British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
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Live Comedy

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.

Artwork by @inkterrorist

Look For The Woman (Islington, London)

Friday 7th March to Friday 28th March

A festival of female & femme clowning & comedy held during Women's History Month.

GICF - Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Wednesday 12th March to Sunday 30th March

Many top names perform in Glasgow in March.

The Laugharne Weekend

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

Bath Comedy Festival

Monday 31st March to Monday 21st April

Bath Comedy Festival gets bigger each year.

Consett Comedy Festival

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.

Brighton Fringe Festival

Brighton Fringe

Friday 2nd May to Sunday 1st June

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

Machynlleth Comedy Festival

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.

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.

Reading Comedy Festival

Reading Comedy Festival

Friday 16th May to Sunday 18th May

A series of shows in Reading.

Shindig Festival

Shindig Festival (Somerset)

Thursday 22nd May to Sunday 25th May

A musical festival held at Dillington Estate.

Hay Festival

Hay Festival (Wales)

Thursday 22nd May to Sunday 1st June

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

Wells Comedy Festival

Wells Comedy Festival

Friday 23rd May to Sunday 25th May

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

Salt And Tar Comedy Weekender (Bootle)

Friday 23rd May to Monday 26th May

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

HowTheLightGetsIn

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.

Bath Fringe

Bath Fringe

Friday 23rd May to Sunday 8th June

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

Blackpool Comedy Festival

Saturday 24th May to Sunday 1st June

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

Cambridge Fringe Festival

Cambridge Fringe Comedy Festival

Saturday 24th May to Sunday 25th May

A "annual comedy extravaganza that captures the essence of artistic diversity, innovation, and expression".

Durham Comedy Festival logo

Durham Comedy Festival

Monday 26th May

A one-day stand-up festival in the North-East.

Cheltenham Fringe Festival 2024

Cheltenham Fringe Festival

Monday 26th May to Sunday 1st June

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

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

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".

Nevill Holt Festival

Nevill Holt Festival

Friday 30th May to Sunday 22nd June

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

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.

Pocklington Arts Centre

Pocklington Comedy Festival

Saturday 31st May

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

Chichester Fringe

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.

Bristol Comedy Garden

Bristol Comedy Garden

Wednesday 4th June to Sunday 8th 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.

Exeter Comedy Festival

Thursday 5th June to Sunday 8th June

A comedy festival held in Devon.

A Lovely Weekend

A Lovely Weekend (Manchester)

Friday 6th June to Sunday 8th June

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

Wandsworth Arts Fringe

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.

Hastings Comedy Festival

Hastings Comedy Festival

Monday 9th June to Sunday 15th June

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

Download Festival

Download Festival (Donington)

Friday 13th June to Sunday 15th June

A rock and metal music festival held at Donington Park.

London Clown Festival

London Clown Festival

Monday 16th June to Friday 4th July

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

Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury Festival

Wednesday 25th June to Sunday 29th June

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

Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival

Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival

Saturday 28th June to Sunday 13th 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.

The Edin-Boro Comedy Festival (Middlesbrough)

Saturday 28th June

A one-day comedy festival held in Middlesbrough.

Watford Fringe Festival

Watford Fringe

Tuesday 1st July to Thursday 31st July

"Supporting great talent to entertain local audiences".

Brighton Comedy Garden

Brighton Comedy Garden

Thursday 3rd July to Sunday 6th July

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

Crossed Wires: The Podcast Festival (Sheffield)

Friday 4th July to Sunday 6th July

A festival featuring a range of podcast recordings.

York Comedy Festival

York Comedy Festival

Sunday 6th July

A one-day festival in York Museum Gardens.

Henley Festival

Henley Festival

Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 13th July

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

Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival

Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival

Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 13th July

The Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has been running since 2017.

Buxton Festival Fringe

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.

2000trees

2000trees Festival (Cheltenham)

Wednesday 9th July to Saturday 12th July

A rock festival, with a comedy tent.

