York Comedy Festival: Russell Howard, Ross Noble and Joanne McNally among huge names on 2026 line-up
York Comedy Festival is returning this year with some huge names on the line-up.
Titans of the comedy industry such as Dara O’Briain and Katherine Ryan took to the stage at York Museum Gardens last year for the inaugural 2025 edition.
It was a sell-out success and as a result, is returning as part of the Live at York Museum Gardens series of events on Sunday, July 12.
Headlining the open-air festival this year is comedy icon Russell Howard, who will be topping a stacked bill.
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Ross Noble will also be taking to the stage, as will Russell Kane, Joanne McNally, Suzi Ruffell, Jeff Innocent, Nabil Abdulrashid and Barry From Watford.
The festival will be hosted by UK-based New Zealand comic and renowned compere Jarred Christmas.
People living in local York postcodes YO1, YO10, YO19, YO23, YO24, YO26, YO30, YO31 and YO32 will be given access to tickets first. Residents will be available to secure their place online at 10am on January 23.
Tickets will then go on general sale at 10am on January 23 and can also be bought online.
The event is being staged by Leeds-based Futuresound Group working in partnership with York Museums Trust.
Futuresound Group project manager Rachel Hill said: “York Comedy Festival is back for a second year, and there you have it – what an incredible line up to close the series for 2026 with a day full of laughter.
“There’s nothing more satisfying than walking amongst happy people knowing that Futuresound and York Museums Trust have played a part in this.”
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Self Esteem have already been announced as music headliners for the series of shows in York Museum Gardens and will perform on July 9 and July 10 respectively.