Seven shows to savour as Southport Comedy Festival 2026 enters its final week

Andrew Brown
11 Min Read
Paul Merton and Suki Webster at Southport Comedy Festival 2026

Southport Comedy Festival paid partnership 

What an amazing start to The 15th Annual Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia Southport!

Festival-goers have enjoyed some superb shows, including Paul Merton with Suki Webster last night; Jason Manford; Jason Byrne; Paul Sinha; the Southport New Comedian Of The Year compertion.

The good news is there’s more to come, with seven superb shows at Victoria Park in Southport from now until Sunday 18th October 2026.

Once again, all events will take place under canvas in a luxury heated and seated marquee, courtesy of Elite Events.

The festival will be followed in the same venue by Southport Oktoberfest on 23rd and 24th October 2026.

Read More: Elite Events team back with a bang with fab festival experience at Southport Comedy Festival 2026 

The Southport Comedy Festival is proud to support charitable causes. This year’s nominated charity is Bebe’s Hive, which will be holding a prize raffle during the Back To The 90s Comedy Bingo event. All proceeds raised from the raffle will go directly towards supporting the incredible work of this wonderful local charity. Donation buckets will also be available at festival events throughout the 17-day programme.

Tik Taco is the catering partner and a sponsor at Southport Comedy Festival. Festival Director Brendan Riley with Tik Taco owner Anyhony Greenland. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Tik Taco is the catering partner and a sponsor at Southport Comedy Festival. Festival Director Brendan Riley with Tik Taco owner Anyhony Greenland. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport

Food and Drink will be provided by Award Winning local businesses Tik Taco and Elite Bars.

Tik Taco will be serving up their delicious authentic Mexican street food throughout the event with freshly made tacos, nachos and dirty fries.

Elite Bars will be running a fully licensed bar, with snacks and hot drinks also available.

Tickets and full line-up at:

southportcomedyfestival.com

Sunday 11thOctober

Adam Kay: This Is Going To Hurt

Adam Kay brings his critically acclaimed show This Is Going to Hurt to Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia Southport
Adam Kay brings his critically acclaimed show This Is Going to Hurt to Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia Southport

BAFTA-winning comedian Adam Kay shares his uniquely hilarious diaries as a junior doctor in this “electrifying” (Guardian) evening of stand-up. Over 350,000 tickets sold. 

Based on the multi-million selling book and multi-award-winning TV series. 

“Intersperses horror stories from the NHS frontline with a catalogue of sublimely silly spoof songs, and some blissfully brilliant wordplay” ★★★★★ Mail on Sunday

“Hilarious and heartbreaking” Charlie Brooker

Door: 6:00pm
Show: 7:00pm
Price: £25.50
Age: 16+ PG

Tuesday 13th October

Mike Wozniak: The Bench

Mike Wozniak. Photo by Matt Stronge
Mike Wozniak. Photo by Matt Stronge

New stand-up tour show from Mike Wozniak in which a story about a bench will be prominent. Previous experience of or strong opinions about benches not required. Let Mike worry about that. 

As seen on Taskmaster, Man Down and Junior Taskmaster. As heard on Three Bean Salad podcast. 

“deliciously distinctive fun… The story of Wozniak might be the shaggiest of shaggy dog stories you will ever hear” The Evening Standard

“a comic of adorably skewwhiff charm” The Times

“Wozniak has a talent for [the] slightly absurd… a charming storyteller with a splash of the surreal” The I Paper

 “Wozniak is a great crafter of a story… A great performer with an interesting style” The Skinny

Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Price: £22.50
Age: 14+ PG

Wednesday 14th October

Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby

Scott Bennett
Scott Bennett

One family, one condition, one hell of a hairy baby…  Scott Bennett from Live at the Apollo, The Royal Variety Performance and The News Quiz, tells the amazing true story of how his daughter fell ill with a rare genetic condition, congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Never heard of it?  Neither had Scott and Jemma.

“What’s so rare and satisfying is how all the jokes go hand in hand with the seriousness of the situation. It’s a wonderfully hopeful, often hilarious show from a properly funny man” ★★★★ The Times

“Fabulous turn of phrase, superb character creations” ★★★★ Chortle

“Stardom is surely just one punchline away” ★★★★ Evening Standard

Yes, it’s a story about an ill baby, but it’s a very funny one with a happy ending, as new parents Scott and Jemma fight to get the right diagnosis for their daughter and are plunged into months of bewildering treatment, sleepless nights, celebrity encounters and bizarre side effects.

Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Price: £22.00
Age: 14+ PG

Friday 16th October
Best of the Fest

Featuring Steve Gribbin, Clayton Jones, Brennan Reece and host Brendan Riley

Sponsored by Acorn Insurance

Steve Gribbin (c) Andy Hollingworth
Steve Gribbin (c) Andy Hollingworth

Join us for a fantastic night of live comedy with a triple headline show featuring the very best in stand-up from the UK comedy circuit.

Steve Gribbin

Liverpool’s legendary guitar-wielding satirist is renowned for his razor-sharp comedy songs, political humour and explosive energy. A veteran of The Cutting Edge at London’s Comedy Store and winner of the UK Comics’ Comic Award for Outstanding Achievement.

“A highly refreshing and original comic” The Scotsman

Clayton Jones

A hugely popular observational comedian known for his hilarious take on everyday life. Winner of Last-Minute Comedian of the Year and finalist in English Comedian of the Year.

“This dude has funny bones” Romesh Ranganathan

Brennan Reece

Multi award-winning comedian as seen on Live at the Apollo and Roast Battle. Winner of English Comedian of the Year, with over 100 million online views and five sold-out UK tours.

“A powerfully entertaining, unstoppable force” Chortle

Hosted by Brendan Riley

Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Price: £15.00
Age: 16+ PG

Saturday 17th October

Comedy Bingo Back To The 90’s

Sponsored by Bro Design

Comedy Bingo Back To The 90s is coming to Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia this October with a prize raffle on the night raising funds for Bebe's Hive
Comedy Bingo Back To The 90s is coming to Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia this October with a prize raffle on the night raising funds for Bebe’s Hive

Get ready to rewind time and dab the night away at The Southport Comedy Festival for our Comedy Bingo back to the 90’s show.

Expect all the chaos and laughs of Comedy Bingo, smashed together with the biggest bangers of the greatest decade ever.

Hosted by the one and only comedian Brendan Riley, this is not your average bingo night, it’s a full on 90’s disco party where you’ll laugh, dance, sing and dab your way to brilliant prizes.

Fancy dress isn’t mandatory… but let’s be honest, it’s highly encouraged.

So grab your mates, dig out the double denim, and remember
EVERYBODY’S FREE TO FEEL GOOD… AND PLAY BINGO! 

We have invited the wonderful team from this year’s festival’s chosen charity, Bebe’s Hive, to hold a prize raffle during the evening. The raffle will be drawn on the night, with all proceeds raised going directly to support the incredible work of this wonderful local charity.

Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Price: £10.00
Age: 16+ PG

Sunday 18th October

An Afternoon with Mick Miller

Sponsored by Halliwell Jones Kia Southport

Mick Miller. Picture by Andy Hollingworth Archive
Mick Miller. Picture by Andy Hollingworth Archive

Join us for a very special afternoon with comedy legend Mick Miller, one of our most treasured entertainers who has been at the top of his game for over 40 years. Often referred to as “The bald guy with the long hair,” Mick first came to prominence in the 70’s on the iconic ITV show ‘The Comedians’ but remains as relevant and funny today, he is one of the few comedians of his generation who has made the transition onto the alternative circuit, creating a younger fan base along the way.

This will be a masterclass in stand-up comedy not to be missed.

Plus support from Oliver Bowler

Door: 2.00pm

Show: 3.00pm

Price: £20

Age Restriction: 16+PG

Sunday 18th October

Seann Walsh: This is Torture

Seann Walsh is performing at Southport Comedy Festival.
Seann Walsh is performing at Southport Comedy Festival.

After his sell-out 2023 tour, the UK’s dishevelled king of stand-up, award-winning Seann Walsh returns with a brand-new show. Don’t miss his trademark high-energy exasperation and razor-sharp observations that leave audiences in stitches and on their feet all around the country. This year, he’s decided to name the show after the thing he says the most in life – THIS IS TORTURE.

As seen on Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

 “Unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation” The Guardian

Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Price: £18.00
Age: 14+ PG

 Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: [email protected] 

Share This Article
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply