With nearly 100 performances across 25 venues, highlights include appearances from 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), as well as the unmissable Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award (Oct 2, The Glee Club).
Several previous winners of the prestigious award can be seen across the festival too, including Celya AB (Oct 11, The Glee Club) who, since winning, has joined the Saturday Night Live UK team; Tom Towelling (Oct 11, Cherry Reds), now the recipient of the Channel 4 Sean Lock Award 2025; and Hasan Al-Habib (Oct 3, The Victoria), recently seen on BBC Two’s Pilgrimage. Plus 2025’s winner Ryan S Lewis (Oct 8, Attic Brew Co) and Hannah Weetman (Oct 10, Cherry Reds), who just picked up a Best Script award at the Female Pilot Club Festival 2026.
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 (with his new game show The Saboteur), ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Tim Biglowe, and more.
Talent from the region always makes a strong showing in the festival, and this years no exception with further shows boasting appearances from Lindsey Santoro, Eric Rushton, Jules O’Brian, Rachel Baker, Richard Dadd, Harry Jenkins, Mary Flanigan (named one of 2026’s Women In Comedy On The Rise), Ben Coleman, Damon Conlan, Abbie Hale, Jon Hipkiss, Leicester Comedy Festival’s Comedian Of The Year 2026 Chloe Reynolds, Rachel Page, Lovdev Barpaga, Jackie Kain, improv group Behind The Headlines, Craig Deeley, Lin Smith, Gareth Williams, comedy collective 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.
A spokesperson for the festival said: “We’re especially pleased with the breadth of this year’s festival, especially as it marks our 25th anniversary – which is quite a feat. 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 – no-risk shows featuring lots of rising stars and award winners.”
Birmingham Comedy Festival runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 11 October 2026. For tickets and more information, see: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk