Got any plans this spring? Visit Bath for its brilliant annual comedy festival, featuring 20 days of stand-up, sketches, kids shows and much more across multiple city centre venues. 

The Bath Comedy Festival 2023 will be held from 26th March until 16th April. It offers a lineup bursting with hilarious comedy talent, with a choice of intimate gigs, unusual performances and some truly special events. Some big names have already been announced, including Julian Clary, Sophie Duker, Zoe Lyons and Alasdair Beckett-King. 

Bath Comedy Festival 2023: What’s on

There are around 100 events planned for this year’s festival, but here’s our roundup of the must-see highlights:

Bath Comedy Club – starring Paul Thorne, Jasmine Morton, Craig Smalls, Daniel Dagger (MC)

Sunday 26th March – Revolution Bath

To kick off the festival in style, Revolution Bath is hosting an evening packed full of standup talent from Bath, the UK and even further afield. 

April Fools’ Gala 

Saturday 1st April – The Forum 

This April Fools special is a star-studded evening of comedy fun and games, featuring the likes of Ronnie Golden, Rowland Rivron, Helen Lederer, Frank Sanazi and many more. 

Krater Comedy Club

Saturday 1st, 8th and 15th April – Komedia

The festival wouldn’t be complete without a few instalments of Bath’s best comedy night, hosted by one of its most exciting comedy and live music venues. Keep an eye on the Komedia website for lineup details. 

Sophie Duker – Hag

Friday 14th April – Rondo Theatre

Taskmaster favourite Sophie Duker is back on the road with her new standup show ‘Hag’, at the fabulous Rondo Theatre. 

Julian Clary & Ian Shaw

Saturday 15th April – The Forum

National treasure Julian Clary and his good friend, the award-winning singer Ian Shaw, join forces for one of the festival’s biggest events. Expect an evening of filthy stories, songs and of course, lots of laughs. 

Zoe Lyons – Bald Ambition

Sunday 16th April – Komedia

A new standup show from popular comedian and TV presenter Zoe Lyons, Bald Ambition is all about what Lyons describes as her “monumental midlife crisis”. The Guardian describes it as “A hugely enjoyable mix of brutal put downs and richly funny stories.”

New Act Competition

Various dates and venues

The festival’s New Act Competition offers a unique chance to see the comedy stars of tomorrow before they hit the big time. Previous winners and runners-up have included Joe Lycett, Matt Richardson and Rob Beckett. The competition takes place throughout the festival, moving between venues as acts progress out of the heats and into the final.

Tickets for each event are sold individually, either from the venue or the Bath Box Office website. But to ensure the festival is accessible for everyone, many events are free or ‘pay as you feel’. 

See the full lineup at the Bath Comedy Festival 2023 website.

If you’re coming to any of the events, you’d best get your accommodation sorted quickly – as the city is already filling up ready for the festival. Find your dream Bath holiday apartment here.