAFTA and Rose D’Or winning Taskmaster, star of RTS Award winning Junior Taskmaster, and host of hit cult podcast Three Bean Salad, Mike Wozniak presents his brand-new stand-up show ‘The Bench’ at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe mid-way through a sell-out UK tour which was extended just two weeks after going on-sale to meet overwhelming demand for tickets. ‘The Bench’ sees brand-new material from the “deliciously distinctive” (Bruce Dessau, The Evening Standard) stand-up in which a story about a bench will be prominent. Previous experience of or strong opinions about benches not required. Let Mike worry about that. #1 Greatest Taskmaster Contestant (Christian Tobin, The Radio Times Online), “Wozniak has a talent for [the] slightly absurd… a charming storyteller with a splash of the surreal” (Rachael Healy, The i Paper).

Phil Ellis – Bath Mat

“Ellis’s performance is touched by comic genius. Every moment he is on stage something funny, and then funnier, is happening.” ★★★★★
Kate Copstick, The Scotsman

After capturing the hearts of Taskmaster fans across the globe, multi award-winning comedian Phil Ellis returns to the Fringe with his hit stand-up show Bath Mat. This follows a hugely successful first leg of the tour, selling out an incredible 50+ shows across the UK. Expect laugh-out-loud silliness, well-crafted gags and a couple of surprises along the way. A celebrated live act, Phil is praised for his unique brand of chaotic comedy, electric energy and brilliant writing. Last year’s Fringe saw Phil bring back his Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize winning kids show, Funz & Gamez, and an hour of stand-up, receiving critical acclaim across the board for both shows plus 3 awards, The ISH Comedy Award for ‘Best Show,’ The List Festival Award for ‘Best Kids Show’ and The Malcolm Hardee Award for ‘Act That Should Make a Million Quid’. “The density of gags is impressive… There’s not many better exponents of this message-free, ego-free, knockabout comedy than Ellis in his prime.” ★★★★½ (Steve Bennett, Chortle) “Phil Ellis is a conductor of chaos, always has been… The Fringe is much richer for his presence, turning it up a notch year on year – may the Lord of Misrule wear his crown with pride” ★★★★★ (Polly Glynn, The Skinny).

Pierre Novellie – Okay, One More Then Bedtime

“jumps from one ingenious routine to another…glorious” ★★★★
Dominic Maxwell, The Times

Following his latest sell-out Fringe run and biggest tour to date, critically acclaimed comedian, podcaster and author of ‘Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? A Comedian’s Guide to Autism’, Pierre Novellie brings a brand new show, Okay, One More Then Bedtime, to this year’s Fringe, one final time before bed. One of the UK’s most acclaimed stand-ups, Pierre’s 2025 show saw him make the list of ‘Best Reviewed Shows of the Fringe’ (British Comedy Guide) for a fourth year in a row. Earlier this year, Pierre’s first BBC Radio 4 series – ‘Why in the Name of Pierre Novellie’ – aired to rave reviews and acclaim from fans, with a second series announced whilst the first was still airing. Pierre can also be heard as co-host of BudPod with fellow comedian Glenn Moore and co-host of the popular video game podcast Button Boys with Glenn Moore and Sarah Keyworth. His television and writing credits include Mock The Week (BBC), The Mash Report (BBC), Spitting Image (ITV / BritBox), Stand Up Central (Comedy Central), and World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave). “gags so good that resistance is futile” ★★★★ (Brian Logan, The Guardian). “relatable, but superbly crafted… It’s rare for an hour to whizz by so fast” ★★★★ (Ashley Davies, The Scotsman).

Rob Auton – JUPITER

“a five star smash… very very funny… time and again it hits you in the gut with a truth so profound that it winds you for a moment… one thing is for sure – Auton can.” ★★★★★
Nooruddean Choudry, Rolling Stone

Multi award-winning comedian, writer, podcaster and actor Rob Auton (The Change, Marching Powder, Starstruck) is returning to Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform a story he has written about him being an estate agent on the planet Jupiter. Following the success of his sold-out, month-long run last year with debut story CAN (named one of the Best Reviewed Edinburgh Fringe Shows per the British Comedy Guide – a nod he has received numerous times – and one of Rolling Stone’s 10 stand-out shows of the Fringe), Rob is bringing his second hour long story to the Edinburgh Fringe. A two-time British Podcast Awards Gold winner, Rob is the creator of The Rob Auton Daily Podcast, with over 500 episodes and 2 million downloads to date. “an hour of upbeat poetic musings to delight and bewitch… beautiful wordplay… Everybody needs some Auton in their life. Fact.” ★★★★ (Mark Wareham, The Mail on Sunday), “an Edinburgh Fringe cult… beautifully constructed… funny and touching” ★★★★ (Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke).

Notes to editors:

SHOW DETAILS

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