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Comedy festivals

A wide range of festivals operate in the UK, many either dedicated to comedy or including it as a part of their programme.

Leicester Comedy Festival

Wednesday 5th February to Sunday 23rd February

One of the country's biggest comedy festivals.

UK Kids' Comedy Festival

Wednesday 5th February to Sunday 23rd February

A children's comedy festival which forms part of the Leicester Comedy Festival.

Bury St Edmunds Comedy Festival

Wednesday 5th February to Thursday 27th February

A comedy festival from the East Anglian town.

Fashion Loves Comedy Festival (London)

Friday 7th March to Monday 10th March

Comedians perform at fashion shows. The celebration of womanhood takes centre stage, turning the show into a jubilant fusion of fashion, comedy, and a commitment to the fantastic Choose Love charity.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Wednesday 12th March to Sunday 30th March

Many top names perform in Glasgow in March.

The Laugharne Weekend (South Wales)

Friday 28th March to Sunday 30th March

Arts festival, including comedy, held in Laugharne in South Wales.

Bath Comedy Festival

Monday 31st March to Monday 21st April

Bath Comedy Festival gets bigger each year.

Consett Comedy Festival (Durham)

Thursday 1st May to Sunday 4th May

A whole host of iconic names head to Consett for a weekend full of laughter.

Machynlleth Comedy Festival (Wales)

Friday 2nd May to Sunday 4th May

The 'secret festival' in Wales. A wide variety of acts perform over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

Brighton Fringe

Friday 2nd May to Sunday 1st June

Lots of shows, many of them work-in-progress gigs.

Stoke-on-Trent Comedy Festival

Friday 9th May to Saturday 17th May

A festival launched in 2024, first held at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

Shindig Festival (Somerset)

Thursday 22nd May to Sunday 25th May

A musical festival held at Dillington Estate.

Hay Festival (Wales)

Thursday 22nd May to Sunday 1st June

Located in Wales, with mainly literary based events. Comedians often read their books here.

HowTheLightGetsIn (Hay-on-Wye) (Hay-on-Wye)

Friday 23rd May to Monday 26th May

A four-day festival of philosophy and music, including a selection of great comic talent.

Wells Comedy Festival

Friday 23rd May to Sunday 25th May

Many of the best acts flock to this well-regarded Somerset-based festival.

Ram Comedy Festival (Derby)

Thursday 29th May to Sunday 8th June

Originally the Derby Comedy Festival, the last in-person event occured in 2019, it returned in 2025 as the Ram Comedy Festival.

Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham)

Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June

This Cheltenham-based festival's comedy offering is "a small but perfectly-formed line-up".

Rik Mayall Presents. Rik Mayall. Copyright: Granada Productions

Rik Mayall Comedy Festival (Droitwich)

Saturday 31st May to Saturday 7th June

A comedy festival in memory of comic Rik Mayall, held in his hometown.

Chichester Fringe

Saturday 31st May to Saturday 14th June

A new season of fringe events in Chichester.

Bark Dogstival. Copyright: Harry Smith Photography

Dogstival (Romsey, Hampshire)

Saturday 31st May to Sunday 1st June

A festival for dogs and dog lovers.

Pocklington Comedy Festival

Saturday 31st May

A one-day comedy festival held at Pocklington Arts Centre.

Wandsworth Arts Fringe

Friday 6th June to Sunday 22nd June

Wandsworth Council's flagship festival, Wandsworth Arts Fringe (WAF) is a 17-day long festival cover music, spoken word, theatre, comedy and dance happening all over the borough.

Download Festival (Donington)

Friday 13th June to Sunday 15th June

A rock and metal music festival held at Donington Park.

Glastonbury Festival

Wednesday 25th June to Sunday 29th June

Comedians can always be found at Glastonbury in the various comedy-related performance areas.

Watford Fringe

Tuesday 1st July to Thursday 31st July

"Supporting great talent to entertain local audiences".

York Comedy Festival

Sunday 6th July

A one-day festival in York Museum Gardens.

Buxton Festival Fringe

Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 27th July

One of the largest open-access arts festivals in the country, providing three weeks of "friendly, supportive and affordable" entertainment each July.

Henley Festival

Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 13th July

A posh festival that attracts a number of top comedy headliners.

2000trees Festival (Cheltenham)

Wednesday 9th July to Saturday 12th July

A rock festival, with a comedy tent.

