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.
Nevill Holt Festival
Friday 30th May to Sunday 22nd June
A festival held at the 13th century Nevill Holt Estate in Leicestershire.
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.
London Clown Festival
Monday 16th June to Friday 4th July
This festival explores what clown is to the modern performer and their audiences.
Big Fat Fest (South Bank, London)
Friday 20th June to Sunday 22nd June
A London festival organised by the Big Belly Comedy Club.
Glastonbury Festival
Wednesday 25th June to Sunday 29th June
Comedians can always be found at Glastonbury in the various comedy-related performance areas.
PBH Free Fringe Weekender (Southwark, London)
Friday 27th June to Sunday 29th June
A comedy and variety showcase raising funds for the PBH Free Fringe, which takes part during the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Edin-Boro Comedy Festival (Middlesbrough)
Saturday 28th June
A one-day comedy festival held in Middlesbrough.
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.
Watford Fringe
Tuesday 1st July to Thursday 31st July
"Supporting great talent to entertain local audiences".
Oxford Comedy Festival
Tuesday 1st July to Thursday 31st 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.
Greater Manchester Fringe
Tuesday 1st July to Thursday 31st July
The Greater Manchester Fringe takes place across July each year.
Brighton Comedy Garden
Thursday 3rd July to Sunday 6th July
The first Brighton Comedy Garden planted its roots in June 2019.
Balham Comedy Festival
Friday 4th July to Saturday 12th July
Based at The Bedford in Balham, this festival always offer up one of the best line-ups of the summer.
Crossed Wires: The Podcast Festival (Sheffield)
Friday 4th July to Sunday 6th July
A festival featuring a range of podcast recordings.
Bolton Comedy Festival
Sunday 6th July to Sunday 20th July
A festival held in Bolton's Octagon Theatre.
Guildford Comedy Festival
Monday 7th July to Saturday 12th July
A festival run by Guildford Fringe Theatre Company.
Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival
Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 13th July
The Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has been running since 2017.
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 Festival (Cheltenham)
Wednesday 9th July to Saturday 12th July
A rock festival, with a comedy tent.
Henley Festival
Wednesday 9th July to Sunday 13th July
A posh festival that attracts a number of top comedy headliners.
The Idler Festival (Hampstead Heath)
Friday 11th July to Sunday 13th July
The Idler Festival is a weekend of philosophy and merriment, comedy, talks, music, workshops and salons in the bucolic surroundings of Fenton House and gardens near Hampstead Heath, organised by the people behind The Idler magazine.
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".
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.
Kaleidoscope (London)
Saturday 12th July
A one-day festival at the Alexandra Park and Palace in London.
Creatures Comedy Festival (Manchester)
Tuesday 15th July to Saturday 26th July
A festival held at the Creatures Comedy Club in Manchester.
Cambridge Comedy Garden
Thursday 17th July to Sunday 20th July
The latest from the Comedy Garden series of festivals, this being held in Parker's Piece.
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.
Newcastle Fringe Festival
Tuesday 22nd July to Saturday 2nd August
A Fringe festival held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Durham Fringe Festival
Wednesday 23rd July to Sunday 27th July
A festival taking place across four venues in the north-east.
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 (Hertfordshire)
Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July
A festival of music, comedy and family-friendly entertainment.
Truck Festival (Oxfordshire)
Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July
A music festival held at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire.
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.
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.
St Albans Comedy Garden
Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July
Outdoor comedy gigs in Verulamium Park.
Tramlines (Sheffield)
Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July
A three-day festival in Sheffield, including music and comedy.
Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)
Friday 25th July to Monday 28th July
An annual festival at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
Laughing Stock Comedy Festival (Seaton Carew, Teesside)
Sunday 27th July
A one-day comedy festival held in the Teesside seaside town of Seaton Carew.
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.
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.
Camp Bestival (Shropshire)
Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August
A second Camp Bestival, held at Weston Park.
Kendal Calling
Thursday 31st July to Sunday 3rd August
A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.
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.
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.
Ludlow Fringe Festival
Wednesday 13th August to Sunday 17th August
A bunch of comedy shows to enjoy in the Shropshire market town.
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.
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. In 2025, the comedy moved to be part of the main stage.
Moseley Folk Festival (Birmingham)
Friday 29th August to Sunday 31st August
Mainly a music festival, this event also features comic performances.
Laughterama (Manchester)
Thursday 4th September to Monday 8th September
A comedy festival held at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester.
