2026

Live Comedy Day 2026: from 30 seater venues to 3,500 - and everywhere in between.

On 1 April, live comedy took over the UK. Across 65 venues - from The Yellow Book in Brighton (30 seats, hosted by the “incredible, insatiable, and incorrigible” Leslie Bloom) to the Royal Albert Hall where Vir Das played to 3,500, audiences turned out to celebrate the art form that works best in the room.

More than 120 comedians performed, including John Bishop, James Acaster, Zoe Lyons, and Shaparak Khorsandi - delivering over 5,850 minutes of live comedy, all organised by some amazing promoters and producers. From Edinburgh in the north to Plymouth in the south, venues including The Comedy Store (London), London Palladium, the Glee Club (Birmingham & Glasgow), and the Frog & Bucket (Manchester), helped create a nationwide moment for live comedy.

With a combined venue capacity of 20,000, the day was backed by supporters including Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Jon Petrie and Julia McKenzie (BBC), Sara Wajid (Birmingham Museums Trust), and Mark Davyd (Music Venues Trust) - all championing the people and places that keep live comedy thriving.

As one promoter put it: “Thank you for doing this & bringing extra light to grass roots comedy.”

Roll on next year.