The Camden festival will feature top comedians and live podcasts from August 1 to 18, 2026.
Category: Arts & Culture
The Roundhouse Comedy Festival is set to return to Camden this summer, running from August 1 to August 18, 2026, featuring an impressive lineup of established and rising comedians. Hosted by Paddy Young, a star of Saturday Night Live UK, the festival promises to deliver a diverse array of performances, including stand-up, live podcasts, and theatrical comedy.
This year’s festival marks a notable expansion from its successful debut in 2023. After celebrating the Roundhouse’s 20th anniversary, the festival aims to attract a wide audience with its mix of humor and interactive formats. The event will kick off with a flagship edition of Live at the Roundhouse, headlined by renowned comedian Frank Skinner, alongside Phil Wang, Rosie Jones, and Celya AB.
Among the many highlights, the opening weekend will feature a live recording of The Alexei Sayle Podcast, with special guest Diane Morgan, as well as a showcase led by Katherine Ryan, which includes performances from Judi Love, Michelle de Swarte, Lou Sanders, and Jack Skipper. The festival aims to offer something for everyone, making comedy accessible and engaging.
The Roundhouse, located in a Grade II* listed building in Camden, serves as a venue for the festival and as a cultural institution and youth charity. It has a rich history of supporting young people across various creative disciplines, providing professional facilities and opportunities for artistic expression. Each ticket sold for the festival directly contributes to these initiatives, reinforcing the Roundhouse's commitment to community engagement.
Accessibility is a priority for the festival, with 30 £5 tickets reserved for attendees aged 30 and under at every show. This initiative aims to encourage younger audiences to experience live comedy without financial barriers. The festival's organizers have emphasized the importance of making laughter available to all, ensuring that everyone can partake in the joy of comedy.
Stand-up comedy remains central to the festival, with a strong lineup of headline performances and mixed-bill formats that showcase both established favorites and newer voices in the comedy scene. Joe Lycett is set to close the festival with a night of new and experimental material, ensuring a memorable finale for attendees.
As part of the expanded programming, the festival will also feature live editions of popular US comedy shows from the streaming platform Dropout. This marks the first time these shows—Dirty Laundry, Um, Actually, and Crowd Control—will be presented live outside the United States. These performances will introduce unique formats that blend comedy with audience interaction and improvisation, promising to engage viewers in new and exciting ways.
In addition to stand-up and live podcasts, the festival will include theatrical performances, such as Kristen Schaal’s one-night-only comedy play, The Legend of the Crystal Shell, co-starring John Roberts. Jack Rooke will also revisit his acclaimed show Good Grief, bringing a decade of experience back to the stage as part of a wider UK tour.
Tickets for the festival will be available for purchase starting with a presale for Roundhouse members on April 23, 2026, followed by a general sale on April 24, 2026. The pricing for the 2026 edition is expected to be similar to the previous year, where tickets were priced between £17.50 and £35, making it accessible for a broad audience.
With its vibrant lineup and commitment to accessibility, the Roundhouse Comedy Festival is set to be a highlight of the summer comedy calendar in London. As audiences prepare for an exciting three weeks of laughter and entertainment, the festival promises to deliver unforgettable performances from some of the biggest names in comedy.