From the archive: Tom Allen at the festival in 2017. 📸 Leicester Comedy Festival Archive | @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social

From the archive: Sarah Kendall at The Y Theatre, 2006. 📸Leicester Comedy Festival Archive @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social

PROFILE: KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN 😎🎤 Kiri has appeared on many of the UK's most popular entertainment shows, including Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown & QI. 📅 14/6, 12.30pm-2.30pm 📍 Abbey Park 🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

Best known for his work in the BAFTA winning Friday Night Dinner (C4) and Plebs (ITV), Tom Rosenthal joins the amazing Phil Ellis, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Nabil Abdulrashid and MORE at LCF in the Park this June 🔥 🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

BEST OF LCF 📸📸 What a night celebrating Live Comedy Day, same again next year? 📸: Rachael Dobbie

OUR BIGGEST EVER SUMMER SHOW ☀️ LCF in the Park is here starring the amazing Phil Ellis (Taskmaster), Tom Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner), Kiri Pritchard-McLean (Live at the Apollo), Nabil Abdulrashid (HIGNFY) + MORE TBA 😮 📅 14/06/26 🎟️ https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/

Something decidedly summery will be announced tomorrow. Keep an eye out 👀

Who's emerging victorious at the Leicester Comedy Festival 2026 Awards? 🏆 All will be revealed tomorrow morning at 10am. Join our newsletter to make sure you don't miss the news: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/mailinglist-signup 📩 📸: Tyler Bartlam

Eager to see the winners of the Leicester Comedy Festival 2026 Awards? Best of LCF celebrates our award winners with an exclusive show on Live Comedy Day 2026 🥳 Join us Wednesday 1st April at The Big Difference, tickets available at: https://thebigdifference.co.uk/events/best-of-lcf/

Tomorrow from 1pm, we'll be announcing our nominees for the Leicester Comedy Festival 2026 Awards 🏆👀 Find out first by joining our newsletter at https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/mailinglist-signup 📸: Tyler Bartlam

From the archive: Sir Ken Dodd wins the Legend of Comedy Award, 2014. @dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social  👉 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.

It's the final day of the festival, and we want to take a moment to thank you, our audience, for your unwavering support at this years festival 🙌 Whatever it is you're seeing on the final day, go out, soak it up, and give yourself a pat on the back for supporting live comedy. Thank you so much.

This afternoon at 3pm we're in-conversation with Fatiha El-Ghorri at Curve Theatre in aid of Big Difference Company, the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival ❤️ A few tickets still available at: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/an-interview-with-fatiha-el-ghorri/ 📸: Molly Oliver

Your 2026 Howes Percival Comedian of the Year is Chloe Reynolds 🎉🙌 WHAT A NIGHT. Congratulations to all our nominees 🤩

MERCH SALE 🔥 This weekend we've cut the prices on our festival merchandise in-store at our Festival Hub in Highcross. Visit us to grab a bargain 💸 HUB OPENING HOURS Mon-Fri | 13:00-19:00 Saturday | 11:00-19:00 Sunday | 11:00-16:00

Voting is now open for our best venue categories at Leicester Comedy Festival 🙌 Have you been to a venue that's really stood out to you this festival? Show them the love and vote for them in our annual awards 🏆 Vote via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S5CBSY9 📸: Roxana Blaj

The final weekend is upon us. Do not miss your final chance to see some top-quality comedy this February 🏃💨 There's still plenty to choose from with over 200 events this weekend: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/

From the archive: Miles Jupp wins Leicester Comedian of the Year, 2001. Our 2026 winner will be crowned this Saturday, book now: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/leicester-comedian-of-the-year-competition-2026/

Harborough! What a BIG Weekend ❤️‍🔥 We're back with more fun in the county in Blaby this weekend - see you there?! 📸: @julian_b_photos

Did you know Leicester Comedy Festival is operated by registered charity Big Difference Company? Bridging The Gap supports comedians from underrepresented groups in performing at Leicester Comedy Festival 👏 Showcase tickets - https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/bridging-the-gap-2/

Want something to remember the festival by? Our 2026 merchandise is available at the festival hub or online at https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/merch/

Next Saturday we host the legendary Howes Percival Leicester Comedian of the Year competition 🔥 Tickets available via: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/leicester-comedian-of-the-year-competition-2026/

Thank you for supporting live comedy. Thank you for supporting our venues. Thank you for supporting our charity. Festival events continue until the 22nd February. See you there? ❤️ 📸 1, 2, 4 - Roxana Blaj | 3 - Tyler Bartlam

Harborough! The BIG Weekend is here and so is Live At The Market Hall 🥳 Saturday is all but sold out but still some availability for Sunday. Book via: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/live-at-the-market-hall-2-5/ 🎟️ 📸: Live at the Market Hall 2025, by @julian_b_photos

THIS JUST IN: We're supporting Live Comedy Day 🥳🙌 Tickets are extremely limited so if you would like to attend, book now via https://thebigdifference.co.uk/events/best-of-lcf/ 📅 Wednesday 1st April, 8:00pm 📍 The Big Difference 📸: Rachael Dobbie

From the archive: Brett Goldstein at the Leicester Comedy Festival awards, 2013. The Leicester Comedy Festival Archive Exhibition is currently free to view at The Big Difference during the festival.

