The Last Laugh: The best comedy events on Skiddle | April 2026

We're back with the Last Laugh, this time for the April 2026 edition, where we showcase the best comedy events on sale on Skiddle in the coming months. Check them out below!

Skiddle Staff

Date published: 22nd Apr 2026

April’s doing what it does best, teasing summer plans while still delivering plenty of reasons to get out of your gaff right now. The beer gardens are seeing some footfall, the bank holidays are coming thick and fast, and the comedy calendar is absolutely stacked with everything from intimate club nights to huge outdoor shows in the months ahead.

This month’s edition of The Last Laugh brings together the best of both worlds: big hitters like Comedy at the Castle and Russell Howard’s massive open-air gala are on the horizon, alongside a packed run of club gigs, Work-In-Progress shows, and touring favourites - from Jojo Sutherland to Dan Nightingale to Haley Ellis - hitting stages across the UK right now. Basically, there’s no shortage of top-tier comedy to get stuck into.

So, scroll on, grab your tickets, and make the most of April the right way... with a proper laugh.

Comedy at the Castle 2026

Comedy at the Castle is back for 2026, and it's bigger than ever. Now in its fourth year, the UK’s fastest-growing outdoor comedy festival, courtesy of Closeup Comedy and Digbeth Dining Club, expands to three castles, with Warwick and Exeter castles returning, and Lancaster Castle the latest to play host to this comedic siege.

The headliners this year are fit to wear the crowns too, with headline nights from Joanne McNally, Russell Kane, Chris McCausland, Al Murray, and Paul Smith, plus supporting battlements from 25 of the best names in the biz. Plus, alongside the open-air laughs, you get to delight in award-winning street food, cocktails, craft ale & fizz bars, and high-end production across three spectacular historic settings. What more could you want?

The following comedians are also confirmed for Comedy at the Castle 2026: Stephen Bailey, Angela Barnes, Ed Byrne, Scott Bennett, Hal Cruttenden, Larry Dean, Daniel Foxx, Hayley Ellis, Rachel Fairburn, Thomas Green, Nina Gilligan, Janine Harouni, Josh Jones, Esther Manito, Chris McCausland, Gbemi Oladipo, Freddy Quinne, Hatty Preston, Brennan Reece, Mike Rice, Lindsey Santoro, Paul Sinha, Fin Taylor, and Seann Walsh.

Scroll down to find more information, tickets, and lineups for each of the Comedy at the Castle weekends at Warwick, Lancaster, and Exeter.

Comedy at the Castle 2026 - Warwick Castle

When: Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th May 2026

Where: Warwick Castle in Coventry

A bank-holiday trilogy under one of the Midlands’ most dramatic backdrops: Joanne McNally headlines the Friday, with Fin Taylor, Rachel Fairburn, and Josh Jones; Russell Kane brings his high-velocity showmanship on Saturday alongside Ed Byrne, Esther Manito, and Thomas Green; while recent strictly star Chris McCausland closing with his warmth and razor-sharp observation on Sunday alongside Hatty Preston, Mike Rice, and Scott Bennett; all with Freddy Quinne as resident host acorss the weekend.

Comedy at the Castle: Friday Night with Joanne McNally + more! - Friday 22nd May 2026

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Comedy at the Castle: Saturday Night with Russell Kane + more! - Saturday 23rd May 2026

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Comedy at the Castle: Sunday Night with Chris McCausland + more! - Sunday 24th May 2026

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Comedy at the Castle 2026 - Lancaster Castle

When: Friday 19th – Sunday 21st June 2026

Where: Lancaster Castle in Lancaster

A North West debut with serious pedigree: Joanne McNally headlines the Friday with Hayley Ellis, Stephen Bailey and Seann Walsh; Russell Kane takes Saturday with Paul Sinha, Lindsey Santoro and Mike Rice; while Paul Smith brings the Sunday scouse heat alongside Larry Dean, Brennan Reece and Nina Gilligan; all hosted across the weekend again by Freddy Quinne.

Comedy at the Castle: Friday Night with Joanne McNally and more! - Friday 19th June 2026

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Comedy at the Castle: Saturday Night with Russell Kane and more! - Saturday 20th June 2026

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Comedy at the Castle: Sunday Night with Paul Smith and more! - Sunday 21st June 2026

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Comedy at the Castle 2026 - Powderham Castle

When: Friday 17th – Sunday 19th July 2026

Where: Powderham Castle in Exeter

South-West summer laughs at their finest: Joanne McNally opens Friday night with a stacked supporting cast that includes Janine Harouni, Hal Cruttenden, and Daniel Foxx; Paul Smith brings huge crowd energy on Saturday with Angela Barnes, Gbemi Oladipo, and Stephen Bailey; and Al Murray closes Sunday with Hayley Ellis, Scott Bennett, and Thomas Green; Freddy Quinne hosts throughout.

