Maisie Adam, Milton Jones, Angela Barnes and Peter Serafinowicz are among the big names heading to the county for three weeks of comedy
If you thought February was the month to stay indoors and wait miserably for spring, Leicestershire has other ideas.
The full programme for the brand-new Independent Comedy Festival has landed, and it is absolutely massive: 630 shows, 43 venues and three weeks of comedy from February 3-21, 2027.
Organisers are billing it as the UK’s largest dedicated comedy festival, with a line-up that mixes some seriously familiar faces with rising stars, local favourites and, presumably, at least a few jokes about the M1.
Among the biggest names heading to Leicestershire are Maisie Adam, Peter Serafinowicz, Darren Harriott, Angela Barnes, Milton Jones, Henning Wehn, Sophie Duker, Scott Bennett and Bobby Davro.
And this isn’t just a city-centre affair.
Shows will take place at major Leicester venues including De Montfort Hall, The Y Theatre and Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, while comedy will also pop up across Anstey, Aylestone, Birstall, Blaby, Broughton Astley, Clarendon Park, Queniborough, Newton Linford, Oadby, Syston and beyond.
There’ll be plenty of local talent on the bill, too, with Leicester-based comics including Jay Neale, Sarah Johnson, Matt Hollins, Rahul Somia, Kevin Daniel and Masai Graham all taking part.
Sarah Johnson will perform her solo show Older and Wiser at The Y Theatre.
“As a Leicester comedian, being part of a new festival in the city where it all began feels particularly special,” she said.
“After 11 years, I’m still here, still making people laugh and still excited about what comes next. I’m looking forward to celebrating comedy, supporting the local scene and being part of a fresh new chapter for Leicester.”
A fresh start for Leicester comedy
The new festival was created following the collapse of Big Difference Company, the charity behind the Leicester Comedy Festival, which went into liquidation owing money to performers, suppliers, venues and other creditors.
The Independent Comedy Festival was subsequently founded by local comedian Alex Hylton and promoter Colin Bowles, and they’re clearly not doing things by halves.
“There’s been a lot of speculation that the new festival would be smaller or scaled back,” said Hylton, “but we’re going to be able to deliver a massive three-week party thanks to so many people who are determined to make it happen.”
One familiar fixture making a comeback is the Howes Percival Comedian of the Year competition, which lands at The Y Theatre on Saturday February 20.
Angela Barnes will host as a new crop of comics attempts to join an impressive roll call of former winners that includes Josh Widdicombe, Romesh Ranganathan and Jo Enright.
One much-loved event that isn’t returning is the UK Pun Championships. But lovers of extremely questionable wordplay can relax: the UK Pun Off, hosted by Iain MacDonald, will take place at James’ Bistro on Saturday February 6.
Promoter Colin Bowles said the response from venues, performers and promoters had been “absolutely incredible”, with momentum now building towards the inaugural festival.
More than 35,000 tickets go on sale from 10am today (29), with the complete programme available from the Independent Comedy Festival website.
