List of Comedy Festivals
Here is a list of the main comedy festivals in the UK.
Ongoing Festivals
Udderbelly Festival (London)
Running until Sunday 30th September
A tented venue set up near the Southbank Centre in London, running through much of Spring and Summer.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Running until Monday 27th August
Thousands - literally thousands - of comedians appear at this festival each year. Check out BCG's comprehensive coverage
The Camden Fringe
Running until Sunday 26th August
Running for a month in North London, this festival involves lots of comedians playing across 25 different venues. 2018 return has been confirmed, but dates still to be announced.
August
Rewind North (Cheshire)
This year's festival has now finished.
Milton Jones, Mick Ferry and Mrs Barbara Nice, aka Janice Connolly, are due to appear at this festival.
Wilderness Festival (Oxfordshire)
This year's festival has now finished.
Based in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, this festival has booked some big name comedians in previous years.
Green Man (Brecon Beacons)
Taking place now, until Sunday 19th 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)
Taking place now, until Sunday 19th August
Milton Jones, Vikki Stone and David Morgan are due to appear at this festival.
Cornwall Comedy Festival
Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August
Also known as Stand Up In The Wylds. Located near Bude in North Cornwall. The 2017 festival was postponed due to bad weather.
Reading & Leeds Festivals
Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August
The biggest music and comedy acts appear together at the same festival.
Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)
Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August
A new comedy tent for 2018 will feature acts including Sunjai Arif, Graeme Collard, Rae Rae Lloydy, Nathan Eagle and Patrick Casey.
Byline Festival (East Sussex)
Friday 24th August to Monday 27th August
Festival in the woodlands of Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, near the A22 in East Sussex. John Cleese is set to appear. Other comedy names on the list include Andy Hamilton, Joanna Scanlan and Alexei Sayle.
Make More (London)
Thursday 23rd August to Monday 27th August
A festival for "makers and doers" in Victoria Park, London. Comedy performers include Lee Nelson and Dane Baptiste.
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.
Greenwich Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in September
One of London's biggest comedy festivals, with lots of well-known acts performing each year. 2018 dates have yet to be announced.
Festival Number 6 (North Wales)
Thursday 6th September to Sunday 9th 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.
Liverpool Comedy Festival
Friday 14th September to Sunday 30th September
A range of shows across Liverpool City Centre and Merseyside.
Objectively Funny Festival (London)
Thursday 20th September to Sunday 30th September
A festival in central London (The Albany on Great Portland Street). 2018's line-up comprises 42 shows over 10 days.
Kent Comedy Festival
Saturday 29th September to Saturday 6th October
A seven day comedy festival in Mote Park, Maidstone. Stars include Hal Cruttenden, Joel Dommett and Zoe Lyons.
October
Birmingham Improv Festival
Normally takes place in October
Established in 2016, this is an annual week-long festival of improvisational comedy.
Colchester Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in October
16 days of mirth and laughter programmed at venues all over Colchester. Phil Jupitus, Jo Caulfield and Jeremy Hardy were amongst the 2017 line-up.
Funny Things (Wolverhampton)
Normally takes place in October
Wolverhampton's comedy festival. The 2017 event featured over 120 events across 16 venues, celebrating Black Country humour.
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.
Women in Comedy Festival (Manchester)
Normally takes place in October
A Manchester-based festival featuring female acts. Each year there are over 100 shows involved.
Aberystwyth Comedy Festival
Friday 5th October to Sunday 7th October
A new comedy festival from the team that organise Machynlleth. Gary Delaney, Ed Gamble and Kiri Pritchard-Mclean are amongst those going.
Comedy Central Live
Friday 5th October to Sunday 7th October
A new festival from the TV network, taking place in Southampton. It features headliners including Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard and Katherine Ryan, and live versions of shows such as Your Face Or Mine, Drunk History and Roast Battle.
Henley Literary Festival
Saturday 29th September to Sunday 7th October
Comedians who have written a book often are booked to speak at this festival.
Aberdeen Comedy Festival
Thursday 4th October to Saturday 13th October
The ten-day festival will feature national and international comedians who will perform throughout the city centre.
Birmingham Comedy Festival
Friday 5th October to Sunday 14th October
Over 70 comedy performances take place across the city each October. 2018 highlights include Joanna Lumley, Rich Hall and James Acaster.
Southport Comedy Festival
Thursday 4th October to Sunday 21st October
Featuring top acts, a Children's Comedy Festival, a competition for new comedians, and more.
November
Hull Comedy Festival
Normally takes place in November
Three weeks of fun across various venues in the centre of Hull. Returns in November 2018.
