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.
Consett Comedy Festival (Durham)
Thursday 2nd May to Sunday 5th May
A whole host of iconic names head to Consett for a weekend full of laughter.
Brighton Fringe
Friday 3rd May to Sunday 2nd June
Lots of shows, many of them work-in-progress gigs.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival (Wales)
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.
Stoke-on-Trent Comedy Festival
Friday 10th May to Saturday 11th May
A festival launched in 2024, first held at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.
Cheltenham Fringe Festival
Monday 20th May to Sunday 26th May
A new-for-2024 festival celebrating a wide variety of art, including music, theatre, film, drag, poetry, comedy, and more.
Shindig Festival (Somerset)
Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 26th May
A musical festival held at Dillington Estate.
Salt And Tar Comedy Weekender (Bootle)
Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 26th May
A festival held in Bootle, Merseyside in a new events space.
Hay Festival (Wales)
Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 2nd June
Located in Wales, with mainly literary based events. Comedians often read their books here.
Comedy At The Castle (Warwick)
Friday 24th May to Sunday 26th May
A festival held at Warwick Castle.
HowTheLightGetsIn (Hay-on-Wye) (Hay-on-Wye)
Friday 24th May to Monday 27th May
A four-day festival of philosophy and music, including a selection of great comic talent.
Bath Fringe
Friday 24th May to Sunday 9th June
"People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound."
Wells Comedy Festival
Friday 24th May to Sunday 26th May
Many of the best acts flock to this well-regarded Somerset-based festival.
Cambridge Fringe Comedy Festival
Saturday 25th May to Sunday 26th May
A "annual comedy extravaganza that captures the essence of artistic diversity, innovation, and expression".
Chichester Fringe
Friday 31st May to Saturday 15th June
A new season of fringe events in Chichester.
Crossed Wires: The Podcast Festival (Sheffield)
Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June
A festival featuring a range of podcast recordings.
Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham)
Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June
This Cheltenham-based festival's comedy offering is "a small but perfectly-formed line-up".
Nevill Holt Festival
Saturday 1st June to Wednesday 26th June
A festival held at the 13th century Nevill Holt Estate in Leicestershire.
Dogstival (Romsey, Hampshire)
Saturday 1st June to Sunday 2nd June
A festival for dogs and dog lovers.
The Cambridge Club Festival
Friday 7th June to Sunday 9th June
Comedy at this festival, located at Childerley Orchard, can be found in the Auditorium of Intrigue tent.
KITE Festival (Oxfordshire)
Friday 7th June to Sunday 9th June
A festival of ideas and talks, at Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire.
Wandsworth Arts Fringe
Friday 7th June to Sunday 23rd 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
Wednesday 12th June to Sunday 16th June
The Hastings Comedy Festival is an independent festival featuring a range of comedy stars.
Bristol Comedy Garden
Wednesday 12th June to Sunday 16th 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.
Ludlow Fringe Festival
Thursday 13th June to Sunday 23rd June
A bunch of comedy shows to enjoy in the Shropshire market town.
Download Festival (Donington)
Friday 14th June to Sunday 16th June
A rock and metal music festival held at Donington Park.
Glastonbury Festival
Wednesday 26th June to Sunday 30th June
Comedians can always be found at Glastonbury in the various comedy-related performance areas.
Oxford Comedy Festival
Friday 28th June to Sunday 28th 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.
Guildford Fringe Festival
Saturday 29th June to Saturday 20th July
Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford across July.
Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival
Saturday 29th June to Sunday 14th 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 Tringe (Hertfordshire)
Sunday 30th June to Saturday 20th July
A series of Edinburgh Festival preview shows performed in the Hertfordshire market town of Tring.
Watford Fringe
Monday 1st July to Sunday 4th August
"Supporting great talent to entertain local audiences".
Greater Manchester Fringe
Monday 1st July to Wednesday 31st July
The Greater Manchester Fringe normally takes place across July.
Brighton Comedy Garden
Wednesday 3rd July to Sunday 7th July
The first Brighton Comedy Garden planted its roots in June 2019.
