UK Comedy Scene Set to Explode with Festivals and Tours in 2025

Get ready for a year packed with laughter as the UK's comedy scene gears up for an exciting 2025. From established festivals to charity tours, there's a comedic event for everyone, promising a fantastic year of stand-up, improv, and side-splitting performances across the nation.

Key Takeaways

• Multiple comedy festivals and tours are scheduled across the UK in 2025.

• Events range from large-scale festivals like Edinburgh Fringe to intimate charity tours.

• Notable comedians are set to perform at various venues throughout the year.

• Many events support charitable causes, including aid for Gaza's orphans.

A Year of Laughter: Festivals Galore

The UK's love affair with comedy continues to flourish in 2025 with a diverse array of festivals. The iconic Edinburgh Fringe Festival will once again transform the city in August, showcasing a vast spectrum of comedic talent alongside other performing arts. Brighton Fringe will offer a southern alternative throughout May, celebrating local and national talent.

Manchester is set to be a hub for comedy with Creatures Comedy Festival in July and the Laughterama festival in September, featuring major names. Further north, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival will run throughout March, focusing purely on stand-up. For those seeking a more intimate experience, Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival will take place in July, while the Women In Comedy Festival will return to Manchester in October, championing female comedians.

Comedy Tours with a Cause

Charitable giving meets comedic brilliance with Human Appeal's comedy tours. Following the success of their winter tours, they are launching their first-ever summertime tour in August, with shows in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. These intimate events will feature international stars like Omar Regan, Ali Official, and Aatif Nawaz, with proceeds supporting the Gaza Orphans Appeal.

Additionally, Human Appeal's "The Comedy Takeover" tour is scheduled for December, spanning 20 cities. This popular event, now in its 11th year, will feature a star-studded lineup including Guz Khan, Tez Ilyas, and Jeremy McLellan, all raising vital funds for Gaza's orphans.

Special Events and Academic Comedy

Beyond the major festivals and tours, unique comedy events are also on the horizon. Rochdale Comedy Festival, running from late September to early October, will host a mix of established and rising stars, including Robin Ince and Tez Ilyas. It's part of Rochdale's celebration as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26.

For a more niche experience, UCL's Bloomsbury Theatre will host a "Brain Sciences Comedy Night" in July, blending neuroscience with stand-up, featuring comedian Abigoliah Schamaun alongside university staff and students. This event promises a unique and educational comedic experience for all.

Sources

• Rochdale Comedy Festival | Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Borough Council.

• The Comedy Takeover 2025 | Human Appeal Comedy Tour, Human Appeal UK.

• UCL Brain Sciences Comedy Night | Bloomsbury Theatre and Studio, University College London.

• Top 10 Comedy Festivals in the UK, Skiddle.

• Human Appeal announces summertime UK Comedy Tour, Human Appeal.