The McTavish Award - The Stand Comedy Club

Q: What is the criteria to be eligible?

You must be a Scottish comic, or living in Scotland and actively contributing to the Scottish Comedy Scene. You must be performing at least a 50 minute solo show over a minimum of 8 nights.

Q: How does the judging work?

Voluntary judges will attend all shows, a long list will be announced on 21 August, a panel will decide a short list, and the winner will be announced at The List's Fringe awards on 28 August at W Edinburgh.

Q: When will the judges be at my show, and can I request which show they come to?

Due to the large amount of shows the judges will be attending, exact dates cannot be given and requests for specific dates cannot be taken.

Championing Scottish comedy

A new award for outstanding Fringe comedy

Created to celebrate the immense talent and creativity of Scotland's comedy scene, this award will recognise the most outstanding show by a Scottish or Scottish-based act at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. The prize is sponsored by W Edinburgh and will include a £2.5k prize, a fringe run or tour in our venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow & Newcastle plus development mentoring with The Comedy Unit for TV or radio.

However, we need your help to make that happen! We're looking for a team of passionate comedy fans to come onboard as volunteers and help us create a longlist of shows to support our industry panel in choosing the winner.

We'll be looking for a diverse range of volunteers who love live comedy, can review shows fairly, and are free during the Edinburgh Fringe between the 5th and 21st August.

If this sounds like you, and you would like to be part of championing Scottish comedy, then please fill out the below form by the 23rd July 2026.

In memory

Paul Sneddon “Vladimir McTavish”

This award has been established in memory of Paul Sneddon, better known to audiences as Vladimir McTavish. Over a remarkable 40-year career, Paul built a reputation as one of Scotland's most original and fearless comedians, constantly pushing the boundaries of comedy with intelligence, wit and creativity. He was an integral part of The Stand's story and a much-loved figure within the Scottish comedy community.

Beyond his achievements on stage, Paul was renowned for his kindness, generosity and unwavering support for fellow performers. He championed Scottish talent throughout his career, and The McTavish Award has been created to honour that legacy by recognising and celebrating exceptional Scottish comedians.

Email

Your Name

Your Phone Number

Your Age Range

Being a volunteer judge will require you to watch 2 to 4 comedy shows between the 5th and 21st August. Please give us a rough idea of your availability during this time.

Do you have any accessibility needs that we should be aware of when booking your tickets?

Briefly, please tell us why you think you would make a good volunteer judge and be able to judge shows objectively.

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Award FAQ's

Do I need to apply for this award?

No, if you are a Scottish or Scottish-based act you are automatically in the running for this award. Someone from The Stand will be in touch with you or your venue about getting a judge's ticket to your show. If no one has requested a ticket to your show by the 14th August, please email [email protected].

What is the criteria to be eligible?

To be eligible for this award you must be a Scottish comic, or living in Scotland and actively contributing to the Scottish Comedy Scene. You must be performing at least a 50 minute solo show over a minimum of 8 nights.

How does the judging work?

Our voluntary judges will attend all shows, and a long list will be announced on the 21st of August. A panel of judges will then decide a short list, and the winner will be announced at The List's Fringe awards on the 28th of August at W Edinburgh.

What is the judging criteria?

Judges and panellists will assess each show based on originality, writing, audience response and overall performance. All judges are briefed on the judging criteria to ensure the process is as fair and consistent as possible.

While we are committed to judging fairly, comedy is inherently subjective. Judging is never an exact science, but our aim is to minimise subjectivity by focusing on audience response and the impact of the performance. If your show consistently generates big laughs and makes the judges laugh, it will be a strong contender. Unfortunately, not every great show can be nominated or win, and not receiving an award is not a reflection of your show's strength and quality.

When will the judges be at my show, and can I request which show they come to?

Due to the large amount of shows our judges will be attending we are unable to give an exact date when they will be at your show or take requests for specific dates for them to attend.