Top 10 Comedy Festivals in the UK
Fancy seeing all your favourite comedians come together for a week, weekend, or even a full month full of laughter? Then your best bet is to attend one of the UK's many amazing Comedy Festivals!
Last updated: 1st Mar 2024
Originally published: 3rd Mar 2023
Whilst we are all more than used to going to see all our favourite live music at festivals around the globe, from the world's biggest touring acts to the smaller up-and-comers; but what many don't realise is that the exact same thing happens to comedy! Unlike those that cater to music, Comedy festivals don't have a particular season and happen all year round, they don't need the sun and often the Comics actually enjoy it when it's a bit duller outside; Comedy works better on people who are down after all, as laughter is the best medicine.
From sprawling, city-wide, month-long festivals that shape the careers of aspiring comics, and also showcase so much more than comedy, to intimate day festivals celebrating subsections of the comedian community, to weekend-long festivals featuring the biggest and best names in the comedy scene from the telly to those selling arenas to the ones that'll be doing both in years to come.
So, if you're a comedy fan, then why not diversify your festival calendar this year, and attend one of these incredible comedy festivals in the UK below? Who doesn't want to split open their sides and be left in stitches due to laughing so much? We know we do!
When: Throughout the whole month of August 2024
Where: Various venues around Edinburgh
We had to start with the unabridged classic. Edinburgh Fringe Festival is known the world over for being THE place on the global scene to see the very best comics, as they spend the entire month of August doing almost daily sets of their latest shows. The entire city of Edinburgh comes alive during the Fringe, with not only comedy happening, but with incredible Theatre, Burlesque, Spoken Word, Imporv, and a whole diverse range of entertainment on show.
Yet, the main attraction for many is comedy, and it's no surprise as to why. Last year, the Fringe saw huge names like Ed Byrne, Mark Watson, Paul Foot, and Paul Sinha take its stages, alongside some of the biggest rising stars in the game like Ahir Shah, Lorna Rose Treen, Ania Magliano, and Paddy Young.
If there is ever a comedy festival for you to attend it's this one, it should be on every comedy fan's bucket list and we want to attend every year we can.
Check out who we thought the best acts of the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 were - HERE
Comedy at the Castle
When: 24th - 26th May 2024
Where: Warwick Castle in Warwick
Following its massively successful debut year in 2023, Closeup Comedy, the midland's best comedy night, is returning to the picturesque backdrop of Warwick Castle with 'Comedy at the Castle'! The lineup for which has just been announced!
Steeped in history and grandeur, the Castle will play host to some of the biggest names in the world of comedy, all of whom will have your funny bone tickled like never before!
Such names coming to the Castle in 2024 include Simon Amstell, Nina Conti, Rory Bremner, Maisie Adam, Gary Delaney, Angela Barnes, Janine Harouni, Spencer Jones, Eshaan Akbar, Stephen Bailey, Matt Richardson, Matt Bragg, and resident Closeup Comedy host, Freddy Quinne.
To find tickets, FAQs and more information on Comedy at the Castle, check each day out on Skiddle below:
Comedy at the Castle: Friday Night - HERE
Comedy at the Castle: Saturday Night - HERE
Comedy at the Castle: Sunday Night - HERE
Find more events courtesy of Closeup Comedy - HERE
Brighton Fringe
When: 3rd May - 2nd June 2024
Where: Various venues around Brighton
England's main rival to the Edinburgh Fringe, and a mighty good weekend in its own right, Brighton Fringe is the Southern city's annual celebration of all things Comedy, Theatre, Drag, Burlesque and almost everything onstage entertainment-wise. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of people over its month-long run in May, the festival is a celebration of all the local talent Brighton has to offer, as well as providing a place for many others to get noticed and potentially poached for bigger runs at Edinburgh.
It's one of the biggest fringe festivals in the world, and the city of Brighton comes to life in the month it runs, both in the streets and inside the many venues that host the talent. It's a fantastic weekend of comedic entertainment and one that you can catch that little bit more than comedy too if you get bored of your sides being split. A must-visit for any Southern comedy fan who doesn't want to make the trek up to Edinburgh.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
When: 13th – 31st March 2024
Where: Various venues around Glasgow
Whilst Edinburgh flies the flag for Scotland's comedy festival scene, their noisy neighbours in Glasgow do a mighty fine job in trying to match the influence on the comedy scene, with their month-long festival, happening in March, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
The acts billed here are no joke, with it hosting some of the biggest names in the Biz, plus, unlike the Edinburgh Fringe, it is entirely focused on Comedy and getting the most laughs possible out of the attending crowd.
The 2024 edition sees Scottish gutbusters like Frankie Boyle, Susie McCabe, Mark Nelson, and Connor Burns; several other top acts from across the country like Frank Skinner, Ed Gamble, Reginald D Hunter, Sterert Lee and Maisie Adam; and a whole host of other acts from further down the pyramid who are punching well above their weight; take the stage and provide some serious giggles.
It's a great, more comedy-focused, alternative to the Edinburgh Fringe, particularly as it gets more and more expensive to go, plus, the people of Glasgow are amongst the best comedy crowds in the UK.
Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival
When: 11th - 14th July 2024
Where: Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury
Taking place over a long weekend in July, the Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival is a standout amongst the smaller-sized comedy festivals in the UK, mainly down to the calibre of acts that grace its stages. Happening throughout a multitude of venues in the northern town, with the best acts taking the stage during their Gala Show at Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury comes alive with laughter every time it comes to town, and if you live somewhat local, it's the perfect weekend away.
