The Southport Comedy Festival team are racing ahead with plans for next year’s event after they announced the renewal of Halliwell Jones Kia as the headline sponsor.
This will be the fifth year that Halliwell Jones has been the main sponsor of the 17-day festival, which brings some of the world’s top stand-up comedians to Victoria Park in Southport each October.
The 2026 Southport Comedy Festival will once again take place inside a luxury heated and seated marquee, provided by Elite Events, from 2nd-18th October 2026.
It is part of an exciting ‘Southport 2026’ line-up of events, attracting millions of visitors to enjoy all the town has to offer throughout the year.
Southport Comedy Festival Director Brendan Riley said:
“We are thrilled to welcome Halliwell Jones Kia back in the driving seat as our title sponsor for the 2026 Southport Comedy Festival, so soon after the end of the 2025 event.
“This will be the fifth year that Halliwell Jones has been our headline sponsor. We are delighted to continue our partnership with one of the biggest and most successful motoring companies in the UK which is also a brilliant local business.
“Halliwell Jones has expanded its offering in Southport this year with the opening of its new Kia showroom.
“They have been keen to show off exactly what they have to offer to motorists through our partnership.
“It’s something which is positive for us, positive for the festival and positive for them.
“Halliwell Jones are very invested in supporting the local community, whether it’s through sponsoring Southport Comedy Festival, or through supporting the Comedy Bingo Winter Socials which tackle loneliness and isolation in our society.
“The 2025 Southport Comedy Festival has been a huge success – our most successful ever, as we welcomed stars including Chris McCausland, Dr John Cooper Clarke, Ardal O’Hanlon, Jason Byrne, Deirdre O’Kane, Omid Djalili, Rich Hall and others.
“It included 10 sold-out shows with over 6,500 visitors, which provided a huge boost to the local economy and local businesses in Southport at a time of year, during October, which is typically quieter than others.
“We are already working hard on plans for our 2026 Southport Comedy Festival, with tickets for Gary Delaney on Friday 9th October 2026 and Laura Smyth on Thursday 15th October 2026 already on sale: What’s On – Southport Comedy Festival
“Look out for more being announced soon!
“We are very grateful for the huge support shown by all our sponsors. The festival has grown, and grown and grown since we took it over in 2011, far bigger than we ever dreamed it could have become.
“We could not make the Southport Comedy Festival happen every year without the ongoing support of local businesses.
“We’re also grateful for the backing of the likes of Mark Dilley and Elite Events, Alan Adams and Victoria Park Events, and Mark Catherall and the Sefton Council Tourism Team.”
Yvonne Watton, Head of Business at Halliwell Jones Kia Southport, said:
“Halliwell Jones Kia are delighted to remain the Headline Sponsor of the Southport Comedy Festival for 2026.
“This ongoing partnership highlights our shared commitment to supporting local culture, creativity, and community events.
“We’re proud to continue backing a festival that brings so much laughter and energy to Southport, and we look forward to another incredible year.”
● Visit Southport Comedy Festival at: southportcomedyfestival.com
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