Aaron Chen Named Variety's 10 Comics to Watch
The Australian comedian makes Variety's 2026 list, with a New York Comedy Festival showcase scheduled next week.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Variety
Variety has named Aaron Chen among its 10 Comics to Watch for 2026. Chen is scheduled to perform a live showcase at the New York Comedy Festival next week.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights Chen's rise from Australian standup circuits to a broader US audience following his Netflix work. Variety's list is a closely watched signal for emerging comedians entering the US market.
Chen won a Logie in 2025 for his role as George in the Netflix series Fisk, and his Netflix special Funny Garden is about adjusting to life in the US. The source does not provide viewership or ticket-sales figures for either project.
The players
Aaron Chen
Australian comedian and actor known for his standup and his role as George in the Netflix series Fisk.
Ali Wong
American comedian and actress who wrote the endorsement praising Chen's comedy for Variety's list.
The details
Variety's list, titled '10 Comics to Watch for 2026', includes an endorsement from Ali Wong praising Chen's comedy. Chen won the Melbourne Comedy Festival standup competition for high school students at age 15 and starred in Fisk before relocating to New York.
Timeline
Late 2023: Chen moves to New York.
2025: Chen wins a Logie for Fisk.
2026: Chen named to Variety's 10 Comics to Watch list.
Next week: Live showcase at the New York Comedy Festival.
Next year: Fisk returns for its third series, with Chen expected in the cast.
Industry Dynamics
Variety's annual list of emerging comics serves as an industry signal for which performers are moving from regional circuits into the American streaming and live-comedy market. Chen's inclusion follows his crossover from Australian television into US standup, a path increasingly common as platforms like Netflix commission international talent.
Readers can catch Chen's live work at the New York Comedy Festival next week, and his Netflix special Funny Garden is available on the platform. Viewers who follow Fisk can expect his return when the third series premieres next year.
The takeaway
Emerging comics often build their US audience through streaming work and live showcases, so following these platforms is the most direct way to track performers like Chen as their careers develop.
What happens next
Chen is scheduled to perform a live showcase at the New York Comedy Festival next week, and Fisk returns for its third series next year.
Further reading
For more on industry lists and recognition, browse the Variety section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Thenewdaily.
