Milton Keynes is set to host a brand-new comedy festival this summer, with a long weekend of stand-up, character comedy, improv and interactive cult favourites arriving in the city from 9–12 July 2026.
The Milton Keynes Comedy Festival will take over multiple venues across the city centre, bringing together a mix of established names, rising talent and much-loved alternative acts. The line-up features a strong selection of familiar faces from the UK circuit, including Ed Byrne, Joe Pasquale, Sara Pascoe, Simon Brodkin, Rhys James, Nina Benjamin, Matt Richardson, Ria Lina, Felicity Ward, Fiona Allen, Darren Harriott, Hal Cruttenden, Brennan Reece, Tez Ilyas and Eshaan Akbar.
Alongside the big stand-up names, the programme showcases a number of acclaimed alternative and interactive shows popular on the comedy circuit, including:
- John Robertson’s The Dark Room
- The Noise Next Door
- CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation
- Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience
Events will be spread across several city-centre venues — MK Gallery, Blossom Room, Midsummer Tap, Revolución de Cuba, MERKUR Casino and The Residence — creating a multi-venue comedy trail across the weekend.
The new festival arrives at a time when Milton Keynes’ cultural scene is building pace. The city is home to the biennial Milton Keynes International Festival, a growing public art collection featuring work by Yinka Ilori, and major cultural destinations including Bletchley Park, MK Gallery and Milton Keynes Theatre. It has also been longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029.
Jill Farnsworth, CEO of MyMiltonKeynes BID, said: “This feels like exactly the right moment to launch something on this scale. The city already has a strong cultural base and a big appetite for live events, and with the Comedy Festival we wanted to bring a mix of instantly recognisable acts alongside shows that offer something a bit different. It should make for a brilliant atmosphere across the whole weekend.”
Mark Row and Ben Robinson of The Comedy Cow added: “We wanted to curate a genuinely varied programme — mixing stand-up with interactive shows and experiences you don’t always get in one place. Milton Keynes is a fantastic setting for it, and we think people will be surprised by just how much comedy is happening across the city.”
With shows running throughout the day and into the evening, the festival is expected to draw audiences from both Milton Keynes and beyond, boosting footfall for local restaurants, bars and businesses.
Tickets are on sale now: www.miltonkeynescomedyfestival.com
