The grand final of SketchFest 2026 took place last night at the Canal Café, following two weeks of heats where acts performed a 50 - 60 minute original show at both Hen and Chickens and Canal Café. 

The three strongest acts from the heats - The Tiny Umbrellas, Will and Noah and The Supermalts presented final 20 minute performances to a capacity audience. Kevin Eldon (Brass Eye, I Am Alan Partridge, Inside No.9) and Phil Whelans (Radio 4) were the judges for the Finals.

The overall winner - The Best Sketch Act of the Year has been named as  Will and Noah. The Supermalts were awarded the Canal Cafe Theatre Choice Award and The Tiny Umbrellas won the Hen & Chickens Theatre Choice Award. Forced Rhubarb won Best Individual Sketch and Justin Edwards won Best Character. 

The overall winner and venue award recipients will receive trophies, a £100 cash prize for the overall winner and mentorship support, while all finalists will be invited to celebrate with performers and guests following the awards ceremony.

SketchFest is a new collaboration between two of the capital’s best loved fringe venues, Canal Café Theatre in Little Venice and Hen and Chickens Theatre in Islington. Across the festival audiences will be able to see a wide range of sketch shows from emerging and established comedy performers, with each act presenting an original hour of live material.

Throughout the festival the competing acts had been assessed during their performances by programming teams from both venues. At Canal Café Theatre the heats were judged by Artistic Director Emma Taylor and Head Programmer and Festival Producer Cicely Halkes Wellstead, at Hen and Chickens Theatre the judging panel included Artistic Director James Wren and members of The Pros from Dover. Acts were scored on five key criteria including writing, performance quality, originality, audience response and overall award worthiness.