2026 Billy T Nominees are here!

On September 13 in Tāmaki Makaurau, some of the sharpest up-and-coming comedians from across Aotearoa went head-to-head for a shot at becoming a 2026 Billy T Award nominee in the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo.

This prestigious award, honouring comedy legend Billy T James, shines a spotlight on artists with serious potential, and the competition this year was electric.

18 acts pitched their 2026 Festival show ideas to a panel of industry pros, while also showing off their skills across a mix of styles at the Herald Theatre. After plenty of laughs and a few tough calls, five comedians rose to the top.

Handpicked for their originality, craft, and outstanding potential, we’re stoked to announce the 2026 Billy T Award nominees:

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.

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. 

Opeti Vaka
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 whanau 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 & Maori), well you get a very comedic perspective of his world. Ngāti Porou.

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, Whangarei Fringe.

Kipling DC
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.

Hailing originally from the mighty Whangārei, this award comedian has taken his jokes up and down Aotearoa and left nothing off the table. He’s a little self deprecating, a little bit cheeky, especially silly, and most of all very very funny! Ngāpuhi, Te Hikutu.

Winning the Billy T Award is no small feat. It celebrates the legacy of Billy T James, who changed the face of comedy in Aotearoa, and has been taken out by some of the country’s comedy greats: Ewen Gilmour, Cal Wilson, Rose Matafeo, Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement, Dai Henwood, Melanie Bracewell, Guy Montgomery, David Correos, Kura Forrester, and most recently, Hoani Hotene.

These five nominees will take to the stage with their own solo shows during the 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo (1–24 May). It all builds up to Last Laughs on Sunday 24 May at SkyCity Theatre, where one artist will take home the yellow towel, $5000 cash grant from the New Zealand Comedy Trust, and the title of 2026 Billy T Award winner.

This year’s panelists brought a wealth of experience across comedy, television, and theatre. We'd like to express a huge thank you to Maria Deere, Rhys Mathewson, Tom Furniss, Heta Dawson, Richard Carrington, and Perlina Lau for their time and expertise.

A huge congratulations to the 2026 Billy T Award nominees - see you in May!