The Hastings Comedy Festival reveals its complete programme for 2026, bringing over 90 performances to venues across Hastings and St Leonards from 1st June to 7th June. The independently run festival, now entering its 11th year, continues to establish itself as the UK’s largest summer seaside comedy festival, attracting both household names and emerging talent to the East Sussex coast.
This year’s line-up features Taskmaster champion Maisie Adam, internationally recognised stand-up and podcast host Red Richardson, Mock The Week regular Rhys James, and viral comic and writer Joe Wells. The festival welcomes an impressive international roster including 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.
Following sell-out performances in 2025, the festival sees the return of several fan favourites. Improv group The RH Experience makes a comeback, alongside Singaporean stand-up and Edinburgh Fringe’s 2024 Best Newcomer winner Jin Hao Li. Audiences can also catch razor-sharp sensation Josh Baulf, larger than life character comedian President Obonjo, Canadian stand-up veteran Tony Law, and 2025 Hastings Comedy Festival Norman Award-winner for Best Newcomer Oliver Moore.
The festival programme spans an impressive range of comedy styles, from classic stand-up to clowning, theatre to puppetry. Performances take place across fourteen local venues, creating a week-long celebration that transforms the seaside town into a comedy hub. The Albion, the Observer Building, the White Rock Studio, Jenny Lind, Ye Olde Pump House, The Piper, The St Leonard, Oscars, Electric Palace, East Hastings Angling Club, Sugarpie Honeybuns, Frenches, Brewing Brother@Source, and The Printworks all host shows throughout the week.
The festival’s newest venue, The Spun Glass Theatre in Hastings Old Town’s The Stade area, introduces Comedy for Kids programming. Late-night comedy returns alongside the much-loved Open Mic Saturday at Ye Olde Pump House, offering emerging comedians a platform to showcase their material. The week concludes with the prestigious Norman Award newcomer competition at The Piper on Sunday afternoon, recognising the next generation of comedy talent.
“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 to puppetry and more,” said Hastings Comedy Festival Director Chris Young. “With tour performances, exclusive previews and WIPs from some of the UK’s biggest names to the freshest new Hastings talent, festivalgoers will experience the absolute best of the comedy scene down by the seaside, and we can’t wait to see you there.”
The programming strategy reflects a deliberate balance between established headliners and experimental work. Tour shows sit alongside work-in-progress performances, giving audiences access to material in development from major names whilst supporting local performers building their craft. This approach creates an environment where festivalgoers might catch a future Edinburgh Fringe hit before it reaches the mainstream circuit.
Established in 2015 by friends Chris Young and Jake Alexander, the Hastings Comedy Festival has grown from modest beginnings to become a significant fixture in the UK comedy calendar. The independent operation maintains its grassroots character whilst attracting performers who headline major venues across the country and internationally. The festival’s growth reflects both the quality of its programming and the appeal of Hastings as a destination for comedy enthusiasts.
The seaside setting distinguishes the festival from urban comedy events, creating a holiday atmosphere where audiences can combine beach visits with evening performances. This positioning attracts both local residents and visitors who travel specifically for the week-long event, contributing to the town’s cultural economy whilst building Hastings’ reputation as a creative hub beyond its traditional arts scene.
Tickets are now available for all performances, with full listings and booking information accessible via www.hastingscomedyfestival.com. Free printed programmes become available throughout Hastings in the weeks leading up to the festival, providing detailed information about performers, venues, and showtimes. The festival encourages early booking for headline acts, which typically sell out in advance.
The 2026 edition represents the festival’s most ambitious programming to date, with over 90 performances creating opportunities for audiences to discover new favourites whilst enjoying established names. The combination of international stars, UK circuit regulars, and local talent creates a festival atmosphere that celebrates comedy in all its forms, from polished tour shows to raw open mic experimentation.
The Hastings Comedy Festival is an independently run annual event founded in 2015 by Chris Young and Jake Alexander. Now in its 11th year, the festival has established itself as the UK’s largest summer seaside comedy festival, attracting leading comedians from across the UK and internationally. The festival takes place across multiple venues in Hastings and St Leonards, offering diverse programming that spans stand-up, improv, character comedy, and experimental performance.
