Festival Information
East Midlands
Overview
The Leicester Comedy Festival is one of the UK's largest and longest-running comedy events. Founded in 1994 by Geoff Rowe as a student project, it has grown into a major cultural fixture in Leicester's calendar, typically taking place in February each year.
The festival showcases a vibrant mix of over 700 shows across 81 venues throughout Leicester and Leicestershire. It features a diverse range of comedic talent, from emerging performers to seasoned professionals, offering stand-up, sketches, musical comedy, improv, exhibitions, discussions, and workshops.
Key features of the festival include:
- The UK Kids' Comedy Festival, running alongside the main event
- The Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition
- Special events like Comedy in the Dark and the UK Pun Championships
- Outreach and education initiatives, including workshops in schools
The festival is committed to accessibility, offering many free and 'Pay What You Want' performances. It also focuses on community engagement, supporting local venues and nurturing new talent. With an economic impact of around £3 million annually, the Leicester Comedy Festival plays a significant role in the city's cultural and economic landscape.
As an open-access festival, it welcomes performers at all career stages, creating a platform for both new and established comedians. The event continues to evolve, embracing new venues and formats while maintaining its core mission of bringing laughter and entertainment to diverse audiences.
Location
Leicester Comedy Festival takes place at over 80 venues across Leicester. Through the BIG Weekends initiative, the comedy festival extends out to the Harborough District community, which lies to the south of the Leicester.
See their dedicated Getting Here webpage for travel info.
Tickets
Basic Price Range: Free - £30
Tickets for the Leicester Comedy Festival can be easily purchased online. Simply visit the festival's What's On page, find the show you want to see, and click the “book tickets” link to add them to your basket. To purchase tickets, you'll need to create an account, which is a quick and straightforward process.
A standard booking fee of £1.50 applies to all tickets, which helps maintain the Box Office, with a maximum charge of £10 per basket. Please note, booking fees are non-refundable.
If you prefer personal assistance or have ticketing queries, the ticketing team is available at 0116 261 6812. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 11am-4pm, and have extended hours during the festival.
Concessionary tickets are available for:
- Senior Citizens (Over 65)
- Individuals under 18
- Full-time Students
- Registered Unemployed
- Disabled persons
Accommodation
Leicester Comedy Festival is NOT a camping festival.
A selection of Leicester hotels have been designated as "official festival hotels", conveniently situated within a short walk from the central festival venues. These hotels offer exclusive discounts to festival-goers. For a complete list of participating hotels and their respective promotional codes, please visit the festival's official hotels page.
Packing Checklist:
Ensure you're fully prepared for your festival adventure with our Essential Packing Checklist.
Accessibility
The Leicester Comedy Festival is committed to inclusivity, ensuring that the joy of comedy reaches everyone. With a history of diverse programming and partnerships, the festival offers a variety of shows suitable for all ages, with clear age guidance provided: Age Guidance List.
For detailed information on venue accessibility, download the access guide or contact the venues directly for specific inquiries.
The festival team is dedicated to continuous improvement in accessibility, welcoming feedback at access@bigdifferencecompany.co.uk.
