The Oxford Comedy Festival will bring more than 50 live performances to Oxford, Oxfordshire, throughout July 2026. The month-long event is co-produced by QED Comedy Lab in partnership with local organisations and features a variety of stand-up and experimental comedy shows across three city venues.
The festival provides a space for comedians to test their new material before they travel to larger festivals later in the summer. Residents can attend these preview shows at local spots such as the Trinity College Beer Cellar and the Tap Social Movement.
Organisers are focusing on a diverse range of performers this year, including women, LGBTQ+ artists, and people of colour. The event aims to make live entertainment more accessible by offering affordable ticket prices for the community; historically the festival has promoted low-cost shows and early reports have cited modest price ranges for individual events.
Since it began in 2018, the festival has grown from a single venue to a city-wide celebration that helps support local pubs and cafes. People interested in attending can buy tickets for single shows. The festival also typically offers a Full Festival Pass (in past years that pass excluded some special events at certain venues, such as some Old Fire Station shows), so check the festival’s ticketing information for any exclusions for 2026.
Matthew Chadourne, the founder and Creative Director of QED Comedy Lab, helps lead the event, which brings high-quality comedy to the local area. The 2026 line-up is designed to encourage more people to visit the city centre and enjoy the local hospitality scene.
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