List of Comedy Festivals

Here is a list of the main comedy festivals in the UK.

December

UK Jewish Comedy Festival (London)

This year's festival has now finished.

JW3's Jewish Comedy Festival, in West Hampstead (London), features a mix of performances, workshops and events.

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.

Edinburgh International Improv Festival

Thursday 7th February to Sunday 10th February 2019

Scotland's first and only festival of improv. Acts include Abdandoman and the Spontaneous Players.

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)

Friday 1st March to Friday 8th March 2019

A comedy festival at the Guildhall venue, running in 2019 over 2 consecutive weekends.

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. Usually held in July, 2018's festival was 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.

Underbelly Festival Southbank

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

Friday 24th May to Sunday 9th June 2019

People talking (usually one at a time) at a microphone. Often funny, occasionally profound.

Brighton Fringe

Friday 3rd May to Sunday 2nd June 2019

Lots of shows, many of them work-in-progress gigs.

Derby Comedy Festival

This festival normally takes place in May

The Derby Comedy Festival took a "rest" 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.

London Clown Festival

This 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 2019

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 2019

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 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.

Croydon Comedy Festival

This festival normally takes place in June

The annual Croydon Comedy Festival runs across the summer.

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.

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 occurring for more than a decade.

Camp Bestival (Dorset)

Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July 2019

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)

Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July 2019

An arts festival in the heart of rural Hampshire.

Darlington Comedy Festival

This festival normally takes place in July

The Darlington Comedy Festival usually runs from early July for a month.

Deer Shed Festival (North Yorkshire)

Friday 26th July to Monday 29th July 2019

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.

Ealing Comedy Festival

This festival normally takes place in July

The Ealing Comedy Festival takes place over several nights in July, in Walpole Park.

Greater Manchester Fringe

Monday 1st July to Wednesday 31st July 2019

The Greater Manchester Fringe takes place across July.

Guildford Fringe Festival

Friday 28th June to Sunday 28th July 2019

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.

Kendal Calling

Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July 2019

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)

Thursday 18th July to Sunday 21st July 2019

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)

Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July 2019

A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Scottish instalment, taking place in Perth.

Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival

This festival normally takes place in July

The third Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival is expected to take place in 2019.

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)

Thursday 25th July to Sunday 28th July 2019

A festival of music, comedy and family-friendly entertainment.

The Comedy Crate (Northampton)

This festival normally takes place in July

A two day Edinburgh preview festival from the Northampton comedy club.

The Great Yorkshire Fringe

This festival normally takes place in July

A festival that takes place in the centre of York.

Tramlines (Sheffield)

Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July 2019

A three-day festival in Sheffield, including music and comedy.

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.

August 2019

Byline Festival (East Sussex)

Friday 23rd August to Monday 26th August 2019

Festival in the woodlands of Pippingford Park, Ashdown Forest, near the A22 in East Sussex.

Cornwall Comedy Festival

This festival normally takes place in August

Also known as Stand Up In The Wylds. Located near Bude in North Cornwall.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Friday 2nd August to Monday 26th August 2019

Thousands - literally thousands - of comedians appear at this festival each year. Check out BCG's comprehensive coverage

Green Man (Brecon Beacons)

This festival normally takes place in 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.

Make More (London)

This festival normally takes place in August

A festival for "makers and doers" in Victoria Park, London.

Reading & Leeds Festivals

Friday 23rd August to Sunday 25th August 2019

The biggest music and comedy acts appear together at the same dual-location, 2-day festival event.

Rewind North (Cheshire)

Friday 2nd August to Sunday 4th August 2019

A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Northern instalment, taking place in Cheshire.

Rewind South (Henley-on-Thames)

Friday 16th August to Sunday 18th August 2019

A three-part series of festivals covering the UK. This is the Southern instalment, taking place in Oxfordshire.

The Camden Fringe

This festival normally takes place in 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.

Victorious Festival (Portsmouth)

This festival normally takes place in August

Victorious Festival launched its first comedy tent in 2018.

Wilderness Festival (Oxfordshire)

Thursday 1st August to Sunday 4th August 2019

Based in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, this festival has booked some big name comedians in previous years.

September 2019

Cheltenham Comedy Festival

This 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.