List of Comedy Festivals
Here is a list of the main comedy festivals in the UK.
April
Underbelly Festival Southbank
Wednesday 1st April to Wednesday 30th September
A tented venue set up near the Southbank Centre in London, running through much of Spring and Summer.
Comedy Chest Fest
Saturday 18th April to Saturday 18th April
8 top comedians in Bristol for only £3.50 a show. Your chance to see them trying out new material for their upcoming tours and Edinburgh.
Appearing: Alex Kealy, Bobby Mair, Chris McCausland, Harriet Kemsley, Kae Kurd, Lucy Pearman, Shappi Khorsandi, Spencer Jones
Bristol Comedy Festival
Sunday 26th April to Sunday 26th April
A one-day event running across three venues in Bristol on Sunday 26th April, featuring 18 hours of Fringe comedy previews.
Appearing: Andrew White, Ben Pope, Bobby Mair, Burt Williamson, Catherine Bohart, Chelsea Birkby, Harriet Kemsley, Kai Samra, Katy Trev, Louise Leigh and others.
May
Manford's Blackpool Comedy Festival
Friday 1st May to Sunday 3rd May
The inaugural Manford's Blackpool Comedy Festival was held in May 2019. It'll return to the home of British comedy in May 2020 with an all-star line-up.
Hay Festival
Thursday 21st May to Sunday 31st May
Located in Wales, with mainly literary based events. Comedians often read their books here.
Bath Fringe
Friday 22nd May to Sunday 7th June
People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound.
HowTheLightGetsIn (Hay-on-Wye)
Friday 22nd May to Monday 25th May
A four-day festival of philosophy and music, including a selection of great comic talent.
Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham)
Friday 29th May to Sunday 31st May
This festival's comedy offering is a small but perfectly-formed line-up.
July
Bristol Comedy Garden
Wednesday 3rd June to Sunday 7th 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.
Appearing: Alan Davies, Bridget Christie, Carl Donnelly, Dara O Briain, David O'Doherty, Desiree Burch, Ed Gamble, Henning Wehn, Ian Smith, Isy Suttie and others.
June
Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival
Wednesday 10th June to Sunday 14th June
The Hastings Fringe is an independent, free festival featuring a range of comedy stars.
Petworth Fringe
Friday 12th June to Sunday 28th June
A season of events in Petworth, West Sussex. Notably, this fringe festival includes the biggest comedy prize in the country: £10,001.
Ludlow Fringe Festival
Saturday 20th June to Sunday 5th July
A bunch of comedy shows to enjoy in the Shropshire market town.
Glastonbury Festival
Wednesday 24th June to Sunday 28th June
Comedians can always be found at Glastonbury in the various comedy-related performance areas.
CH1 Chester Comedy Festival
Sunday 28th June to Thursday 9th July
First held in 2018, this comedy festival takes place each year in the historic North-Western city.
Oxford Comedy Festival
Monday 29th June to Monday 27th July
A month-long comedy festival happening throughout July. The organisers are presenting some of the best comedians headed to Edinburgh and other large festivals.
July
Buxton Festival Fringe
Wednesday 1st July to Sunday 19th July
One of the largest open-access arts festivals in the country.
Greater Manchester Fringe
Wednesday 1st July to Friday 31st July
The Greater Manchester Fringe takes place across July.
Appearing: Ben Moor, Hannah Platt, Joanna Neary, Robin Ince, Will Preston
June
Guildford Fringe Festival
Friday 3rd July to Sunday 26th July
Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford across July.
July
ARG Com Fest (London)
Saturday 4th July to Sunday 5th July
The Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival (aka ARGComFest) hosts lots of preview shows each July in Shoreditch, ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Cornbury Festival (Oxfordshire)
Friday 10th July to Sunday 12th July
This Oxfordshire festival features stand-up alongside various musical performances.
Last Stop To Edinburgh Comedy Festival (Stockton-on-Tees)
Saturday 11th July to Sunday 12th July
A two-day Edinburgh Fringe preview festival at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton, featuring big names, local acts and kids' shows.
Appearing: Bobby Mair, Catherine Young, Chris Lumb, Colin Hoult, Eddie French, Fran Garrity, Gary Jenninson, Jed Salisbury, Lee Kyle, Mike Wozniak and others.
Larmer Tree Festival (South)
Thursday 16th July to Sunday 19th July
A festival in Cranborne Chase, straddling Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.
Appearing: Josie Long, Mark Steel, Nish Kumar, Suzi Ruffell, Ahir Shah, Catherine Bohart, Charlie George, Colin Hoult, Elf Lyons, Gareth Richards and others.
Latitude (Suffolk)
Thursday 16th July to Sunday 19th 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.
Appearing: Bill Bailey, Jo Brand, Simon Amstell, Abigoliah Schamaun, Angela Barnes, Annie McGrath, David Morgan, Jayde Adams, Jenny Eclair, Kerry Godliman and others.
Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival
Thursday 16th July to Sunday 19th July
The Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has been running since 2017.
Appearing: Tom Stade
Rewind Scotland (Perth)
Friday 17th July to Sunday 19th July
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Scottish instalment, taking place in Perth.
Bedford Festival Fringe
Thursday 23rd July to Sunday 26th July
Events take place at The Quarry Theatre and The Place Theatre.
Standon Calling (Hertfordshire)
Thursday 23rd July to Sunday 26th July
A festival of music, comedy and family-friendly entertainment.
Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)
Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July
An annual festival at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
Y Not Festival (Derbyshire)
Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July
Y Not? is a Peak District music festival with some great comedy names also performing.
Kaleidoscope (London)
Saturday 25th July to Saturday 25th July
A one-day festival at the Alexandra Park and Palace in London.
Camp Bestival (Dorset)
Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd August
Based around Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this festival normally books a couple of big headline comedy acts.
Kendal Calling
Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd August
A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.
Appearing: Andre Vincent, Bill Bailey, Chris Betts, Daisy Earl, Danny McLoughlin, Darcie Silver, Elf Lyons, Gary Delaney, Jojo Sutherland, Jojo Sutherland and others.
August
Wilderness Festival (Oxfordshire)
Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd August
Based in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, this festival has booked some big name comedians in previous years.
July
Tramlines (Sheffield)
Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August
A three-day festival in Sheffield, including music and comedy.
August
Rewind North (Cheshire)
Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Northern instalment, taking place in Cheshire.
July
The Camden Fringe
Monday 3rd August to Sunday 30th August
Running for a month in North London, this festival involves lots of comedians playing across 25 different venues.
August
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Friday 7th August to Monday 31st August
Thousands - literally thousands - of comedians appear at this festival each year. Check out BCG's comprehensive coverage
Rewind South (Henley-on-Thames)
Friday 14th August to Sunday 16th August
A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Southern instalment, taking place in Oxfordshire.
Green Man (Brecon Beacons)
Thursday 20th August to Sunday 23rd 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.
Lost Village
Thursday 27th August to Sunday 30th 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.
Byline Festival (East Sussex)
Friday 28th August to Friday 28th August
Festival in the woodlands of Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, near the A22 in East Sussex.
Reading & Leeds Festivals
Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August
The biggest music and comedy acts appear together at the same dual-location, 2-day festival event.
Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)
Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August
Victorious Festival launched its first comedy tent in 2018.
September
Henley Literary Festival
Saturday 26th September to Sunday 4th October
Comedians who have written a book are often booked to speak at this festival.
October
Southport Comedy Festival
Thursday 1st October to Sunday 18th October
Featuring top acts, a Children's Comedy Festival, a competition for new comedians, and more.
Birmingham Comedy Festival
Friday 2nd October to Monday 12th October
Over 70 comedy performances take place across the city each October.
The Laugharne Weekend
Friday 2nd October to Sunday 4th October
Arts festival, including comedy, held in South Wales.
Appearing: Carys Eleri, Grace Petrie, Henry Normal, Keith Allen, Luke Wright, Martin Rowson, Nick Revell, Robin Ince, Susan Murray
Leamington Spa Comedy Festival
Saturday 3rd October to Saturday 10th October
The Leamington Spa Comedy Festival takes place in October.
Appearing: Tez Ilyas
Leith Comedy Festival
Friday 23rd October to Sunday 25th October
Leith Comedy Festival - launching in October 2020 - aims to celebrate and inspire creativity and wellbeing through laughter. It will be a platform for homegrown talent and will welcome performers from further afield.
Faversham Fringe (Kent)
Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November
A fringe festival featuring all genres of the performing arts including stand-up, theatre, magic, storytelling, improv and hypnotism. 2020 will mark the fifth year of Faversham Fringe.
November
Nottingham Comedy Festival
Friday 6th November to Saturday 14th November
Nottingham Comedy Festival is an open access festival where acts of all levels and types of comedy are welcome to apply.
Cancelled
Please be aware that the following festival(s) have been cancelled this year.
West Didsbury Comedy Festival (Manchester)
Cancelled
A new festival for 2020, due to take place in the Manchester suburb. The open-to-all long weekend will feature festival favourites, TV comedians, rising stars and local talent.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival
Cancelled
The 'secret festival' in Wales. A wide variety of acts perform over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.
Wells Comedy Festival
Cancelled
Many of the best acts flock to this well-regarded Somerset-based festival.