ALSO Festival (Warwickshire)

Friday 11th July to Sunday 13th July

"The UKs most inspirational summer festival combining ideas, music and comedy alongside adventures in food, nature and wellness".

Comedy At The Castle (Warwick)

Friday 18th July to Saturday 19th July

A festival held at Warwick Castle.

Milton Keynes International Festival

Friday 18th July to Sunday 27th July

An outdoor theatre with large and small-scale performance, circus, stand-up comedy, live music, family activities and free events, held every two years.

Ventnor Fringe (Isle of Wight)

Friday 18th July to Sunday 27th July

Comedy on the Isle of Wight.

Standon Calling (Hertfordshire)

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

A festival of music, comedy and family-friendly entertainment.

Latitude (Suffolk)

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

Easily one of the best comedy line-ups in the country. This festival - featuring multiple areas for comedy - attracts both big name headliners and lesser known alternative acts.

Truck Festival (Oxfordshire)

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

A music festival held at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire.

Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)

Friday 25th July to Monday 28th July

An annual festival at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.

Tramlines (Sheffield)

Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July

A three-day festival in Sheffield, including music and comedy.

Camp Bestival (Dorset)

Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August

Based around Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this festival normally books a couple of big headline comedy acts.

Y Not Festival (Derbyshire)

Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August

'Y Not?' is a Peak District music festival which often has some great comedy names also performing.

Wilderness Festival (Oxfordshire)

Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August

Based in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, this festival has booked some big name comedians in previous years.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Friday 1st August to Monday 25th August

Thousands - literally thousands - of comedians appear at this festival each year. Check out BCG's comprehensive website.

Fringe By The Sea (North Berwick)

Friday 1st August to Sunday 10th August

A festival held in the Scottish seaside town of North Berwick in August.

Green Man (Brecon Beacons)

Thursday 14th August to Sunday 17th August

This festival takes place in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. It's popular with comedians and so a number appear at the festival each year.

Hardwick Festival (Sedgefield)

Friday 15th August to Sunday 17th August

A music festival, including some comedy performers, held at Hardwick Hall in County Durham since 2013.

Reading & Leeds Festivals

Wednesday 20th August to Sunday 24th August

The biggest music and comedy acts appear together at the same dual-location, 3-day festival event.

Lost Village (Lincolnshire)

Thursday 21st August to Sunday 24th August

Lost Village is an otherworldly 4-day festival experience set in an abandoned woodland village. The festival includes, food, music, workshops and comedy from both household and acclaimed but lesser-known acts.

Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)

Friday 22nd August to Sunday 24th August

Victorious Festival launched its first comedy tent in 2018.

End Of The Road (Dorset)

Thursday 28th August to Sunday 31st August

At Larmer Tree Gardens.

Aberdeen Comedy Festival

Monday 22nd September to Sunday 5th October

Originally the Aberdeen International Comedy Festival, it was usually a ten-day festival featuring national and international comedians, performing throughout the city centre. In 2021 the shows were spread over several months. In 2025, it was renamed the Aberdeen Comedy Festival.

Southport Comedy Festival

Friday 3rd October to Sunday 19th October

Featuring top acts, a Children's Comedy Festival, a competition for new comedians, and more.

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Friday 10th October to Sunday 19th October

A book festival held in the Montpellier Gardens.

Other festivals to look out for

The following festivals have yet to confirm their next dates.

Bristol Comedy Festival

Normally January

A fresh comedy festival for Bristol, running in January.

The Chortle Comedy Book Festival (London)

Normally January

Britain's only book festival entirely devoted to comedy.

The Big Burns Supper (Dumfries)

Normally January

Scotland's largest contemporary Burns celebration, marking Burns Night among other events.

Slapstick Festival (Bristol)

Normally January

An annual celebration of slapstick comedy.

Edinburgh International Improv Festival

Normally February

Scotland's first and only festival of improv.

Just For Laughs London

Normally March

A star-studded four-day comedy festival.

Underbelly Festival (Cavendish Square, London)

Normally April

A tented venue set up near the Southbank Centre in London, running through much of Spring and Summer.

Bath Fringe

Normally May

"People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound."

Salt And Tar Comedy Weekender (Bootle)

Normally May

A festival held in Bootle, Merseyside in a new events space.

The London LGBTQ+ Stand-Up Comedy Festival

Normally May

A comedy festival featuring LGBTQ+ performers.