Already announced for this year are the likes of England's Partially Sighted football captain and Instagram skit extraordinaire Josh Pugh, the wry and excellently observant Yorkshire funny man Scott Bennett, and the fiercely funny award-winning Thanyia Moore. Alongisde will be a whole host of amazing acts still to be announced for the rest of the festival, you just know that it's going to be a tip weekend, and we can't wait to see you down there!
Laughterama
When: TBA 2024
Where: Castlefield Bowl in Manchester
The newest edition to the comedy festival circuit, but one that we are certain will be a mainstay for years to come, Manchesters Laughterama is taking over the site of Castlefield Bowl, the place where the city's coveted Sound Of The City gigs happen annually, for a weekend of some of the biggest names about, with a huge crowd whose laughter is bound to be heard far and wide.
Last year's festival saw stars like Ed Gamble, Fern Brady, Maisie Adam, Phil Wang, Alan Davies, Rhys James, Sara Pascoe, Dylan Moran, Russel Kane, David O'Doherty,Simon Amstell and so many more take the stage and kill it, and whilst we haven't got any names for the 2024 edition yet, there's no doubt in our minds it's gonna be just as good.
Make sure to watch out for this one as 2023 sold out insanely quickly, and we don't want you to miss out on the latest edition of Manchester's thriving comedy scene.
Greenwich Comedy Festival
When: 13th - 15th September 2024
Where: National Maritime Museum in London
This open-air comedic extravaganza out of Greenwich has established itself as a staple on the UK comedy festival circuit and for good reason. Welcoming its crowd to the stunning grounds of the National Maritime Museum, and treating them to a curated selection of some of the funniest people in the UK, it's probably the number one stop when it comes to seeing a huge comedy lineup in London.
Last year saw the likes of Jack Dee, Stewart Lee, Ed Gamble, Nina Conti, Russel Kane, Fern Brady, Rhys James, Ivo Graham, Jamali Maddix, and many other belly-jiggling jokesters. Whilst we haven't got a lineup for 2024 yet, we are certain that it'll be more than worth the entry fee, as they have never disappointed lineup-wise. Keep an eye out for announcements, as once people know who's playing, you can all but guarantee that sell-out won't be far away.
Women In Comedy Festival
When: 3rd - 13th October 2024
Where: Various Venues in Manchester
Simulateously one of the most focused, and most important festivals on this list, the Manchester Women in Comedy Festival is an accessible and supportive event that celebrates, champions and promotes all things funny and female across a variety of platforms. This includes stand-up, comedy theatre, improv, sketches, workshops and debates.
The vast majority of modern funny women in the comedy scene have come through with sets here since its inception in 2013, and year after year it keeps getting better and better. This worthy growth has seen the festival expand to encompass showcases, galas, networking events, training, panels, debates and workshops. The Women In Comedy Festival also offers training and mentorship opportunities with industry professionals and other leading creative organisations.
An inspiring festival for both female fans of comedy and aspiring female comedians, as well as just being ten days of pure unabridged laughter, Manchester's Women In Comedy Festival is a must-visit and easily one of the best in the UK.
Wells Comedy Festival
When: 24th - 26th May 2024
Where: Various venues in Somerset
The South East primary spot for all things funny, Wells Comedy Festival in Somerset is an annual belly-shaking event filled with incredible comics and huge laughs, that any Comedy punter in the region can't afford to miss. Founded in 2015, the event brings the finest comedians in the country to the heart of the idyllic town for one jam-packed weekend of giggles.
Running for one weekend only in May, the 2024 edition of the festival is bringing the likes of James Acaster, Harry Hill, Nish Kumar, Tim Key, Rich Hall, Sophie Duker, John Kearns, Kiri Pritchard-Mclean and so many more to various venues around the town, and we can all but guarantee that Somerset will be brought to life in choruses of laughter as the weekend goes on.
Comedy doesn't happen in cities as pretty as this very often, so if you like your events to have slightly more class to them than usual, then check out Wells Comedy Festival, you won't be disappointed.
Leicester Comedy Festival
When: 7th - 25th February 2024
Where: Various Venues in Leicester
One of the UK's longest-running city comedy festivals, and for good reason, Leicester Comedy Festival is a celebration of all things British comedy, with an annually stellar lineup of some of the funniest people in the country for lucky punters to get their funny bones prepped for.
The festival also incorporates other aspects of the arts alongside the main attraction of Comedy, with performers from film, poetry & spoken word, comic theatre, photographic and art exhibitions, and children’s shows all getting their time in the limelight.
This year's festival may have already happened, with sell-out shows during the festival including Daniel Sloss, Stewart Lee, Ross Noble, Romesh Ranganathan, Steve Delaney, Paddy Young, Sarah Keyworth, Sophie Duker, Eshaan Akbar, Rob Auton, John Kearns, Josh Jones, and SO many more.
But, don't feel like you've missed out, as 2025 has already been confirmed to be going ahead and if its anything close to this year, it's going to be another astounding success, make sure to watch out for announcements!
Has all the talk of Comedy got your funny bone itching? Well then check out the UK Comedy Guide on Skiddle by clicking or tapping - HERE
Check out what comics we think are the best up-and-coming in the country - HERE
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
