List of Comedy Festivals
Here is a list of the main comedy festivals in the UK.
Ongoing Festivals
Vault Festival (London)
Running until Sunday 17th March
Running across several months early in the year, Vault Festival is described as "London's answer to Edinburgh's Fringe".
Leicester Comedy Festival
Running until Sunday 24th February
One of the country's biggest comedy festivals. See their website for the latest news.
February
Eastern European Comedy Festival (London)
This year's festival has now finished.
The first Eastern European Comedy Festival ran for 5 days at the end of February 2018, in London.
Edinburgh International Improv Festival
This year's festival has now finished.
Scotland's first and only festival of improv. Acts include Abdandoman and the Spontaneous Players.
Slapstick Festival
This year's festival has now finished.
The 2019 festival will take place in February, but the Gala takes place on the 10th February. Details
March
Chipping Norton Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in March
In Oxfordshire, the 'Gateway to the Cotswolds', Chipping Norton, has its own two-day festival. It is expected to return in Spring 2019.
Big Mouth Comedy Festival (Portsmouth)
Friday 1st March to Friday 8th March
A comedy festival at the Guildhall venue, running in 2019 over 2 consecutive weekends.
Ellesmere Port Comedy Festival
Friday 8th March to Saturday 9th March
2019 is the inaugural year of the Ellesmere Port Comedy Festival, held at the town's Civic Hall with a packed line-up.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Thursday 14th March to Sunday 31st March
Many top names perform in Glasgow in March.
April
April Fools Barnsley Comedy Fest
Normally takes place in April
As its name suggests, this festival takes place in April.
Balham Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in April
Based at The Bedford in Balham, this festival attracts a number of great names. Usually held in July, 2018's festival was a 'pint-sized' April event ahead of the venue's Summer refurbishment.
Bath Comedy Festival
Tuesday 26th March to Sunday 14th April
Bath Comedy Festival gets bigger each year.
Underbelly Festival Southbank
Friday 5th April to Sunday 29th September
A tented venue set up near the Southbank Centre in London, running through much of Spring and Summer.
May
London Clown Festival
Normally takes place in May
This festival explores what clown is to the modern performer and their audiences.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival
Friday 3rd May to Sunday 5th May
The 'secret festival' in Wales. A wide variety of acts perform over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.
Manford's Blackpool Comedy Festival
Friday 10th May to Sunday 12th May
The inaugural Manford's Blackpool Comedy Festival will feature acts including Jason Manford, Josh Bishop, Sean Lock and Milton Jones.
Wells Comedy Festival
Friday 24th May to Sunday 26th May
Many of the best acts flock to this well-regarded Somerset-based festival.
HowTheLightGetsIn Festival (Hay-on-Wye)
Friday 24th May to Monday 27th May
A five-day festival of philosophy and music, including a selection of great comic talent.
Hay Festival
Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 2nd June
Located in Wales, with mainly literary based events. Comedians often read their books here.
Bath Fringe
Friday 24th May to Sunday 9th June
People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound.
June
Big Egg Comedy Festival (York)
Normally takes place in June
A set of previews organised by York's Burning Duck Comedy Club.
Bristol Comedy Garden
Normally takes place in June
Queen Square, in the heart of Bristol, is transformed into a comedy wonderland in June complete with legendary line-ups in the Big Top and Apple Top venues.
Craft Of Comedy UK Fringe (Llandudno)
Normally takes place in June
A series of Fringe shows running alongside the Craft Of Comedy conference.
Croydon Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in June
The annual Croydon Comedy Festival runs during the summer.
Festival41 (Manchester)
Normally takes place in June
A festival at Abbotsfield Park in Manchester that aims to include everyone; regardless of ability, age and background. The 2018 festival was cancelled but the team hope to return.
Oxford Festival Fringe Preview Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in June
26 different Edinburgh preview shows were held over 35 days at The Jam Factory venue in 2018, and this year the organisers promise to return.
Lichfield Comedy Festival
Thursday 2nd May to Sunday 5th May
A full day of entertainment and comedy for all the family in Beacon Park.
Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham)
Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June
This festival's comedy offering is a small but perfectly-formed line-up.
Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival
Wednesday 12th June to Sunday 16th June
The Hastings Fringe returns in 2019.
Glastonbury Festival
Wednesday 26th June to Sunday 30th June
Comedians can always be found at Glastonbury in the various comedy-related performance areas. The festival will be back in June 2019.
