The UK’s second longest-running comedy festival returns to Birmingham this October with a full line-up now announced. Birmingham Comedy Festival will welcome nearly 100 performances across 25 venues—including the unmissable Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award.
The likes of Daniel Sloss, Stevie Martin, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Paul Foot and many, many more will perform in the Second City between Friday, October 2 and Sunday, October 11, 2026. Plus, the ever-popular Birmingham Comedy Festival Free Half-Dayer also returns with back-to-back shows at Cherry Reds and The Victoria.
“We’re especially pleased with the breadth of this year’s festival, especially as it marks our 25th anniversary, which is quite a feat,” said a Birmingham Comedy Festival spokesperson. It all began way back in 2001 as a volunteer-led unfunded event, and it remains so today.
“In that time, we’ve consistently welcomed inspiring and exciting line-ups, and 2026 is no exception. There’s plenty of familiar names you’ll know off the telly and from streaming, but also loads of free/pay-what-you-can events too, and no-risk shows featuring lots of rising stars and award winners.”
What can I see at Birmingham Comedy Festival 2026?
Highlights include Daniel Sloss (Oct 9, Symphony Hall), Stevie Martin (Oct 7, The Glee Club), Laura Smyth (Oct 2, Town Hall), Jason Byrne (Oct 3, Town Hall), Olga Koch (Oct 3, The Glee Club), Ghosts and Stath Lets Flats star Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Oct 7, Town Hall) and Mammy Banter’s Serena Terry (Oct 9, Town Hall).
Don’t miss the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award either (Oct 2, The Glee Club). Several previous winners can be seen across the festival, including Celya AB (Oct 11, The Glee Club); Tom Towelling (Oct 11, Cherry Reds); and Hasan Al-Habib (Oct 3, The Victoria). Plus 2025’s winner Ryan S Lewis (Oct 8, Attic Brew Co) and Hannah Weetman (Oct 10, Cherry Reds).
The Birmingham Comedy Festival Free Half-Dayer (Oct 4) also returns with back-to-back shows at Cherry Reds and The Victoria, in John Bright Street, featuring one-hour shows from Malcolm Hardee Award winner Rob Kemp, Andy Bucks, British Comedian of the Year 2025 finalist Tal Davies, Danny Clives, James Cook, and ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Tim Biglowe.
They’ll plenty of local talent too, like Lindsey Santoro, Eric Rushton, Jules O’Brian, Rachel Baker, Richard Dadd, Harry Jenkins, Mary Flanigan, Ben Coleman, Damon Conlan, Abbie Hale, Jon Hipkiss, Chloe Reynolds, Rachel Page, Lovdev Barpaga, Jackie Kain, Behind The Headlines, Craig Deeley, Lin Smith, Gareth Williams, The Glitter Sisters and Mat Taylor, to name but a few.
For movie buffs, cult sci-fi comedies Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Galaxy Quest are back on the big screen (Oct 2, Thinktank), while Laurel and Hardy return with a classic triple-bill that includes Academy Award-winning short, The Music Box (Oct 9, West Mids Police Museum; Oct 11, Stourbridge Town Hall).
Elsewhere, Colin Elmer marks the centenary of Carry On star Kenneth Williams (Cult Figure, Oct 7, Old Rep), The Crescent Theatre Company present Oscar Wilde’s still relevant A Woman of No Importance (Sep 26-Oct 3), and Paulus The Cabaret Geek celebrates the genius of former University of Birmingham student Victoria Wood – who tragically passed away in 2016 (What Wood Victoria Do, Oct 3, Old Joint Stock).
Other highlights include The Xtra Factor‘s Matt Richardson, Connor Burns, twice Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated Spencer Jones, Paul Foot, Ireland’s Neil Delamare, D&D adventure It’s Your Role, all-ages Lunchtime Family Comedy, and Alice Keys’ Elton John-inspired Rocket Man.
For full listings and tickets for Birmingham Comedy Festival, head here.
