THE NEXT BIG NAMES IN COMEDY: 2026 BILLY T AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
On Saturday night a talented group of emerging comedians from across Aotearoa competed for a coveted spot as one of the Billy T Award nominees for the 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo.
Named after comedy legend Billy T James, a comedian who forged a hugely successful career and changed the face of comedy in Aotearoa, this prestigious award honours his legacy and celebrates up-and-coming comedians with outstanding potential set to follow in his footsteps.
The New Zealand Comedy Trust (NZCT) leads this initiative, championing the craft of comedy, supporting artists to create sustainable careers in comedy while strengthening New Zealand’s internationally recognised comedy ecosystem. Their vision is to connect audiences with world-class comedy, ensuring everyone can share a laugh.
18 acts pitched their 2026 Festival show ideas to a panel of industry experts and showcased their comedic talent in a sold-out showcase at the Herald Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau, with this year’s Billy T Award winner, Hoani Hotene, as host.
After much tough deliberation, five rising stars have been nominated for the 2026 Billy T Award. Chosen for their comedic ability, dedication to their craft, and outstanding potential, the New Zealand Comedy Trust is proud to announce the 2026 finalists:
Henry Yan: Henry Yan is a confident nerd that enjoys the absurdities of his everyday life and the nuances that make him giggle. He loves to delve into his experiences with family and his struggles to comprehend normal life while being cheeky with the audience.
Joel Vinsen: Absurd, dark, and frequently silly; Joel Vinsen approaches stand-up with equal parts respect and contempt. Unpredictable dumb/smart comedy delivered in a deadpan style. A true original. 2022 National Raw Quest Finalist, 2022, 2023 & 2024 “Comic Originality” Nominee, New Zealand Comedy Guild Awards. 2024 New Zealand International Comedy Festival - ‘Most unhinged show’ nominee 2024, Finalist - Best Comedy Award, Whangārei Fringe.
Kipling DC (Ngāpuhi): Kipling DC is the self proclaimed ‘Big Dog’ of Wellington comedy. This jack russell with a microphone uses his quick wit and killer crowdwork to leave his audiences in stitches and constantly guessing about what’s coming next.
Opeti Vaka (Ngāti Porou): If you ask him why he started performing comedy, he'll tell you "Well I actually started running out of options..." Born in Wellington, with a dollop of South Auckland styla, add in a sprinkle of life in the fast lane with his very large whānau and their antics, take a pinch of "what the f**k?", and wrap it all up in a person of multiple colours, those colours being 2 shades of brown (Tongan & Māori), well you get a very comedic perspective of his world.
Samantha Hannah: Samantha Hannah is a Scottish comedian now based in Wellington. She has created several festival shows, including her debut solo show How to Find a Husband in a Year, which documented a real-life dating experiment that resulted in her moving to New Zealand for love. How to Find Happiness (in a Year) followed and sold out its run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, was a finalist for the Funny Women Best Show Award, and was filmed for NextUp Comedy.
Winning the Billy T Award is a huge honour. The winner will join an impressive list of past winners, including some of our biggest and brightest comedy stars – Ewen Gilmour, Cal Wilson, Rose Matafeo, Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement, Dai Henwood, Brynley Stent, Melanie Bracewell, Guy Montgomery, Abby Howells, Angella Dravid, David Correos and Kura Forrester. Full list of previous winners here.
Lauren Whitney, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Comedy Trust, says, “The legacy of the Billy T Award speaks for itself. Past winners have gone on to achieve incredible things, both in Aotearoa and internationally. This award shines a spotlight on the next generation of comedy voices, celebrating their innovation and giving them a platform to grow their careers.”
This year’s judging panel brings extensive experience from the comedy, television, film and media industries. The judges were: Rhys Mathewson (2010 Billy T Award winner/2026 Fred Award winner), Heta Dawson (Poppies Comedy Club), Perlina Lau (RNZ radio host, director and actor), Richard Carrington (Notorious Management), Maria Deere (former Comedy Festival Producer) and Tom Furniss (Film & TV Director, including Taskmaster & The Mountain, two time Billy T Award nominee).
The five 2026 nominees will perform one-hour solo shows during the 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo (1 – 24 May), culminating in their final performance at Last Laughs on Sunday 24 May at SkyCity Theatre, where one comedian will take home the prestigious yellow towel and be crowned the 2026 Billy T Award winner!