Ludlow Fringe Festival
Saturday 15th June to Sunday 30th June
A bunch of comedy shows to enjoy in the Shropshire market town.
Petworth Fringe
Wednesday 26th June to Sunday 7th July
A season of events in Petworth, West Sussex. Notably, this fringe festival includes the biggest comedy prize in the country: £10,001.
The Tringe (Tring)
Monday 1st July to Tuesday 30th July
A series of Edinburgh Festival preview shows performed in the Hertfordshire market town of Tring.
July
ARG Com Fest (London)
Normally takes place in July
The Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival (aka ARGComFest) hosts lots of preview shows each July in Shoreditch, ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Bedford Festival Fringe
Normally takes place in July
A line-up of more than 50 shows at one venue, over just 5 days.
Cambridge Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in July
A festival in Cambridge, which has been occurring for more than a decade.
Darlington Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in July
The Darlington Comedy Festival usually runs from early July for a month.
Deli Comedy Festival (London)
Normally takes place in July
A month of shows at Theatre Deli's London venues.
Ealing Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in July
The Ealing Comedy Festival takes place over several nights in July, in Walpole Park.
Ha-Ha-Hartlepool Festival Of Laughs
Normally takes place in July
Comedy previews hosted in One77, right in the heart of Hartlepool. Dubbed "a prequel to Edinburgh, but cheaper".
Jesterval (North East)
Normally takes place in July
A comedy festival in the North East, Jesterval continues to feature some of the most exciting and finest comedians working in the UK today.
Kaleidoscope (London)
Normally takes place in July
A one-day festival at the Alexandra Park and Palace in London.
Laugh Out London Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in July
A bunch of comedy shows based at The Old Queens Head in Angel.
Leave 'Em Laughing (London)
Normally takes place in July
Based at Stanley Halls in South Norwood, this festival features 50 shows over two nights and one day. "A mini Edinburgh Festival without the 8 hour journey!"
Milton Keynes International Festival
Normally takes place in July
10 days of new outdoor theatre, large and small-scale performance, circus, stand-up comedy, live music, family activities and free events.
South Tyneside Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in July
The aim of this festival is to put incredible comics on, doing their festival shows, at affordable prices.
ZEAL: The Pride Improv Festival (London)
Normally takes place in July
A series of shows linked to London's Pride festival. Located at The Cavendish Arms over three nights, the festival line-up includes acts from London to The Netherlands and features everything from comedy to drama and musicals to drag acts.
Cornbury Festival (Oxfordshire)
Friday 5th July to Sunday 7th July
This Oxfordshire festival features stand-up alongside various musical performances.
Henley Festival
Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July
A posh festival that attracts a number of top comedy headliners.
Curious Arts Festival (Hampshire)
Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July
An arts festival in the heart of rural Hampshire.
Larmer Tree Festival (South)
Thursday 18th July to Sunday 21st July
A festival in Cranborne Chase, straddling Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.
Latitude (Suffolk)
Thursday 18th July to Sunday 21st 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.
Rewind Scotland (Perth)
Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Scottish instalment, taking place in Perth.
Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival
Thursday 18th July to Sunday 21st July
The Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has been running since 2017.
Tramlines (Sheffield)
Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July
A three-day festival in Sheffield, including music and comedy.
Buxton Festival Fringe
Wednesday 3rd July to Wednesday 24th July
One of the largest open-access arts festivals in the country.
Camp Bestival (Dorset)
Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July
Based around Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this festival normally books a couple of big headline comedy acts.
Guildford Fringe Festival
Friday 28th June to Sunday 28th July
Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford across July.
Kendal Calling
Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July
A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.
Port Eliot Festival
Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July
Based in St Germans, Cornwall, one of the venues features a number of comedy bookings.
Standon Calling (Hertfordshire)
Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July
A festival of music, comedy and family-friendly entertainment. 2019's comedy line-up includes Russell Kane, Angela Barnes and Abandoman.
The Great Yorkshire Fringe
Thursday 18th July to Sunday 28th July
A festival that takes place in the centre of York.
Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)
Friday 26th July to Monday 29th July
An annual festival at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
Greater Manchester Fringe
Monday 1st July to Wednesday 31st July
The Greater Manchester Fringe takes place across July.
August
Cornwall Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in August
Also known as Stand Up In The Wylds. Located near Bude in North Cornwall.
Make More (London)
Normally takes place in August
A festival for "makers and doers" in Victoria Park, London.
Rewind North (Cheshire)
Friday 2nd August to Sunday 4th August
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Northern instalment, taking place in Cheshire.
