The Hastings Comedy Festival has announced its complete 2026 line-up, with over 90 performances taking over venues across Hastings and St Leonards from 1st June to 7th June 2026. Audiences can expect comedy favourites such as Taskmaster champion Maisie Adam, online star Red Richardson, Mock The Week regular Rhys James, and viral comic and writer Joe Wells at this year’s Festival.

They will be joined by American actor and sketch comedian Russell Hicks, British-Pakistani legend Tez Ilyas, Mexican-American-Venezuelan storyteller Lara Ricote, and political comedian and activist Mark Thomas.

After sell-out shows last year, 2026 will also see the return of improv group The RH Experience, Singaporean stand-up and Edinburgh Fringe’s 2024 Best Newcomer winner Jin Hao Li, razor-sharp sensation Josh Baulf, character comedian President Obonjo, Canadian stand-up Tony Law and 2025 Hastings Comedy Festival Norman Award-winner for Best Newcomer Oliver Moore.

The Festival will also include the return of late-night comedy, much loved Open Mic Saturday at Ye Olde Pump House, Comedy for Kids at the Festival’s newest venue, The Spun Glass Theatre in Hastings Old Town's The Stade area, and finishes with the prestigious “Norman Award’’ newcomer competition, taking place at The Piper on the Sunday afternoon.

The Hastings Comedy Festival will take place across local venues including the Albion, the Observer Building, the White Rock Studio, Jenny Lind, Ye Olde Pump House, The Piper, The St Leonard, Oscars, Electric Palace, East Hastings Angling Club, Sugarpie Honeybuns, Frenches, Brewing Brother@Source and The Printworks.

Free Programmes are now available across the area. Tickets are on sale now via www.hastingscomedyfestival.com