Scottish Comic Christopher Macarthur-Boyd Wins 2026 Next Big Thing Award

Glasgow comedian Christopher Macarthur-Boyd has been named the winner of the British Comedy Guide’s 2026 Next Big Thing award.

Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity to see Macarthur-Boyd next month when he makes his Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut as part of the UK showcase New Order. The lineup also features rising UK comedians Sharon Wanjohi and Thor Stenhaug.

Macarthur-Boyd was selected for the honour from amongst a high-calibre group of finalists, including Have I Got News For You star Bella Hull, "powerhouse presence" (Chortle) Gbemi Oladipo, "buzziest of the buzzy" (New York Times) Lorna Rose Treen, and Irish comic and self-described "cruel little man" Mike Rice.

Fresh from a sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the success of his hit podcast Here Comes The Guillotine - co-hosted alongside fellow Scottish comics Frankie Boyle and Susie McCabe - “Glasgow’s foremost purveyor of sad, clever stand-up”, Macarthur-Boyd is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about voices in Scottish comedy.

New Order is running from 26 Mar to 19 Apr at Melbourne Town Hall. Tickets are on sale now.