Buxton Festival Fringe
Wednesday 3rd July to Sunday 21st July
One of the largest open-access arts festivals in the country, providing three weeks of "friendly, supportive and affordable" entertainment each July.
ARG Com Fest (Shoreditch, London)
Friday 5th July to Sunday 7th July
The Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival (aka ARGComFest) hosts lots of preview shows each July in Shoreditch, ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Byline Festival (East Sussex)
Friday 5th July to Sunday 7th July
Festival in the woodlands of Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, near the A22 in East Sussex.
Ealing Comedy Festival
Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 4th August
The Ealing Comedy Festival takes place over several nights in July, in Walpole Park.
Henley Festival
Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July
A posh festival that attracts a number of top comedy headliners.
2000trees Festival (Cheltenham)
Thursday 11th July to Sunday 14th July
A rock festival, with a comedy tent.
Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival
Thursday 11th July to Sunday 14th July
The Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has been running since 2017.
Manford's Blackpool Comedy Festival
Friday 12th July to Saturday 13th April
Comedy festivals held by Jason Manford's comedy club.
ALSO Festival (Warwickshire)
Friday 12th July to Sunday 14th July
"The UKs most inspirational summer festival combining ideas, music and comedy alongside adventures in food, nature and wellness".
Kaleidoscope (London)
Saturday 13th July
A one-day festival at the Alexandra Park and Palace in London.
Newcastle Fringe Festival
Tuesday 16th July to Saturday 27th July
A Fringe festival held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Cambridge Comedy Garden
Wednesday 17th July to Sunday 21st July
The latest in the Comedy Garden series of festivals, this being beld in Parker's Piece.
Bedford Festival Fringe
Thursday 18th July to Sunday 28th July
Events take place at The Quarry Theatre and The Place Theatre in the Bedfordshire market town.
Last Stop To Edinburgh Comedy Festival (Stockton)
Friday 19th July
An Edinburgh Fringe preview festival at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees.
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.
Giggling Goat Festival of Comedy (Carmarthen)
Sunday 21st July
A Welsh comedy festival organised by the company Giggling Goat.
Durham Fringe Festival
Wednesday 24th July to Sunday 28th July
A festival taking place across four venues in the north-east.
St Albans Comedy Garden
Wednesday 24th July to Sunday 28th July
Outdoor comedy gigs in Verulamium Park.
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.
Bluedot (Jodrell Bank)
Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July
A music, science and comedy festival held at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire.
Latitude (Suffolk)
Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th 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.
Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)
Friday 26th July to Monday 29th July
An annual festival at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
Truck Festival (Oxfordshire)
Friday 26th July to Sunday 28th July
A music festival held at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire.
Tramlines (Sheffield)
Friday 26th July to Sunday 28th July
A three-day festival in Sheffield, including music and comedy.
Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival (Leeds)
Sunday 28th July
The first large-scale, open-air comedy festival to happen in Leeds.
The Camden Fringe (London)
Monday 29th July to Sunday 25th August
Running for a month in North London, this festival involves lots of comedians playing across many different venues.
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.
Kendal Calling
Thursday 1st August to Sunday 4th August
A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.
Fringe By The Sea (North Berwick)
Friday 2nd August to Sunday 11th August
A festival held in the Scottish seaside town of North Berwick in August.
Y Not Festival (Derbyshire)
Friday 2nd August to Sunday 4th August
'Y Not?' is a Peak District music festival which often has some great comedy names also performing.
Rewind North (Macclesfield)
Friday 2nd August to Sunday 4th August
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Northern instalment, taking place in Macclesfield.
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 website.
Camp Bestival (Shropshire)
Thursday 15th August to Sunday 18th August
A second Camp Bestival, held at Weston Park.
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.
Hardwick Festival (Sedgefield)
Friday 16th August to Sunday 18th August
A music festival, including some comedy performers, held at Hardwick Hall in County Durham since 2013.
Reading & Leeds Festivals
Wednesday 21st August to Sunday 25th August
The biggest music and comedy acts appear together at the same dual-location, 3-day festival event.