Nottingham Comedy Festival
Friday 2nd November to Saturday 10th November
The 10th Nottingham Comedy Festival takes place in early November 2018. This is an open access festival so acts of all levels and types of comedy are welcome to apply.
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. Mark Steel and Shappi Khorsandi are amongst the stars for the 2017 festival.
January 2019
Vault Festival (London)
Wednesday 23rd January to Sunday 17th March 2019
Running across several months early in the year, Vault Festival is described as "London's answer to Edinburgh's Fringe".
February 2019
Eastern European Comedy Festival (London)
This festival normally takes place in February
The first Eastern European Comedy Festival ran for 5 days at the end of February 2018, in London.
Leicester Comedy Festival
Wednesday 6th February to Sunday 24th February 2019
One of the country's biggest comedy festivals. See their website for the latest news.
Slapstick Festival
Friday 8th February to Sunday 10th February 2019
The 2019 festival will take place in February, but the Gala takes place on the 10th February. Details
March 2019
Big Mouth Comedy Festival (Portsmouth)
This festival normally takes place in March
A comedy festival at the Guildhall venue. Russell Kane, Zoe Lyons, Seann Walsh and Andy Parsons are amongst the stars.
Chipping Norton Comedy Festival
This 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.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Thursday 14th March to Sunday 31st March 2019
Many top names perform in Glasgow in March.
April 2019
April Fools Barnsley Comedy Fest
This festival normally takes place in April
As the name suggests, this festival takes place in April.
Balham Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in April
Based at The Bedford in Balham, this festival attracts a number of great names. 2017 was the festival's sixth year. Usually held in July, 2018's festival is a 'pint-sized' April event ahead of the venue's Summer refurbishment.
Bath Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in April
Bath Comedy Festival gets bigger each year.
Udderbelly Festival (London)
This festival normally takes place in April
A tented venue set up near the Southbank Centre in London, running through much of Spring and Summer.
May 2019
Bath Fringe
This festival normally takes place in May
People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound.
Brighton Fringe
This festival normally takes place in May
Lots of shows, many of them work-in-progress gigs.
Derby Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in May
No news yet on whether this festival will be returning in 2018.
Hay Festival
Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 2nd June 2019
Located in Wales, with mainly literary based events. Comedians often read their books here.
HowTheLightGetsIn Festival (Hay-on-Wye)
This festival normally takes place in May
A five-day festival of philosophy and music that will explore the theme of Darkness, Authority and Dreams. Organised by the Institute of Art and Ideas. Comedy performers include James Acaster and Ahir Shah.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in May
The 'secret festival' in Wales. A wide variety of acts perform over the bank holiday weekend.
Wells Comedy Festival
Friday 24th May to Sunday 26th May 2019
Many of the best acts flock to this well-regarded Somerset-based festival.
June 2019
Big Egg Comedy Festival (York)
This festival normally takes place in June
Set of previews organised by York's Burning Duck Comedy Club.
Bristol Comedy Garden
This festival 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)
This festival normally takes place in June
A series of Fringe shows running alongside the Craft Of Comedy conference. The 2018 line-up features Mark Watson, Neil Innes, Marcus Brigstocke, Julian Dutton, Robin Ince, Barbara Nice, Angela Barnes, Nick Revell.
Croydon Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in June
The annual Croydon Comedy Festival runs across the summer. Dates TBC.
Croydon Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in June
The 4th Croydon Comedy Festival takes place across June and July 2018. Stars include Lucy Porter, Elf Lyons and Ed Gamble.
Festival41 (Manchester)
This festival 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.
Glastonbury Festival
Wednesday 26th June to Sunday 30th June 2019
Comedians can always be found at Glastonbury in the various comedy-related performance areas. The festival will be back in June 2019.
Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival
Wednesday 12th June to Sunday 16th June 2019
The Hastings Fringe returns in 2019.
Lichfield Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in June
A full day of entertainment and comedy for all the family in Beacon Park. With 3 bars, Street Food and fun all day. Paul Sinha, Dane Baptiste, Harriet Dyer, Chris Purchase, Paul Revill, Olaf Falafel, El Baldiniho and Yianni will be performing.
Ludlow Fringe Festival
This festival normally takes place in June
A bunch of comedy shows to enjoy in the Shropshire market town.
Oxford Festival Fringe Preview Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in June
26 different Edinburgh preview shows over 35 days at The Jam Factory venue.
Petworth Fringe
Wednesday 26th June to Sunday 7th July 2019
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)
This festival normally takes place in June
A series of Edinburgh Festival preview shows performed in the Hertfordshire market town of Tring.
