London’s biggest comedy festival kicks off this week with Joe Lycett, Sara Pascoe, and Ed Gamble all taking to the stage
The Glastonbury of comedy
It’s lovely when good things make a comeback: Hannah Montana, Oasis, Balamory. In welcome news, one of London’s biggest comedy festivals is returning to the city after a short break – an interval, if you will, promising big names and even bigger laughs.
Officially kicking off on 13th August, Roundhouse Comedy Festival returns, bringing some of the funniest people in UK comedy to one iconic London venue. Originally debuting back in 2023, the festival became beloved for bringing together some of the biggest names and best talent in the biz. It’s basically a miniature Edinburgh Fringe for those of us still stuck in London. Running from 13th until 18th August, the 2026 edition promises “more shows, more comedians, and a frankly irresponsible amount of laughter”. And if the lineup is anything to go by, they're not wrong.
Whilst you hear “comedy festival”, you’ll probably be thinking “stand-up” – and you wouldn’t be wrong, but the lineup will include all sorts of comedy, from headliners and specials, to sketches, and live podcast recordings.
Names that have been announced include: Joe Lycett, Katherine Ryan, Sam Campbell, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe and Insta-fave Vittorio Angelone.
Thursday 14th kicks off with Live at the Roundhouse with Ed Gamble, hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean, with Nick Mohammed, Jamali Maddix & Sam Nicoresti. The Off Menu co-host, Taskmaster champion, Unacceptable host, and The Traitors: Uncloaked frontman will be headlining this powerhouse of a mixed bill.
Friday sees Jack Rooke’s Good Grief: a decade retrospective of capitalising on my dead dad to varied levels of failure and success heading to the stage. The BAFTA-winning writer and Big Boys creator returns to the Roundhouse with his debut comedy-theatre show, first developed at the venue in 2014.
Across the weekend, there are more headliners and laughs to be had; on Saturday 15th,
Sara Pascoe is hosting a special evening of stand-up featuring a hand-picked line-up of comedy favourites, including Harriet Kemsley, Nina Conti, John Kearns & Michael Odewale.
Sunday sees Instagram favourite Vittorio Angelone host a curated night of stand up, with Kyla Cobbler, Troy Hawke, Janine Harouni & Micky Overman all taking to the mic.
The Fringe level fun continues across the following week with a one-night-only London performance of Kristen Schaal’s brand-new comedy play, co-starring John Roberts, with support from Chloe Petts on the Monday. The whole celebration wraps up on Tuesday 18th with Joe Lycett & Friends, where Lycett will host an evening of new, experimental and unpredictable material alongside some of his favourite comedians.
One thing that will probably put a smile on your face before you’ve even sat down to watch a show is the bank of £5 tickets the festival offers to guests 30 and under to keep it as accessible as possible. So essentially, you could be heading to a show for less than the price of a pint. Now you really are having a laugh.
Whilst you may not quite be quick enough to have snapped up a £5 ticket which went on sale back in April, you can still access tickets via the website.
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