Lost Village (Lincolnshire)
Thursday 22nd August to Sunday 25th 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 23rd August to Sunday 25th August
Victorious Festival launched its first comedy tent in 2018.
London Podcast Festival
Thursday 5th September to Sunday 15th September
A festival recording the best podcasts.
Greenwich Comedy Festival (London)
Wednesday 11th September to Sunday 15th September
One of London's biggest comedy festivals, with lots of well-known acts performing each year.
HowTheLightGetsIn (London) (London)
Saturday 21st September to Sunday 22nd September
Comedy from a range of great talent you might not yet have seen on television.
Winchester Comedy Festival
Thursday 26th September to Sunday 29th September
A series of shows from the Hampshire city, including the Theatre Royal.
Southport Comedy Festival
Friday 27th September to Sunday 13th October
Featuring top acts, a Children's Comedy Festival, a competition for new comedians, and more.
Leamington Spa Comedy Festival
Friday 27th September to Saturday 5th October
The Leamington Spa Comedy Festival takes place in October.
Women in Comedy Festival (Manchester)
Thursday 3rd October to Sunday 13th October
A Manchester-based festival featuring female acts.
Faversham Fringe (Kent)
Thursday 3rd October to Thursday 31st October
A fringe festival featuring all genres of the performing arts including stand-up, theatre, magic, storytelling, improv and hypnotism.
Leith Comedy Festival
Friday 4th October to Sunday 6th October
Leith Comedy Festival formerly launched in 2023. The tagline is: "Comedy for good. Laughter for all. A brand new comedy festival in Edinburgh."
Cheltenham Literature Festival
Friday 4th October to Sunday 13th October
A book festival held in the Montpellier Gardens.
Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Friday 4th October to Sunday 6th October
A new-ish comedy festival from the team that organise Machynlleth.
Birmingham Comedy Festival
Friday 4th October to Sunday 13th October
Over 70 comedy performances take place across the city each October.
Birmingham Improv Festival
Wednesday 9th October to Sunday 13th October
Established in 2016, this is an annual week-long festival of improvisational comedy. Next festival planned for 2024.
Brighton Dome Comedy Festival
Thursday 24th October to Sunday 27th October
A comedy festival held at the Brighton Dome.
Colchester Fringe Festival
Friday 25th October to Sunday 3rd November
A four-day festival in Colchester.
Nottingham Comedy Festival
Friday 1st November to Sunday 10th 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
Friday 8th November to Friday 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 5th February to Sunday 23rd February 2025
A children's comedy festival which forms part of the Leicester Comedy Festival.
Leicester Comedy Festival
Wednesday 5th February to Sunday 23rd February 2025
One of the country's biggest comedy festivals.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Wednesday 12th March to Sunday 30th March 2025
Many top names perform in Glasgow in March.
Milton Keynes International Festival
Friday 18th July to Sunday 27th July 2025
An outdoor theatre with large and small-scale performance, circus, stand-up comedy, live music, family activities and free events, held every two years.
Standon Calling (Hertfordshire)
Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July 2025
A festival of music, comedy and family-friendly entertainment.
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.
The Chortle Comedy Book Festival (London)
Normally January
Britain's only book festival entirely devoted to comedy.
Edinburgh International Improv Festival
Normally February
Scotland's first and only festival of improv.
The Laugharne Weekend (South Wales)
Normally March
Arts festival, including comedy, held in Laugharne in South Wales.
Fashion Loves Comedy Festival (London)
Normally March
With its roots in International Women's Day, this festival sees comedians demonstrating their modelling prowess on the runway and performing a short set.
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.
The London LGBTQ+ Stand-Up Comedy Festival
Normally May
A comedy festival featuring LGBTQ+ performers.
London Clown Festival
Normally June
This festival explores what clown is to the modern performer and their audiences.
Henley Literary Festival
Normally September
Comedians who have written a book are often booked to speak at this festival.
Last Train Home Festival (Darlington)
Normally September
A music and comedy festival in Darlington organsied by the Tracks music collective.
London Vegan Comedy Festival (& Performing Arts) (Kensington)
Normally September
A comedy festival featuring only vegan performers.
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.