Byline Festival

Byline Festival (East Sussex)

Friday 11th July to Sunday 13th July

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

Also festival

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".

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope (London)

Saturday 12th July

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

Cambridge Comedy Garden

Thursday 17th July to Sunday 20th July

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

Milton Keynes International Festival

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

Ventnor Fringe (Isle of Wight)

Friday 18th July to Sunday 27th July

Comedy on the Isle of Wight.

The stage at Comedy At The Castle, Warwick Castle, in 2023.

Comedy At The Castle (Warwick)

Friday 18th July to Saturday 19th July

A festival held at Warwick Castle.

Newcastle Fringe Festival

Newcastle Fringe Festival

Tuesday 22nd July to Saturday 2nd August

A Fringe festival held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Durham Fringe

Durham Fringe Festival

Wednesday 23rd July to Sunday 27th July

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

Bedford Festival Fringe

Bedford Festival Fringe

Wednesday 23rd July to Sunday 27th July

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

Standon Calling

Standon Calling (Hertfordshire)

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

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

Truck Festival

Truck Festival (Oxfordshire)

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

A music festival held at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire.

St Albans Comedy Garden

St Albans Comedy Garden

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

Outdoor comedy gigs in Verulamium Park.

Latitude Festival

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.

Kings Heath Comedy Festival (Birmingham)

Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

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

Deer Shed Festival

Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)

Friday 25th July to Monday 28th July

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

Tramlines Festival

Tramlines (Sheffield)

Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July

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

Camden Fringe

The Camden Fringe (London)

Monday 28th July to Sunday 24th August

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

Y Not Festival

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

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.

Kendal Calling

Kendal Calling

Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August

A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.

Camp Bestival

Camp Bestival (Shropshire)

Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August

A second Camp Bestival, held at Weston Park.

Camp Bestival

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.

Edinburgh Fringe

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

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 Festival

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

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

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

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

Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)

Friday 22nd August to Sunday 24th August

Victorious Festival launched its first comedy tent in 2018.

End Of The Road Festival

End Of The Road (Dorset)

Thursday 28th August to Sunday 31st August

At Larmer Tree Gardens.

Laughterama

Laughterama (Manchester)

Thursday 4th September to Monday 8th September

A comedy festival held at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester.

Guildford Fringe

Guildford Fringe Festival

Friday 5th September to Saturday 20th September

Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford across July.

Greenwich Comedy Festival

Greenwich Comedy Festival (London)

Wednesday 17th September to Sunday 21st September

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

Maidstone Improv Festival

Maidstone Improv Festival

Friday 19th September to Sunday 21st September

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

Aberdeen International Comedy Festival

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.

Lambeth Fringe

Thursday 25th September to Saturday 25th October

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

Leamington Spa Comedy Festival

Leamington Spa Comedy Festival

Monday 29th September to Friday 10th October

The Leamington Spa Comedy Festival takes place in October.

Faversham Fringe

Faversham Fringe (Kent)

Friday 3rd October to Friday 31st October

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

Aberystwyth Comedy Festival

Aberystwyth Comedy Festival

Friday 3rd October to Sunday 5th October

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

Birmingham Comedy Festival

Birmingham Comedy Festival

Friday 3rd October to Sunday 12th October

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

Southport 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.

Henley Literary Festival

Henley Literary Festival

Saturday 4th October to Sunday 12th October

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

Cheltenham Festivals

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Friday 10th October to Sunday 19th October

A book festival held in the Montpellier Gardens.

Colchester Fringe

Colchester Fringe Festival

Friday 24th October to Sunday 2nd November

A four-day festival in Colchester.

Newcastle Comedy Festival

Newcastle Comedy Festival

Friday 7th November to Saturday 15th November

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

Leicester Comedy Festival

Leicester Comedy Festival

Wednesday 4th February to Sunday 22nd February 2026

One of the country's biggest comedy festivals.

