Bristol Comedy Festival running until 31 January 2026
Posted on: 19 Jan 2026Now in its second year, The Bristol Comedy Festival has returned to chase away the January blues with a city-wide celebration of stand-up and live comedy.
Spanning two weeks from 15-31 Janaury 2026, the festival features over 150 shows across dozens of venues, including The Gaffe Comedy Club, The Robin Hood, The Hatchet, Basement 45, The Courts, The Bristol Folk House, The Granary, Bristol Central Library, The Drawbridge, The Raven, The Conspiracy, Seamus O'Donnell's, Lost and Found, The Milk Thistle, The Crown, Strange Brew, The Royal Navy Volunteer, The Bristol Improv Theatre, and the Marriott Royal Hotel.
The jewel in the crown is the King Street takeover on Tuesday 20th January, when comics race between venues putting on donate-what-you-want shows, with all profits going to TAP for Bristol in support of homelessness services across the city. The festival concludes with a special closing Gala compilation show at Sparks, bringing the celebration to a high-energy finale.
Also running as part of the festival is the Bristol Comedy Competition 2026, featuring three heats, two semi-finals, and a grand final hosted by Burt Williamson. With tickets ranging from free to £18, the festival offers something for everyone, making it an accessible and unmissable highlight of Bristol’s cultural calendar.
For more info and tickets visit www.thebristolcomedyfestival.com.
Article by:
Colette Hand (BA Hons in Art & Education Studies). Grandmother to four grandchildren aged 2 to 21, and part-time volunteer at a museum in Bath, writing for 365Bristol mainly on theatre and family activities when not raising money wild swimming around the country!
