Shay Mace
Our celebrated awards champion marginalised and emerging voices from the Black and Queer performing communities and put their achievements throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. These awards are not distinguished by category or theme, and awarded in recognition of contribution to the vibrant, diverse and intersectional ecosystem of ideas at the festival. The shortlist for each award is independently judged by a panel of leading industry professionals and independent journalists each year.
Binge Fringe’s Queer Performers’ Awards are piloted by Binge Fringe’s Lead Editor Shay Mace and were launched in 2024, and at the time were the only awards specifically celebrating the achievements of LGBTQIA+ performers, now an essential part of a roster of awards for queer performers that has grown year-on-year. A Queer New Writing Award was introduced last year, which will be renewed for 2026. This year’s awards ceremony will take place on August 26th at a venue in Edinburgh’s Old Town, with a specific time and venue to be announced within July, and a shortlist announced later in August.
Our Black Performers’ Awards were introduced last year by Binge Fringe Contributing Writer Lamesha Ruddock and in collaboration with Blemme Fatale Productions, to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and quality of work presented by Black Performers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 and will continue for 2026. This year’s awards ceremony will take place on August 29th at 11am at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar in Edinburgh’s Old Town, and a shortlist announced later in August.
To be considered for the longlist for each award, performers must have received a review for a performance at this year’s festival from Binge Fringe by August 20th.
Explore the winners of our 2025 Black Performers’ Award here and our 2025 Queer Performers’ Awards here.
