Comedy Festival Line-Up Complete
Established in 2015 and independently run by friends Chris Young and Jake Alexander, the Hastings Comedy Festival has grown to attract some of the UK and the world’s biggest comedians. Returning for its eleventh year, it is now the UK’s largest summer seaside comedy festival. The Festival has now announced its complete 2026 line-up, with over 90 performances taking over venues across Hastings and St Leonards from 1-7 June.
Audiences can expect favourites such as Taskmaster champion Maisie Adam, internationally renowned stand-up and podcast host Red Richardson, Mock The Week regular Rhys James, and viral comic and writer Joe Wells at this year’s Festival.
They will be joined by American actor and sketch comedian Russell Hicks, British-Pakistani legend Tez Ilyas, Mexican-American-Venezuelan storyteller Lara Ricote, and political comedian and activist Mark Thomas.
After sell-out shows last year, 2026 will also see the return of improv group The RH Experience, Singaporean stand-up and Edinburgh Fringe’s 2024 Best Newcomer winner Jin Hao Li, razor-sharp sensation Josh Baulf, larger than life character comedian President Obonjo and Canadian stand-up veteran Tony Law, along with 2025 Hastings Comedy Festival Norman Award-winner for Best Newcomer, Oliver Moore.
The Festival will also include the return of late-night comedy. Much loved Open Mic Saturday will take place at Ye Olde Pumphouse, Comedy for Kids at the Festival’s newest venue, Spun Glass Theatre, will perform in The Stade area, and will finish with the prestigious Norman Award newcomer competition at The Piper on Sunday afternoon.
The Festival will also happen across local venues: The Albion, the Observer Building, the White Rock Studio, The Jenny Lind, Ye Olde Pumphouse, The Piper, The St Leonard, Oscar’s, The Electric Palace, East Hastings Angling Club, Sugarpie Honeybuns, Frenches, Brewing Brothers Courtyard at The Source, and The Printworks.
Comedy Festival Director Chris Young says: “This year’s festival promises to be a vibrant mix of laughter and creativity, offering something for everyone from classic stand-up comedy to clowning, theatre, puppetry and more.”
Full programme and tickets from hastingscomedyfestival.com/festivallistings2025.
Find free printed programmes around Hastings.
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