Fans of comedy and silent film will have plenty to choose from at the 2026 Slapstick Festival, which has just revealed some of its upcoming events. The beloved festival, now in its 22nd year, has become a key event in Bristol’s cultural calendar, with its eclectic line-up of new, classic and silent comedies, as well as stars of stage, screen and the music world gathering to celebrate cinematic magic and merriment.

 

The cast of The Thick of It and In The Loop will reunite in honour of writer-director Amando Iannucci, who will be the first recipient of the Golden Baz Writers Award during a special event where he will look back at his remarkable career as a writer, director and broadcaster - exploring his inspirations and creative process.  Created to honour the enduring comic legacy of Barry Cryer, the Golden Baz celebrates comedy writers whose work reflects his values: wit, warmth, originality and a deep commitment to the craft of making people laugh.

 

Continuing the tribute to Barry Cryer, Slapstick also features the World Premiere of Joke, directed by his son Bob Cryer. Bringing 10 of his gags to life as a sketch film, Joke includes Dame Judi Dench, Sir Stephen Fry, Alison Steadman, Harry Hill, Rebecca Front, Les Dennis and Miles Jupp (amongst others!) in the cast.

 

Satire is a theme of this year’s festival, which also features a rare live discussion with Alexei Sayle revisiting his groundbreaking 1980s television series Alexei Sayle’s Stuff. In conversation with Robin Ince, Alexei will reflect on the chaotic creativity behind a show that redefined British TV comedy with its fearless mix of surreal sketches, biting satire and political edge. Nearly forty years since it first exploded onto BBC2, Stuff remains as bold, subversive and brilliantly funny as ever. 

 

Celebrating 20 years of his creation on the small screen, Lee Mack will be explaining how Not Going Out evolved from stand-up beginnings to a multi-award-winning series loved by millions. In this exclusive anniversary event, Lee will look back at two decades of Not Going Out: from its pilot episode to record-breaking longevity as the BBC’s longest-running sitcom. Expect a lively on-stage conversation packed with quips, warmth and Lee’s trademark quickfire humour, interwoven with classic clips, outtakes and behind-the-scenes stories.

 

Slapstick nurtures the audiences of tomorrow and this year families will love Andy Day’s Cracking Brass Comedy Show, with timeless classics from Laurel & Hardy and Bristol’s own Wallace & Gromit accompanied by the 30 piece City of Bristol Brass Band for a cracking afternoon of fun. Lovers of musicals will appreciate Sing! - the animated tale of theatre koala Buster Moon, who stages the world’s greatest singing competition to save his beloved playhouse. Sing! celebrates courage, creativity and the joy of performance with a few delightful nods to silent-era legend Buster Keaton, who inspired Buster Moon’s name and the film’s spectacular fish-tank sequence.

 

Acknowledging the contribution of women to early cinema is a strand of films including The Flapper - the first use of this word in a film title. The Roaring Twenties were a new age for women, who bobbed their hair, shortened their skirts, danced, drank and smoked and discovered a world of previously forbidden freedoms. Long before Clara Bow or Louise Brooks made the flapper a global icon, screen star Olive Thomas defined the look, attitude and energy of the modern young woman on screen in this story of a small town girl moving to an elite finishing school.

 

Famous faces include Lee Mack, Alexei Sayle, Armando Iannucci, Chris Addison, Robin Ince, Lucy Porter,  Shazia Mirza, Rick Wakeman; with more events and surprise guests still to be announced, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Slapstick Festival, a comedy cornucopia. See you in the front row.