After fierce competition and audience votes the inaugural Edinburgh Fringe Comedian of the Year 2025 has been crowned.

Joe da Costa has won the title, the trophy, and £1,000 cash, becoming the very first comedian to hold this new Edinburgh Fringe honour.

The competition, organised by Need To Know Comedy, began with more than 300 entrants. 100 comedians were selected to perform in 18 heats, followed by a wildcard round, 4 semi-finals, and one epic Grand Final at The Three Sisters, Cowgate, on Sunday 24th August. All judging throughout was done entirely by live Fringe audiences.

In a closely-fought final, where laughs filled the room in equal measure, Joe da Costa eventually pulled ahead to claim victory.

The other finalists — Vlad Ilich, Bennet Kavanagh, Henry Bretz, and Aditya Gautam — also delivered sets that made the Grand Final a true showcase of Fringe comedy at its best.

Will Mars, host and founder of Need To Know Comedy, said: "This competition is about finding the funniest comedian with a set that’s TV-ready and packed with the kind of punch that makes audiences everywhere want more. At the Fringe there are awards for newcomers, for jokes, and for full shows — but this one is all about stand-ups who can walk on stage, deliver big laughs fast, and leave the room wanting them back again. Joe da Costa is a brilliant first winner — he’s sharp, original, and he brought the house down."

The Grand Final video is on Need To Know Comedy’s YouTube channel.