Peckham Fringe

Normally May

Festival held at Theatre Peckham.

Reading Comedy Festival

Normally May

A series of shows in Reading.

Cheltenham Fringe Festival

Normally May

A new-for-2024 festival celebrating a wide variety of art, including music, theatre, film, drag, poetry, comedy, and more.

Blackpool Comedy Festival

Normally May

Comedy festival, partly held by Jason Manford's comedy club.

HowTheLightGetsIn (London) (London)

Normally May

Comedy from a range of great talent you might not yet have seen on television.

KITE Festival (Oxfordshire)

Normally June

A festival of ideas and talks, at Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire.

The Cambridge Club Festival

Normally June

Comedy at this festival, located at Childerley Orchard, can be found in the Auditorium of Intrigue tent.

Bristol Comedy Garden

Normally June

Queen Square, in the heart of Bristol, is transformed into a comedy wonderland in the Summer, complete with legendary line-ups in the Big Top and Apple Top venues.

Nevill Holt Festival

Normally June

A festival held at the 13th century Nevill Holt Estate in Leicestershire.

Crossed Wires: The Podcast Festival (Sheffield)

Normally June

A festival featuring a range of podcast recordings.

Exeter Comedy Festival

Normally June

A comedy festival held in Devon.

A Lovely Weekend (Manchester)

Normally June

A three-day comedy festival organised by production company A Lovely Time.

Petworth Fringe

Normally June

A season of events in Petworth, West Sussex.

Hastings Comedy Festival

Normally June

The Hastings Comedy Festival is an independent festival featuring a range of comedy stars.

South London Previews Festival (Streatham)

Normally July

A festival of Edinburgh Fringe preview shows held in Streatham.

Kaleidoscope (London)

Normally July

A one-day festival at the Alexandra Park and Palace in London.

Rewind Scotland (Perth)

Normally July

A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Scottish instalment, taking place in Perth.

Kings Heath Comedy Festival (Birmingham)

Normally July

A comedy festival from the area of Birmingham best known as the home of Joe Lycett.

Creatures Comedy Festival (Manchester)

Normally July

A festival held at the Creatures Comedy Club in Manchester.

Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival

Normally July

The Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has been running since 2017.

Oxford Festival Fringe Preview Comedy Festival

Oxford Comedy Festival

Normally July

A month-long comedy festival that normally happens in July. The organisers present some of the best comedians headed to Edinburgh and other large festivals.

Durham Fringe Festival

Normally July

A festival taking place across four venues in the north-east.

Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival

Normally July

Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival is a series of events featuring local artists, performers and groups, offering a host of events of all kinds across the arts, performing in a whole range of venues.

Bush Comedy Festival, The (Shepherd's Bush, London)

Normally July

A comedy festival taking place in Shepherd's Bush.

The Tringe (Hertfordshire)

Normally July

A series of Edinburgh Festival preview shows performed in the Hertfordshire market town of Tring.

Greater Manchester Fringe

Normally July

The Greater Manchester Fringe normally takes place across July.

Brighton Comedy Garden

Normally July

The first Brighton Comedy Garden planted its roots in June 2019.

Balham Comedy Festival

Normally July

Based at The Bedford in Balham, this festival always offer up one of the best line-ups of the summer.

Cambridge Comedy Garden

Normally July

The latest in the Comedy Garden series of festivals, this being beld in Parker's Piece.

Last Stop To Edinburgh Comedy Festival (Stockton)

Normally July

An Edinburgh Fringe preview festival at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees.

Bolton Comedy Festival

Normally July

A festival held in Bolton's Octagon Theatre.

London Clown Festival

Normally July

This festival explores what clown is to the modern performer and their audiences.

St Albans Comedy Garden

Normally July

Outdoor comedy gigs in Verulamium Park.

Folkestone Live

Normally July

A Fringe festival covering both comedy and theatre.

Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival (Leeds)

Normally July

The first large-scale, open-air comedy festival to happen in Leeds.

Newcastle Fringe Festival

Normally July

A Fringe festival held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Somerset Comedy Festival

Normally July

A festival taking place across the county, including Taunton, Bridgwater, Weston super Mare and Bridgwater.

Bluedot (Jodrell Bank)

Normally July

A music, science and comedy festival held at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire.

The Falmouth Cringe

Normally July

A comedy festival in Cornwall.

