Billy T Award
Started in 1997 and inspired by comedy legend Billy T James, this award celebrates the growth of fresh talent in the New Zealand comedy industry. Each year it is awarded to an outstanding emerging performer with a commitment to their comedy career.
Up to five nominees are selected on their proven comedic ability, talent, current form and potential. The nominees go on to perform their one-hour solo shows in the Festival, where they are judged by a panel of industry experts. The Billy T Award winner is then announced at Last Laughs, our Festival finale show.
Past Winners and Nominees of the Billy T Award:
| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2021 | Brynley Stent |
James Mustapic |
| 2019 | Kura Forrester | Donna Brookbanks James Mustapic Ray Shipley Tom Sainsbury |
| 2018 | Melanie Bracewell | Alice Snedden Donna Brookbanks James Malcolm Two Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore) |
| 2017 | Angella Dravid | Paul Williams Li'i Alaimoana Ray O'Leary Patch Lambert |
| 2016 | David Correos | Alice Brine James Malcolm Laura Daniel Matt Stellingwerf |
| 2015 | Hamish Parkinson | Eli Matthewson Matt Stellingwerf Nic Sampson Tim Batt |
| 2014 | Guy Montgomery | Brendon Green Jamaine Ross Stephen Witt Tim Batt |
| 2013 | Rose Matafeo | Tom Furniss Eli Matthewson Pax Assadi Joseph Moore |
| 2012 | Guy Williams | Tom Furniss Rose Matafeo Tevita Manukia TJ McDonald |
| 2011 | Nick Gibb | Joseph Harper Urzila Carlson Nick Rado Cameron Murray |
| 2010 | Rhys Mathewson | Jarred Fell Clayton Carrick-Leslie Vaughan King TJ McDonald |
| 2009 | Chris Brain | Jim Brown James Keating Vaughan King Dave Wiggins |
| 2008 | Steve Wrigley | Simon McKinney Grant Lobban The Lonesome Buckwhips Jim Brown |
| 2007 | Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith) | Alex Hawley Jamie Bowen Grant Lobban |
| 2006 | Cori Gonzalez-Macuer | James Nokise Jerome Chandrahasen Cameron Blair Gish (Justin Hansen) |
| 2005 | Sam Wills | Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Darren Jardine James Nokise Jo Randerson |
| 2004 | Ben Hurley | Cohen Holloway Ezequiel Balmori Jamie Bowen Penny Ashton |
| 2003 | Justine Smith | Penny Ashton Sully O'Sullivan Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews) |
| 2002 | Dai Henwood | Rhys Darby Tarun Mohanbhai Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews) |
| 2001 | Jan Maree | Jeremy Elwood Rhys Darby Jon Stubbs Benjamin Crellin |
| 2000 | Mike Loder Paul Ego |
Jan Maree Irene Pink Benjamin Crellin |
| 1999 | Philip Patston The Humourbeasts (Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi) |
Paul Ego Irene Pink Jon Stubbs |
| 1998 | Brendhan Lovegrove Radar (Andrew Lumsden) Sugar and Spice (Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte) |
Philip Patston Jaq Tweedie |
| 1997 | Cal Wilson Ewen Gilmour |
Mike King Brendhan Lovegrove Radar Raybon Kan |
