York Comedy Festival is returning for its second year – and once again features some of the biggest names in comedy.
After the success of the inaugural event last year, the festival is coming back to York Museum Gardens on Sunday 12 July 2026.
The line-up for 2026 includes Russell Howard, Ross Noble, Russell Kane, Joanna McNally, Suzi Ruffell, Jeff Innocent, Nabil Abdulrashid and Barry from Watford. It will be hosted by Jarred Christmas.
Leading the announcement today are headliner and stand-up comedy legends Russell Howard (Russell Howard’s Good News, Mock The Week) and Ross Noble (Have I Got News For You, BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute)
Joining them on the bill for the all-day festival is Edinburgh Comedy Award winning stand-up and presenter Russell Kane, and Irish stand-up and podcast sensation Joanne McNally (Taskmaster, My Therapist Ghosted Me).
Big Kick Energy podcaster and comedian Suzi Ruffell, cult-stand up hero turned viral-sensation Jeff Innocent, Britain’s Got Talent’ finalist Nabil Abdulrashid and and Barry From Watford, the 82 year-old comic creation of Alex Lowe (Clinton Baptiste) are also performing.
The event will be hosted and MC’d by Jarred Christmas, a UK-based New Zealand comic and winner of Chortle’s ‘Best Compere’ award.
Christmas has appeared on shows including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and many more.
Ticket details
The open air comedy festival will again form part of the Live At York Museum Gardens series, which has already announced Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Self Esteem as two of their music headliners.
York residents with a YO1, YO10, YO19, YO23, YO24, YO26, YO30, YO31 and YO32 postcode have exclusive 24-hour priority ticket access from Wednesday 21 January at 10am.
Tickets will then go on general sale from Friday 23 January at 10am.
There will be five different ticket areas, for seating or standing tickets, and tickets will start from £52.50.
Live at York Museum Gardens is a joint collaboration between Leeds-based Fututresound Group and York Museums Trust.
Rachel Hill, project manager at Futuresound Group said: “York Comedy Festival is back for a second year, and there you have it – what an incredible line up to close the series for 2026 with a day full of laughter.
“There’s nothing more satisfying than walking amongst happy people knowing that Futuresound and York Museums Trust have played a part in this.”
For more information and to book your tickets, visit the York Comedy Festival website.