Ealing Comedy Festival

Normally July

The Ealing Comedy Festival takes place over several nights in July, in Walpole Park.

Normal For Norfolk Comedy Festival

Normally July

A comedy festival held in various towns across the county of Norfolk.

Guildford Fringe Festival

Normally July

Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford across July.

ARG Com Fest (Shoreditch, London)

Normally July

The Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival (aka ARGComFest) hosts lots of preview shows each July in Shoreditch, ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe.

GigGag Comedy Festival (London)

Normally July

GigGag partners with open mic nights in London to run this festival showcasing up-and-coming acts.

Bedford Festival Fringe

Normally July

Events take place at The Quarry Theatre and The Place Theatre in the Bedfordshire market town.

Ludlow Fringe Festival

Normally August

A bunch of comedy shows to enjoy in the Shropshire market town.

Camp Bestival (Shropshire)

Normally August

A second Camp Bestival, held at Weston Park.

Kendal Calling

Normally August

A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.

Rewind North (Macclesfield)

Normally August

A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Northern instalment, taking place in Macclesfield.

The Camden Fringe (London)

Normally August

Running for a month in North London, this festival involves lots of comedians playing across many different venues.

Rewind South (Henley-on-Thames)

Normally August

A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Southern instalment, taking place in Oxfordshire.

Byline Festival (East Sussex)

Normally August

Festival in the woodlands of Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, near the A22 in East Sussex.

Lambeth Fringe

Normally September

A 4 week Performing Arts Festival in South London. Formerly the Clapham Fringe.

London Podcast Festival

Normally September

A festival recording the best podcasts.

Greenwich Comedy Festival (London)

Normally September

One of London's biggest comedy festivals, with lots of well-known acts performing each year.

Laughterama (Manchester)

Normally September

A comedy festival held at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester.

Henley Literary Festival

Normally September

Comedians who have written a book are often booked to speak at this festival.

London Vegan Comedy Festival (& Performing Arts) (Kensington)

Normally September

A comedy festival featuring only vegan performers.

Last Train Home Festival (Darlington)

Normally September

A music and comedy festival in Darlington organsied by the Tracks music collective.

Maidstone Improv Festival

Normally September

A comedy festival featuring several improv comedy troupes based in South-East England.

Winchester Comedy Festival

Normally September

A series of shows from the Hampshire city, including the Theatre Royal.

Birmingham Comedy Festival

Normally October

Over 70 comedy performances take place across the city each October.

Leith Comedy Festival

Normally October

Leith Comedy Festival formerly launched in 2023. The tagline is: "Comedy for good. Laughter for all. A brand new comedy festival in Edinburgh."

Brighton Dome Comedy Festival

Normally October

A comedy festival held at the Brighton Dome.

Aberystwyth Comedy Festival

Normally October

A new-ish comedy festival from the team that organise Machynlleth.

Colchester Fringe Festival

Normally October

A four-day festival in Colchester.

Giggling Goat Festival of Comedy (Carmarthen)

Normally October

A Welsh comedy festival organised by the company Giggling Goat.

Birmingham Improv Festival

Normally October

Established in 2016, this is an annual week-long festival of improvisational comedy. Next festival planned for 2024.

Peckham Playground

Normally October

A new comedy festival held in the Peckham area of London.

Harrogate Comedy Festival

Normally October

A festival normally held at the Harrogate Theatre.

Leamington Spa Comedy Festival

Normally October

The Leamington Spa Comedy Festival takes place in October.

Cheerful Earful (London)

Normally October

A comedy podcast festival held in Ealing and Balham.

Women in Comedy Festival (Manchester)

Normally October

A Manchester-based festival featuring female acts.

Faversham Fringe (Kent)

Normally October

A fringe festival featuring all genres of the performing arts including stand-up, theatre, magic, storytelling, improv and hypnotism.

Tsitsit: The Jewish Fringe

Normally November

Described as "a new fringe festival with a broad Jewish flavour", it takes place in various cities across the country.

Nottingham Comedy Festival

Normally November

Nottingham Comedy Festival is an open access festival where acts of all levels and types of comedy are welcome to apply.

Newcastle Comedy Festival

Normally November

This festival ran in the 2000s. After a brief return in 2021 as the Newcastle Comedy Weekender, it returned in 2024.

Comedy festivals

Other festivals to look out for

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