Local businesses in Northampton, Northamptonshire, are being invited to host stand-up performances as part of the 2026 Northampton Comedy Festival. The Northampton Town Centre BID and event promoter The Comedy Crate are looking for venues like coffee shops, pubs, and hotels to take part. The goal is to bring more people into the town centre during quieter times of the week and evening.
The festival will include main weekend events on June 6 and July 18, 2026, along with several preview shows throughout the summer. These performances often feature professional comedians testing out new jokes before they head to the large Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. This allows residents to see high-quality acts at a lower cost in a local setting.
Businesses that sign up provide the space for the shows, which can help increase their sales of food and drinks. The event organisers handle all the talent booking, ticket sales, and technical equipment needed for the performances. This partnership is designed to make it easy for local shop owners to host live entertainment without extra stress.
In the past, the festival has hosted well-known comedians and sold out shows at various local spots across the town. Mark Mullen from the BID said the project is a great way to give people more reasons to visit and support the local economy. Organisers hope to build on this success by filling more town centre spaces with laughter this year.
