Credit: Marc Brenner
For more than one reason, Birmingham could do with a laugh right now. Thankfully, more than 90 performances—featuring big names, emerging acts and the very best comedians from the West Midlands— are stopping by the Second City for Birmingham Comedy Festival.
The UK’s second-longest-running comedy festival returns from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 12. Set up in 2001 to celebrate the city’s often unsung comedy scene, over 12,000 people now attend every year. And it all kicks off with the prestigious Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2025 at The Glee Club.
“Birmingham Comedy Festival is widely regarded as one of the UK’s top independent comedy festivals, and it’s especially beloved for its mix of big-name acts, rising stars, and local talent,” said a popular AI platform, while a human spokesperson for the festival stated, “Sounds right. Couldn’t have said it better.”
What’s on at Birmingham Comedy Festival? 
Credit: Trigger Happy TV
This year, a series of special events celebrates iconic films and TV comedies. ‘The Comic Strip Presents …’ (Oct 4, The Glee Club) sees Robin Ince joined by members of the seminal Channel 4 series that launched the careers of a generation of British comedians. Meanwhile, ‘Trigger Happy TV: Live’ (Oct 7, Town Hall) finds creator Dom Jolly revisiting characters and sketches to mark a quarter-century of chaos.
Elsewhere, actors/writers Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith also bring their inventive anthology TV series ‘Inside No.9’ to the stage (Oct 7-11, Dec 2-6, The Alexandra). Plus, the festival’s annual Laurel and Hardy film screenings return with an animal-themed triple-bill (Oct 9, West Midlands Police Museum; Oct 4, Coventry and Oct 12, Stourbridge).
Credit: Aunty Donna
Also among the highlights are appearances from Babatunde Aléshé (Oct 4, The Alexandra), Kane Brown (Oct 5, Town Hall), Aunty Donna (Oct 2-3, Alexandra), Elliot Steel (Oct 10, The Glee Club), Emmanuel Sonubi (Oct 9, The Glee Club), Geoff Norcott (Oct 4, Town Hall), Henning Wehn (Oct 11, Town Hall), Chris Kent (Oct 8, The Glee Club) and Jason Byrne (Oct 10, Town Hall).
As always, local acts feature prominently. Before recording his show for prosperity, Gary Delaney is back on home turf for two special warm-up performances of his hugely successful touring show Gary In Punderland (Oct 6-7, Comedy Junction), and acclaimed Brum musical double-act Good Kids (Oct 3, Cherry Reds) reunite for a very special one-off appearance.
What about the free half-dayers? 
Credit: Birmingham Comedy Festival
Of course, we’re most excited for the always-popular Birmingham Comedy Festival Free Half-Dayers (Part 1, Oct 5; Part 2, Oct 12). Heading to the (almost) neighbouring Cherry Reds and The Victoria for consecutive Sunday afternoons, acts appearing include Eric Rushton, Finlay Christie and Jamie D’Souza, who test out new material. Plus, Hasan Al-Habib appears with his debut show, Death To The West (Midlands).
Other visitors to the Free Half-Dayers include the award-winning Rob Kemp with his inventive Beetlejuice/Beatles mash-up, Beatlesjuice; Andy Robinson and James Cook, recording a new episode of their pop music podcast Shooby Dooby Doo Wop; Tal Davies, who presents a read-through of her work-in-progress sitcom; and improv troupe Behind The Headlines with their improvised Peaky Blinders parody.
To learn more and get tickets to Birmingham Comedy Festival, head here.