Wychwood Festival (Cheltenham)
Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June 2019
This festival's comedy offering is a small but perfectly-formed line-up.
July 2019
ARG Com Fest (London)
This festival 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.
Barnes Fringe Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
Edinburgh may be some 415 miles from Barnes, but for one week only in July, you can catch many of the acts appearing at the world-famous Festival in a series of exclusive previews taking place at the OSO Arts Centre and the Olympic Cinema.
Bedford Festival Fringe
This festival normally takes place in July
A line-up of more than 50 shows at one venue, over just 5 days.
Buxton Festival Fringe
This festival normally takes place in July
One of the largest open-access arts festivals in the country.
Cambridge Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
A festival in Cambridge, which has been running for 11 years.
Camp Bestival (Dorset)
This festival normally takes place in July
Based around Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this festival normally books a couple of big headline comedy acts.
Cornbury Festival (Oxfordshire)
This festival normally takes place in July
This Oxfordshire festival features stand-up alongside various musical performances. James Acaster, Katy Brand, Phil Wang and Felicity Ward are amongst the many names for 2018.
Curious Arts Festival (Hampshire)
This festival normally takes place in July
An arts festival in the heart of rural Hampshire.
Darlington Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
Now in it's seventh year, the month long festival will feature stars including Chris Ramsey and Gary Delaney.
Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)
This festival normally takes place in July
An annual festival at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
Deli Comedy Festival (London)
This festival normally takes place in July
A month of shows at Theatre Deli's London venues. Stars include Romesh Ranganathan, Joel Dommett and Marcus Brigstocke.
Ealing Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
The Ealing Comedy Festival takes place over several nights in July, in Walpole Park. Milton Jones and Josh Widdicombe are amongst the 2018 line-up. Preview feature
Greater Manchester Fringe
This festival normally takes place in July
The Greater Manchester Fringe takes place across July.
Guildford Fringe Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
Lots of comedy shows take place in Guildford across July.
Ha-Ha-Hartlepool Festival Of Laughs
This festival normally takes place in July
Comedy previews hosted in One77, right in the heart of Hartlepool. Labelled "A prequel to Edinburgh, but cheaper".
Henley Festival
Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July 2019
A posh festival that attracts a number of top comedy headliners.
Jesterval (North East)
This festival normally takes place in July
A comedy festival in the North East. Jesterval will continue to feature some of the most exciting and finest comedians working in the UK today. From household names to hotly-tipped acts alongside the best local talent.
Kaleidoscope (London)
This festival normally takes place in July
A one-day festival at the Alexandra Park and Palace in London. Comedy includes Katherine Ryan, Mark Watson and Andrew Maxwell.
Kendal Calling
This festival normally takes place in July
A festival at Lowther Deer Park in The Lake District.
Larmer Tree Festival (South)
This festival normally takes place in July
A festival in Cranborne Chase (straddling Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire).
Latitude (Suffolk)
This festival normally takes place in 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.
Leave 'Em Laughing (London)
This festival 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
This 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. Mark Watson, Tom Allen, Lili La Scala and Comedy Club 4 Kids are amongst the shows.
Port Eliot Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
Based in St Germans, Cornwall, one of the venues features a number of comedy bookings.
Rewind Scotland (Perth)
This festival normally takes place in July
The comedy special features multi-award winning Scottish comedian and best-selling author Janey Godley, the famously opinionated American comic Reginald D Hunter, and 2015 Scottish Comedian of The Year winner Daisy Earl.
Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
The second Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival arrives in July. Russell Kane hosts the Gala.
South Tyneside Comedy Festival
This festival normally takes place in July
The aim of this festival is to put incredible comics on, doing their festival shows, at affordable prices.
Standon Calling (Hertfordshire)
This festival normally takes place in July
Lucy Porter, Kerry Godliman, Seann Walsh and Rhys James headline the comedy in 2018.
The Comedy Crate (Northampton)
This festival normally takes place in July
A two day Edinburgh preview festival from the Northampton comedy club. Good line-ups are expected.
The Great Yorkshire Fringe
This festival normally takes place in July
A festival that takes place in the centre of York. 2018's line-up features Stephen K Amos, Omid Djalili, Tony Slattery and Ed Gamble. BGT winner Lost Voice Guy will perform two shows.
Tramlines (Sheffield)
This festival normally takes place in July
The comedy line-up for this festival includes Bethany Black, Henning Wehn and Tom Wrigglesworth.
ZEAL: The Pride Improv Festival (London)
This festival 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.