The UK Kids' Comedy Festival

UK Kids' Comedy Festival

Wednesday 4th February to Sunday 22nd February 2026

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

Other festivals to look out for

The following festivals have yet to confirm their next dates.

Big Burns Supper

The Big Burns Supper (Dumfries)

Normally January

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

The Bristol Comedy Festival

Bristol Comedy Festival

Normally January

A fresh comedy festival for Bristol, running in January.

Slapstick Festival

Slapstick Festival (Bristol)

Normally January

An annual celebration of slapstick comedy.

Bury St Edmunds Comedy Festival

Bury St Edmunds Comedy Festival

Normally February

A comedy festival from the East Anglian town.

Edinburgh International Improv Festival

Edinburgh International Improv Festival

Normally February

Scotland's first and only festival of improv.

Fashion Loves Comedy

Fashion Loves Comedy Festival (London)

Normally 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.

Underbelly 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.

Peckham Fringe

Normally May

Festival held at Theatre Peckham.

HowTheLightGetsIn

HowTheLightGetsIn (London) (London)

Normally May

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

Kite Festival

KITE Festival (Oxfordshire)

Normally June

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

Petworth Fringe

Petworth Fringe

Normally June

A season of events in Petworth, West Sussex.

Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Greater Manchester Fringe

Normally July

The Greater Manchester Fringe normally takes place across July.

Rewind Festival

Rewind Scotland (Perth)

Normally July

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

Normal For Norfolk

Normal For Norfolk Comedy Festival

Normally July

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

Somerset Comedy Festival

Normally July

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

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.

Tring Festival

The Tringe (Hertfordshire)

Normally July

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

Balham Comedy Festival

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.

Folkestone Live

Normally July

A Fringe festival covering both comedy and theatre.

Bolton Comedy Festival

Normally July

A festival held in Bolton's Octagon Theatre.

Last Stop To Edinburgh Comedy Festival

Last Stop To Edinburgh Comedy Festival (Stockton)

Normally July

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

South London Previews Festival (Streatham)

Normally July

A festival of Edinburgh Fringe preview shows held in Streatham.

Creatures Comedy Festival (Manchester)

Normally July

A festival held at the Creatures Comedy Club in Manchester.

Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival 2024

Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival (Leeds)

Normally July

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

The Falmouth Cringe

Normally July

A comedy festival in Cornwall.

Ealing Comedy Festival

Ealing Comedy Festival

Normally July

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

ARG Comedy Fest

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.

Bluedot

Bluedot (Jodrell Bank)

Normally July

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

GigGag Comedy Festival

GigGag Comedy Festival (London)

Normally July

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

Ludlow Fringe Festival

Ludlow Fringe Festival

Normally August

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

Rewind Festival

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.

Rewind Festival

Rewind North (Macclesfield)

Normally August

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

London Podcast Festival logo

London Podcast Festival

Normally September

A festival recording the best podcasts.

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

Normally September

A comedy festival featuring only vegan performers.

Last Train home Festival

Last Train Home Festival (Darlington)

Normally September

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

Winchester Comedy Festival

Winchester Comedy Festival

Normally September

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

Harrogate Comedy Festival

Harrogate Comedy Festival

Normally October

A festival normally held at the Harrogate Theatre.

Women In Comedy Festival

Women in Comedy Festival (Manchester)

Normally October

A Manchester-based festival featuring female acts.

Peckham Playground logo

Peckham Playground

Normally October

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

The Giggling Goat

Giggling Goat Festival of Comedy (Carmarthen)

Normally October

A Welsh comedy festival organised by the company Giggling Goat.

Cheerful Earful

Cheerful Earful (London)

Normally October

A comedy podcast festival held in Ealing and Balham.

Birmingham Improv Festival logo

Birmingham Improv Festival

Normally October

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

Brighton Dome

Brighton Dome Comedy Festival

Normally October

A comedy festival held at the Brighton Dome.

Leith Comedy Festival

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."

Tsitsit - The Jewish Fringe

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

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.

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