Launched in 1981, the award is presented to the comedy show judged to have been the best at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and is recognised as the most prestigious comedy prize in the UK.
Formerly known as the Perrier Award, it is designed to promote acts that have yet to become household names, so comedians judged to have ‘star status’ are not eligible - for instance if they have a show on a major television channel or can regularly fill a 500-set venue.
The first winners were a talent-packed Cambridge Footlights featuring Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson, while other names catapaulted to fame by the award over the years include Steve Coogan, Jenny Eclair, The League of Gentlemen, Dylan Moran, Al Murray and Tim Key.
A Best Newcomer Award was added in 1992, with former winners Lara Ricote, Sofie Hagen and Catherine Cohen at this year's fesatival.
A Panel Prize followed in 2006 for those who have made a particularly special contribution to the Fringe Festival - with former winner Mark Watson in Edinburgh this August.
Here are all the winners of the Main Prize you can see in Edinburgh this year.
5. John Kearns (Monkey Barrel)
The first performer to win both the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer and the Main Prize (in 2013 and 2014 respectively), John Kearns’ act defies explanation, but his recent hilarious appearance in Taskmaster has earned him an army of new fans. | Contributed
6. Jordan Brookes (Pleasance Courtyard)
Officially the longest-reigning Edinburgh Comedy Award winner of all time (he won in 2019 before the global pandemic led to a three year break before the prize was awarded again), Jordan Brookes is back in Edinburgh with a work in progress. Called 'Snakes For Cats to Watch', it was inspired by an online video designed to keep cats entertained. | Contributed
7. Bridget Christie (The Stand's New Town Theatre)
When Bridget Christie won the Edinburgh Comedy Award, with her show 'A Bic for Her', in 2013 she was playing the tiny Stand Comedy Club. This year she returns to play the venue's cavernous New Town Theatre with 'Who Am I?', described as "a menopause laugh-a-minute". | Contributed
8. David O'Docherty (Assembly George Square)
A hugely popular winner back in 2008, when 'Let's Comedy' beat Rhod Gilbert, Russell Kane and Kristin Schaal to the comedy crown, Irishman David O'Docherty is an Edinburgh regular. This year's show, entitled 'Tiny Piano Man', looks unlikely to stray far from his winning formula of wry humour and comic songs played on his trademark keyboard. | Contributed