One week down. 12 more days to go. Make sure you don't miss out ⚠️ Tickets available at: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/

Introducing, your UK Pun Champion 2026: Adam Ernest Pickard 🏆🥊 📸: 1, 3 Tyler Bartlam / 2 Molly Oliver

The ring is in at De Montfort Hall and we're almost ready to crown UK Pun Champion 2026 🥊🏆 See you soon 🙌

This was pretty special. What were your highlights of week one? ❤️ 📸: Tegan Richardson-Smith ___ By attending Leicester Comedy Festival you are supporting charity Big Difference Company (1135167) in our mission to improve people's lives through laughter.

🚨 Extremely limited tickets left for Comedy In The Dark + Comedy In The Dark for Kids this evening 🚨 5:30PM | Comedy in the Dark for Kids 7:00PM | Comedy in the Dark 📍 Phoenix Cinema Final tickets: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/?search=%22comedy%20in%20the%20dark%22

Weekend one is here. Get out there and enjoy it. What shows have you got lined up? 🤔 📸: Chloe Petts at The Y Theatre, 04/02/26

Did you know shows at Leicester Comedy Festival are way more effective than an umbrella? Stay dry at one of over 250 events taking place this weekend ☔ Book tickets at: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/

💥 SILVER STAND UP TONIGHT! 💥 Silver Stand Up celebrates some of the best comics 55 and over on the UK comedy circuit 🔥 📅 Friday 6th February, 7:30pm 📍 The Big Difference Book tickets at: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/silver-stand-up/

Looking for our Festival Hub? We're in Highcross Shopping Centre! 👋 Please note the Clocktower Entrance is currently closed. You can access the upper level from the High Street Entrance, or from the Churchgate Entrance (by Waterstones) where you can take the escalator/lift up to the upper level.

The hub is OPEN 👋 Mon-Fri: 13:00-19:00 Sat: 11:00-19:00 Sun: 11:00-16:00 📍Highcross (next to Boots)

It's party time 🥳 https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/ ___ Leicester Comedy Festival is brought to you by charity Big Difference Company (1135167).

Just one day to go. See you tomorrow 👋 https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/ 📸: Stephen Bailey at Brewdog, 2019

It all kicks off this week 🥳 4-22 February 2026 Book now: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/

Did you know we have over 250 performances that are Free/PWYW? 💷 What a fantastic way to take a chance on a smaller name. Comics usually collect donations at the end of their show, so please make sure to bring some cash and support them! ❤️ 📸: Josh Pugh at The Real Ale Classroom, 2025.

Hasan Al-Habib at The Gala Preview Show 👏 Catch Hasan at the festival with shows on the 5th, 6th, and 12th February - tickets available now on comedy-festival.co.uk 🔗 📸 (1,3 Molly Oliver / 2,4 Tyler Bartlam)

INTRODUCING: Howes Percival Leicester Comedian of the Year 🏆 Leicester Comedy Festival is delighted to announce Howes Percival as the new name sponsor for the prestigious competition. Tickets: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/leicester-comedian-of-the-year-competition-2026/

From the archive: Nish Kumar at the preview show, 2016. ___ 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.

The inimitable Lil Wenker at The Gala Preview Show 🔥🔥 Catch Lil as BOYKING on Saturday 14th February at Phoenix, tickets at: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lil-wenker-boyking/ 📸 (1,3 Molly Oliver/ 2,4 Tyler Bartlam)

Nearly there. Leicester Comedy Festival 2026 kicks off in just one week 👀 Full lineup: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/ 📸: Festival patron Jo Brand at De Montfort Hall, 2020.

The LCF App returns 🙌 ℹ️ Get info on upcoming shows 📍 Search nearby venues ⭐ Curate your festival experience 🔎 Find inspiration Just search 'Leicester Comedy Festival' on iOS or Android to download!

Micky Overman at the Gala Preview Show 🤩 Catch Micky's Work In Progress at Hive & Honey on Saturday 7th February at 14:00 👀 Tickets: https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/micky-overman-work-in-progress/ 📸 (1,3 Tyler Bartlam / 2,4 Molly Oliver)

10 days to go. Are you festival ready? Leicester Comedy Festival, 4-22 February Full programme: https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/

How good was James Ellis at the preview show? ⭐ James' show had sold out, but he's just added a second performance on Sunday 21st Feb at Aylestone Black-Horse - head to our website for tickets 🏃💨 📸 (1,3 Molly Oliver / 2,4 Tyler Bartlam)

🗞️ NEW SHOWS ADDED 🗞️ We're still adding new shows as we run up to February, so keep checking our website to make sure you don't miss out on the hottest tickets around. New additions include: Marcel Lucont, Rachel Fairburn, Daniel Petrie, Valeria Vulpe, Edd Hedges and more 😮