Comedy at the Castle: Friday Night with Joanne McNally and more! - Friday 17th July 2026

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Comedy at the Castle: Saturday Night with Paul Smith and more! - Saturday 18th July 2026

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Comedy at the Castle: Sunday Night with Al Murray and more! - Sunday 19th July 2026

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Good Times 2026 Comedy Gala starring Russell Howard & friends

When: Monday 25th May 2026

Where: Good Times At The Ridings in Bristol

Yes, it’s next year... But this is already shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest comedy events. Russell Howard headlines a massive open-air gala as part of Good Times at The Ridings, bringing with him a supporting cast of very special unannounced guests, with the wonderful Cerys Nelmes hosting.

This year's edition with Katherine Ryan sold out fast, so if you want in on Bristol’s biggest comedy night of the summer, especially one headlined by a legend like Russell, then don’t hang about.

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Jojo Sutherland

When: Friday 24th July 2026

Where: Breakneck Comedy in Aberdeen

The effortless conversational hilarity of Scottish comedy favourite Jojo Sutherland is always a complete joy, and this July, she brings her razor-sharp wit and fearless storytelling to Breakneck Comedy for a night of big laughs.

Renowned as both a compere and as a stand-up, Jojo has been around the block a few times and has never failed to leave laughter in her wake. See her back in Aberdeen at Breakneck Comedy and see what all the fuss is about. Just be warned, once she steps on that stage, it's going to be no time before the sides are hurting.

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JTT Comedy Club Special with Ed Byrne - Morecambe

When: Thursday 21st May 2026

Where: The Platform in Lancaster

Comedy heavyweight Ed Byrne headlines this special edition of the JTT Comedy Club, bringing his signature whimsy and observational humour to Lancaster next month.

Alongside will be a stacked bill, including the wonderful warmth of Hayley Ellis and the laconic wit of Roger Monkhouse, which sees you through for a near-unbeatable lineup of comedy at The Platform. Secure your tickets now, this isn't one to be missing if you're local!

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Funny Beeseness: Dan Nightingale

When: Sunday 14th June 2026

Where: The Castle And Falcon in Birmingham

One half of the Have A Word podcast and all-round UK comedy titan, Dan Nightingale, brings his energetic, silly, and quick-fire comedy to Birmingham's Funny Beeseness for a night guaranteed to keep the laughs coming.

Beloved by comedians and audiences alike, expect sharp crowd work, hilarious anecdotes, and the kind of high-energy performance that has made him who he is today. Plus, with Wayne Beese on MC duties and an unannounced support on the cards, this is gonna be a hayoooge night of comedy. Grab tickets below now!

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Horatio Gould - MK11 - Milton Keynes

When: Thursday 14th May 2026

Where: MK11 LIVE MUSIC VENUE in Milton Keynes

The other half of the illustrious stupidity of Fin vs History, and a rising comedic star in his own right, the sensational Horatio Gould heads to MK11, bringing his unique brand of offbeat humour and line-towing storytelling.

Blending absurdity with relatable observations, Horatio is refreshingly unique and always a treat for true comedy fans. Grab your tickets below now!

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The Laughienda Comedy Club - Preston

When: Wednesday 6th May 2026

Where: The Continental in Preston

The Laughienda Comedy Club returns to Preston, bringing another stacked lineup of top-tier comedians to The Continental, with the wonderful Haley Ellis, who brings equal parts sharpness and warmth to the stage, alongside a stacked supporting cast that includes Danny Deegan, Tony Basnett, and Adrian Hanlon, with James Crook hosting.

There are few better spots to see the funniest names in the biz in Preston, and with the ticket just £12 for that many comics, it's truly a no-brainer.

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Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All - WIP

When: Friday 24th July 2026

Where: Creatures Comedy Club in Manchester

Dan Tiernan previews new material with this work-in-progress show as part of the Creatures Comedy Club's Festival, and this time he’s got magic rocks in his pocket... for what reason you'll have to come long and find out.

Expect everything we've come to know and love from Dan: Raw, unfiltered comedy with an inherent silliness that's fearless in the face of self-deprication. Grab your ticket now and check out the rest of the events at Creatures Comedy Festival - HERE

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Just the Tonic Comedy Club

When: DATE

Where: Old Fire Station in Carlisle

Just the Tonic brings its renowned comedy club format all the way up to the Old Fire Station in Carlisle, and with a lineup that features the silliness of Dean Coughlin, the outrageous charm of Nina Gilligan, the deft writing of Peter Brush, all headlined by the captivatingly offbeat absurdity of Paul Foot.

A debut of one of the biggest comedy promoters in the biz, in a venue like the Old Fire Station, with a lineup like that? Say. No. More.

Tickets for Just the Tonic Comedy Club

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