Leicester Comedy Festival

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Leicester Comedy Festival

Europe's largest comedy festival. Brought to you by registered charity Big Difference Company (1135167)

4-22 February 2026 🥳
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For all ticketing enquiries please please get in touch via email at [email protected] or by calling 0116 456 6812 and a member of our team will be happy to help you. During the festival our Box Office will be staffed

Monday-Friday 10am-8pm
Saturday-Sunday 1pm-8pm

Please do not contact us via Social Media regarding ticketing issues.

06/05/2026

LCF IN THE PARK JUST GOT BIGGER 🙌

The brilliant Lou Sanders joins us for a gorgeous afternoon of comedy at Abbey Park ☀️🎪😎

The event will also star Phil Ellis (Taskmaster), Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner), Kiri Pritchard-McLean (Live at the Apollo), Nabil Abdulrashid (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) 😮🤣

It's going to be a proper festival atmosphere with street food, bars, and a huge main stage, plus, you'll be helping raise money for Big Difference, the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival ❤️

📅 Sunday 14th June, 12.30pm-2.30pm
📍 Abbey Park, Leicester
🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

23/04/2026

From the archive: Tom Allen at the festival in 2017.
📸 Leicester Comedy Festival Archive | De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)
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For over three decades charity Big Difference Company (1135167) has brought you Leicester Comedy Festival. Support us to secure Leicester's cultural legacy and share the joy of laughter.

15/04/2026

From the archive: Sarah Kendall at The Y Theatre, 2006.
📸Leicester Comedy Festival Archive | De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)
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For over three decades charity Big Difference Company (1135167) has brought you Leicester Comedy Festival. Support us to secure Leicester's cultural legacy and share the joy of laughter.

13/04/2026

PROFILE: PHIL ELLIS 🤩☀️

Phil Ellis is an award-winning comedian who became an instant fan favourite during his appearance on Series 20 of Taskmaster (Channel 4). A well regarded ‘comedian’s comedian’, Ellis remarked that he was ‘the least well-known person’ to appear on Taskmaster but quickly captured the attention of audiences with his amalgamation of off-beat observational material and physical comedy.

His stand-up shows were included in the top 20 best-reviewed shows of the Edinburgh Fringe for 2024 and 2025 and he has also been nominated for the prestigious Sky Best Comedy Show at Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Phil joins the brilliant Kiri Pritchard - McLean (Live at the Apollo), Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner), Nabil Abdulrashid (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) and MORE at LCF in the Park this June 🔥

📅 Sunday 14th June, 12.30pm-2.30pm
📍 Abbey Park, Leicester
🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

10/04/2026

From the archive: Jon Richardson at De Montfort Hall, 2009.
📸Leicester Comedy Festival Archive
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)
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For over three decades charity Big Difference Company (1135167) has brought you Leicester Comedy Festival. Support us to secure Leicester's cultural legacy and share the joy of laughter.

08/04/2026

PROFILE: KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN 😎🎤

Kiri Pritchard - McLean has appeared on many of the UK's most popular entertainment shows, including hosting Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, QI and Frankie Boyle's New World Order.

Her comedy tackles thorny subjects with humour and grace, often in a deeply personal way. In 2024, she embarked on her fourth and biggest stand-up tour yet with her show, Peacock. Performing to rave reviews, she took the show across the country.

Kiri joins the amazing Phil Ellis (Taskmaster), Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner), Nabil Abdulrashid (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) and MORE at LCF in the Park this June 🔥

📅 Sunday 14th June, 12.30pm-2.30pm
📍 Abbey Park, Leicester
🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

03/04/2026

PROFILE: TOM ROSENTHAL ☀️🎪

As a standup comedian Tom’s relaxed observational material and sharply written punchlines have received critical acclaim. His stand-up show, Manhood, toured around the UK to rave reviews and received high praise at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Best known for his work in the BAFTA winning Friday Night Dinner (C4) and Plebs (ITV), Tom has also appeared on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Last Leg, The Great Pottery Throwdown (C4), Celebrity Catchphrase (ITV), Pointless Celebrities, The Weakest Link and Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC).

Tom joins the amazing Phil Ellis (Taskmaster), Kiri Pritchard - McLean (Live at the Apollo), Nabil Abdulrashid (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) and MORE at LCF in the Park this June 🔥

📅 Sunday 14th June, 12.30pm-2.30pm
📍 Abbey Park, Leicester
🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

02/04/2026

BEST OF LCF 📸📸

What a night celebrating Live Comedy Day, same again next year?

📸: Rachael Dobbie

01/04/2026

Happy Live Comedy Day 🎉🤣

👉Why does Live Comedy Day matter?

The UK live comedy sector is an incredible mixture of amazing venues, clubs, festivals, promoters and comedians all working to support new talent, live comedy and provide amazing nights out.

Like many in the UK creative industries, they are all fighting against cost increases and other factors which are affecting what they do.

Unlike most of the rest of the creative industries, live comedy doesn’t get any formal support or recognition from governments, unlike artforms like Opera, Live Music, Ballet, and more. That's why this year at Leicester Comedy Festival we celebrated the Art of Comedy.

Live Comedy Day exists to highlight the industry's position within the UK's cultural landscape, and will be celebrated across the country with shows featuring names big and small.

👉 How are we celebrating?

Best of LCF will star our newly announced Best Show winner Joz Norris with support from Best New Show winner Luke Rollason. There are just a handful of tickets remaining for tonights show, so grab a ticket and help us celebrate Live Comedy Day!

Tickets: https://thebigdifference.co.uk/events/best-of-lcf/

📸 Credits: 1: Tegan R Smith / 2: Luke Orchard / 3: Tyler Bartlam / 4: Molly Oliver

30/03/2026

Did you know Live Comedy Day is this Wednesday 1st April? 🎤

It's no joke - the grassroots live comedy sector receives no formal government recognition, unlike other forms of live entertainment. Without it, the household names you know and love wouldn't be where they are today.

We're pleased to say we're supporting the efforts of the Live Comedy Association in changing this by taking part in Live Comedy Day 👏

We're showcasing the Best of LCF, as this year's Best Show winner Joz Norris brings Joz Norris Is Hugh Jackman Is The Phantom Of The Opera to The Big Difference, supported by Best New Show winner Luke Rollason Is A Clown

🎟️Tickets are flying out, so don't wait around to grab yours from https://thebigdifference.co.uk/events/best-of-lcf/

Address

31 Rutland Street
Leicester
LE11RE

Website

https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/

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