Guildford Fringe Festival
Friday 5th September to Saturday 20th September
Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford when this festival is on.
Last Train Home Festival (Darlington)
Saturday 6th September
A music and comedy festival in Darlington organsied by the Tracks music collective.
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
Friday 19th September to Sunday 21st September
A comedy festival featuring several improv comedy troupes based in South-East England.
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
Monday 29th September to Friday 10th October
The Leamington Spa Comedy Festival takes place in October.
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.
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
Friday 3rd October to Sunday 5th October
A new-ish comedy festival from the team that organise Machynlleth.
Birmingham Comedy Festival
Friday 3rd October to Sunday 12th October
Over 70 comedy performances take place across the city each October.
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 Literature Festival
Friday 10th October to Sunday 19th October
A book festival held in the Montpellier Gardens.
Brighton Dome Comedy Festival
Friday 17th October to Sunday 26th October
A comedy festival held at the Brighton Dome.
Colchester Fringe Festival
Friday 24th October to Sunday 2nd November
A four-day festival in Colchester.
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.
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.
Leicester Comedy Festival
Wednesday 4th February to Sunday 22nd February 2026
One of the country's biggest comedy festivals.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Wednesday 11th March to Sunday 29th March 2026
Many top names perform in Glasgow in March.
Other festivals to look out for
The following festivals have yet to confirm their next dates.
The Big Burns Supper (Dumfries)
Normally January
Scotland's largest contemporary Burns celebration, marking Burns Night among other events.
Edinburgh International Improv Festival
Normally February
Scotland's first and only festival of improv.
Look For The Woman (Islington, London)
Normally March
A festival of female & femme clowning & comedy held during Women's History Month.
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.
The Laugharne Weekend (South Wales)
Normally March
Arts festival, including comedy, held in Laugharne in South Wales.
Bath Fringe
Normally May
"People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound."
Ram Comedy Festival (Derby)
Normally May
Originally the Derby Comedy Festival. It returned in 2025 as the Ram Comedy Festival.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival (Wales)
Normally May
The 'secret festival' in Wales. A wide variety of acts perform over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.
Hay Festival (Wales)
Normally May
Located in Wales, with mainly literary based events. Comedians often read their books here.
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.
Stoke-on-Trent Comedy Festival
Normally May
A festival launched in 2024, first held at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.
Wells Comedy Festival
Normally May
Many of the best acts flock to this well-regarded Somerset-based festival.
HowTheLightGetsIn (Hay-on-Wye)
Normally May
A four-day festival of philosophy and music, including a selection of great comic talent.
Salt And Tar Comedy Weekender (Bootle)
Normally May
A festival held in Bootle, Merseyside in a new events space.
Consett Comedy Festival (Durham)
Normally May
A whole host of iconic names head to Consett for a weekend full of laughter.
Cambridge Fringe Festival
Normally May
A "annual comedy extravaganza that captures the essence of artistic diversity, innovation, and expression".
The Greater Manchester Improv Festival (Salford)
Normally June
An improvisational comedy festival held in Salford.
KITE Festival (Oxfordshire)
Normally June
A festival of ideas and talks, at Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire.
Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham)
Normally June
This Cheltenham-based festival's comedy offering is "a small but perfectly-formed line-up".
Hastings Comedy Festival
Normally June
The Hastings Comedy Festival is an independent festival featuring a range of comedy stars.
A Lovely Weekend (Manchester)
Normally June
A three-day comedy festival organised by production company A Lovely Time.
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.
Rik Mayall Comedy Festival (Droitwich)
Normally June
A comedy festival in memory of comic Rik Mayall, held in his hometown.
Cheltenham Science Festival
Normally June
An annual science festival which sometimes features comedians as contributors.
Last Stop To Edinburgh Comedy Festival (Stockton)
Normally July
An Edinburgh Fringe preview festival at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees.
The Tringe (Hertfordshire)
Normally July
A series of Edinburgh Festival preview shows performed in the Hertfordshire market town of Tring.
Ealing Comedy Festival
Normally July
The Ealing Comedy Festival takes place over several nights in July, in Walpole Park.
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.
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.
Winchester Comedy Festival
Normally September
A series of shows from the Hampshire city, including the Theatre Royal.
Giggling Goat Festival of Comedy (Carmarthen)
Normally October
A Welsh comedy festival organised by the company Giggling Goat.
Women in Comedy Festival (Manchester)
Normally October
A Manchester-based festival featuring female acts.
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.