The festival will come to the city for its fifth anniversary
The city will host a packed programme of talks, panel discussions, screenings, a short film night and live comedy performances(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The BBC has announced a huge spring festival is coming to Liverpool for the first time. Previously staged in Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff and Newcastle, the festival brings together people working across the TV comedy sector to celebrate the industry.
From Wednesday, May 13 until Friday, May 15, 2026, the city will host a packed programme of talks, panel discussions, screenings, a short film night and live comedy performances.
Last year’s BBC Comedy Festival in Belfast featured 16 panels and masterclasses across two days and welcomed more than 70 comedians and creators, including Steve Coogan, Lisa McGee, Ash Atalla and Michelle de Swarte.
During the event, BBC Comedy and BBC Northern Ireland revealed a new initiative that ringfences £500,000 to support comedy production in Northern Ireland.
The Liverpool festival will launch a new wave of development and production opportunities in the North West, with further details to be released in due course.
The Liverpool festival will launch a new wave of development and production opportunities in the North West(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC, said: “Liverpool has funny bones and a rich culture of producing top tier comedy creatives, so we’re delighted to be bringing the BBC Comedy Festival 2026 to the city.
“Comedy forms a unique corner of the television industry and in British culture. It’s important that we provide a forum that brings together some of the best comedy minds to celebrate and discuss the success of the sector now and in the future.”
This year’s festival will additionally include a range of public-facing panels and events. Information about dates, venues and ticketing will be shared closer to the time.
Liverpool council’s cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “Our city is well known for its sense of humour and has produced some of the country’s top comedic talent, so it feels natural to be welcoming the next BBC Comedy Festival to Liverpool.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for those working in the industry to come together with peers to learn and collaborate, whilst celebrating an important part of our city’s culture.
“We’re also looking forward to working with the BBC on developing a programme to support future talent development and production opportunities throughout the region.”