The first shows announced for the celebration include James Acaster (star of Netflix, Taskmaster and co-host of mega-hit podcast Off Menu), Nish Kumar (The Mash Report, Taskmaster, Pod Save the UK), Lou Sanders (Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo, Dancing On Ice), and the breakout star of Last One Laughing UK Harriet Kemsley.

 

The cream of the Edinburgh Comedy Award winners crop are also announced for 2026 - Bridget Christe (creator and star of The Change and Taskmaster star), Tim Key (Alan Partridge, The Ballad of Wallis Island) and Amy Gledhill (Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show).

 

Also announced are returning favourites Chris Cantrill, Celya AB, Amy Annette, Jessica Fostekew and Pat Cahill, plus festival debuts from Frankie Thompson, Huge Davies and magician Andrew Frost. 

 

As well as solo shows, the festival’s four gala performances are now on sale, each featuring a surprise line-up of comics from across the festival. Plus to mark the occasion also announced is a very special 10th anniversary gala on Sunday 24 May, with profits split between charities Vision Action and Wells Foodstore. We’re also pleased to announce that all the Cedars Hall gala shows will be BSL interpreted.

 

Ben Williams, Festival Director, said: ‘I can’t quite believe that we’re celebrating our tenth festival in 2026. What started as a few shows over a bank holiday weekend a decade ago now welcomes dozens of the country’s top performers to the heart of Somerset. We can’t wait.’