The Roundhouse Comedy Festival returns to Camden this summer, running from 1st to 18th August with an expanded programme of live shows. Marking a major moment for the iconic venue following its 20th anniversary celebrations, the festival brings together a broad mix of established names and emerging talent across nearly three weeks of entertainment, where audiences can expect everything from stand-up and live podcasts to more theatrical and experimental formats.
Building on the success of its debut, the 2026 edition has gone bigger and better, opening with a flagship edition of Live at the Roundhouse, headlined by Frank Skinner alongside Phil Wang, Rosie Jones and Celya AB, and hosted by Saturday Night Live UK’s Paddy Young. Across the opening weekend, the audience will be treated to a live recording of The Alexei Sayle Podcast with Diane Morgan, followed by a major showcase led by Katherine Ryan alongside Judi Love, Michelle de Swarte, Lou Sanders and Jack Skipper. Accessibility remains a priority for the festival, with a number of £5 tickets available for audiences aged 30 and under at every show.
Stand-up sits at the centre of the programme, with a strong run of headline performances and curated bills. Joe Lycett closes the festival with a night of new and experimental material, while Sam Campbell leads a line-up featuring Fern Brady and Desiree Burch. Ed Gamble also fronts a dedicated bill, joined by Jamali Maddix and Sam Nicoresti. Across the schedule, mixed-bill formats bring together established favourites and newer voices, to capture the full breadth the current comedy scene offers.
Alongside stand-up, the festival will also be leaning into live podcasts and crossover formats. The Adam Buxton Podcast will be live-recording with Mawaan Rizwan, with other shows basing their art on audience interaction and improvisation. US streaming platform Dropout makes its UK debut with live editions of Dirty Laundry, Um, Actually and Crowd Control, introducing format-led comedy built around games, guests and crowd participation. These sit alongside more theatrical work, including Kristen Schaal’s one-night-only comedy play and Jack Rooke’s return with Good Grief.
The Roundhouse itself remains central to the experience, both as a venue and as a wider cultural institution. Based in a Grade II* listed building in Camden, it operates as an independent multi-arts space and also a youth charity. Its programmes support thousands of young people each year across creative disciplines, alongside offering access to professional facilities, with every ticket sold contributing directly to this initiative.
Roundhouse Comedy Festival will take place at Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8EH. You can view the full listings, find out more about the series of events, and book your tickets right here.