Wilderness Festival (Oxfordshire)
Thursday 1st August to Sunday 4th August
Based in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, this festival has booked some big name comedians in previous years.
Green Man (Brecon Beacons)
Thursday 15th August to Sunday 18th 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.
Rewind South (Henley-on-Thames)
Friday 16th August to Sunday 18th August
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Southern instalment, taking place in Oxfordshire.
Reading & Leeds Festivals
Friday 23rd August to Sunday 25th August
The biggest music and comedy acts appear together at the same dual-location, 2-day festival event.
The Camden Fringe
Monday 29th July to Sunday 25th August
Running for a month in North London, this festival involves lots of comedians playing across 25 different venues.
Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)
Friday 23rd August to Sunday 25th August
Victorious Festival launched its first comedy tent in 2018.
Byline Festival (East Sussex)
Friday 23rd August to Monday 26th August
Festival in the woodlands of Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, near the A22 in East Sussex.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Friday 2nd August to Monday 26th August
Thousands - literally thousands - of comedians appear at this festival each year. Check out BCG's comprehensive coverage
September
Cheltenham Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in September
A bunch of comedy shows for Cheltenham in September. The festival takes place at various venues throughout Cheltenham including The Town Hall, Parabola Arts Centre, Beehive Pub and The Strand.
Festival Number 6 (North Wales)
Normally takes place in September
A classy festival in Portmeirion, North Wales. See their website for line-up news. 2018 will be the festival's last year for the foreseeable future.
Greenwich Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in September
One of London's biggest comedy festivals, with lots of well-known acts performing each year.
HighTide
Normally takes place in September
A festival organised by HighTide Theatre that took place in Suffolk's Aldeburgh and London's Walthamstow.
HowTheLightGetsIn Festival (London)
Normally takes place in September
Comedy from a range of great talent you might not yet have seen on television.
Objectively Funny Festival (London)
Normally takes place in September
A festival in central London (The Albany on Great Portland Street). 2018's line-up comprises 42 shows over 10 days.
Liverpool Comedy Festival
Friday 13th September to Sunday 29th September
A range of shows across Liverpool city centre and Merseyside.
October
Birmingham Improv Festival
Normally takes place in October
Established in 2016, this is an annual week-long festival of improvisational comedy.
Comedy Central Live
Normally takes place in October
A new festival from the TV network, the inaugural event took place in Southampton in early October 2018.
Halifax Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in October
Sara Pascoe, Richard Herring and Lee Nelson appeared at the 2017 festival.
Leamington Spa Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in October
The Leamington Spa Comedy Festival takes place in October.
Manchester Podcast Festival
Normally takes place in October
Live recordings of the best podcasts from the UK, in a variety of venues in the city. Russell Kane, Sofie Hagen and Richard Herring are involved in this first year.
Storyhouse Comedy Weekend (Chester)
Normally takes place in October
A weekend of comedy in one venue, first held in October 2018.
Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in October
A new comedy festival from the team that organise Machynlleth.
Henley Literary Festival
Saturday 28th September to Sunday 6th October
Comedians who have written a book are often booked to speak at this festival.
Aberdeen International Comedy Festival
Thursday 3rd October to Sunday 13th October
The ten-day festival will feature national and international comedians, who will perform throughout the city centre. The headliners are Hal Cruttenden, Craig Hill and John Finnemore.
Birmingham Comedy Festival
Friday 4th October to Sunday 13th October
Over 70 comedy performances take place across the city each October.
Southport Comedy Festival
Thursday 3rd October to Sunday 20th October
Featuring top acts, a Children's Comedy Festival, a competition for new comedians, and more.
Funny Things (Wolverhampton)
Saturday 26th October to Saturday 2nd November
Wolverhampton's comedy festival. The 2017 event featured over 120 events across 16 venues, celebrating Black Country humour.
November
Knebworth Winter Festival
Normally takes place in November
Comedy from a range of great stand-ups, and more.
Nottingham Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in November
Nottingham Comedy Festival is an open access festival where acts of all levels and types of comedy are welcome to apply.
Hull Comedy Festival
Friday 1st November to Thursday 14th November
Fun across various venues in the centre of Hull. Exact 2019 dates TBC.
December
UK Jewish Comedy Festival (London)
Normally takes place in December
JW3's Jewish Comedy Festival, in West Hampstead (London), features a mix of performances, workshops and events.
January 2020
Vault Festival (London)
This festival normally takes place in January
Running across several months early in the year, Vault Festival is described as "London's answer to Edinburgh's Fringe".