Reading Indie Comedy Festival 2026 - Festival Pass

Schedule

Thu, 14 May, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Sun, 17 May, 2026 at 09:00 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Milk Bar | Reading, EN

Advertisement
Reading Indie Comedy Festival will return in 2026 between the 14 - 17 of May.
The festival will comprise of 4 days of hilarious shows across Reading's independent comedy circuit.
Further detail will follow as we confirm the festival programme so keep an eye on this page.
...
Saturday's closing event at Pentahotel on Saturday 16 May will be headlined by the hilarious Simon Brodkin
Simon Brodkin
Named “the world’s most famous blagger” by The Daily Telegraph, untameable prankster and acclaimed character comedian Simon Brodkin has hit global headlines multiple times for his high-profile stunts. Most famously he handed Prime Minister Theresa May a P45 form during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference and showered disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter with hundreds of dollar bills in bribe payments “for the North Korea 2026 World Cup bid”.
Of his many characters, Simon is best known for his irrepressible, south London wide boy Lee Nelson. With each of his Lee Nelson tours (Serious Joker, Suited & Booted, Lee Nelson’s Well Good Tour and Lee Nelson Live) being extended twice or more.
Simon is also the writer, star and creator of two series of BBC Three’s ratings smash Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show, sketch series Lee Nelson’s Well Funny People, and the 90-min special Jason Bent’s World Cup’s Best Ever Goals, Ever! (BBC Three). Lee has appeared multiple times on BBC One’s Live At The Apollo, as guest and host.
As well as numerous TV and radio credits including Sunday Night at The Palladium (ITV); The John Bishop Show (BBC One); Absolutely Fabulous (BBC One); Children In Need (BBC One) – Lee Nelson also made a highly anticipated return to BBC One’s Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, reaching the final with an impressive hip-hop-ballet performance of Swan Lake!
Sunday's headline event at Double-Barrelled Brewery on Sunday's 17 May will be closed by the hilarious Sara Pascoe.
Sara Pascoe
Sara Pascoe is a critically acclaimed comedian, author, screenwriter and broadcaster whose latest stand-up show I Am a Strange Gloop is her biggest ever and will tour the UK, Australia and Canada from 2025, including playing the UK's iconic London Palladium in 2026.
2025 also sees Sara's return to hosting The Great British Sewing Bee for BBC One and starring alongside a stella line up of British comedians in Prime Video’s Last One Laughing UK, co-hosted by Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty. As a TV regular, Sara has appeared on the likes of Taskmaster (C4), Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), QI (BBC Two), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4) and Mock the Week (BBC Two) to name a few.
...
Website: thereadingcomedyfestival.co.uk
Lineup subject to change. Timings may changes slightly as we finalise the festival schedule.
...
Thursday 14 May8pm - Reading Comedy Showcase8:30pm - Blank Peng: Accidental Death of a CommunistFriday 15 May7:30pm - Reading New Comedian of the Year Competition 20268pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: David Anthony8:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: Robert Moriarty10:30pm - The Late Show: Abi Mohanty Tough TittiesSaturday 16 May12pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: The Hat and The Tash Reloaded1:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: Rachel Fairburn3pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: Harriet Kemsley4:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: TBC6pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival presents: Darius Davies8pm - Special Saturday Show at The Pentahotel10:30pm - The Haters BallSunday 17 May12:30pm - What's The Game Improv Reading Comedy Festival Showcase 20262pm - What's The Game Improv Reading Comedy Festival Showcase 20263:30pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: TBC5pm - Reading Indie Comedy Festival present: Esther Manito & Matt Richardson8pm - Comedy at the Taproom Sunday Showcase 2026 with Headliner Sara Pascoe

Disclaimer:
The event listed here is purely for informational purposes. All the details such as venue, date/time, artist information, etc., are subject to change.
This event is not associated with or sponsored by AllEvents, but it may be of interest to you. You can explore more such events with us at AllEvents.
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Milk Bar, Milk Bar, Reading, EN, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
The Pulse Hub

Host or Publisher The Pulse Hub

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Reading

40s & 50s Single's Mixer @ Be At One, Reading
Wed, 13 May at 06:00 pm 40s & 50s Single's Mixer @ Be At One, Reading

Be At One - Reading

MEETUPS ART
40s & 50s Single's Mixer Event with Love at First Sign
Wed, 13 May at 07:00 pm 40s & 50s Single's Mixer Event with Love at First Sign

Slug And Lettuce

ACCA & Kaplan - the future ACCA Qualification - Reading
Thu, 14 May at 08:30 am ACCA & Kaplan - the future ACCA Qualification - Reading

Kaplan Reading

ART FINE-ARTS
World Groove Creative Networking
Thu, 14 May at 11:30 am World Groove Creative Networking

Progress Theatre

WORKSHOPS ART
The Purple Turtle, Reading
Thu, 14 May at 07:00 pm The Purple Turtle, Reading

The Purple Turtle, Reading

Reading Comedy Showcase
Thu, 14 May at 07:00 pm Reading Comedy Showcase

Reading Biscuit Factory

COMEDY FESTIVALS
RG EMOM - May
Thu, 14 May at 07:00 pm RG EMOM - May

South Street Arts Centre

PERFORMANCES ENTERTAINMENT
Blank Peng: Accidental Death of a Communist
Thu, 14 May at 07:30 pm Blank Peng: Accidental Death of a Communist

Pentahotel Reading

COMEDY FESTIVALS
Extra Date - Tom Houghton: Deep
Thu, 02 Apr at 08:00 pm Extra Date - Tom Houghton: Deep

21 South Street, RG1 4QU Reading, United Kingdom

COMEDY
Mates Rates Comedy Raw: April 6
Mon, 06 Apr at 06:30 pm Mates Rates Comedy Raw: April 6

The Outlook

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Mates Rates Comedy Raw, Reading's No.1 Stand Up Comedy Open Mic: Apr 6
Mon, 06 Apr at 07:30 pm Mates Rates Comedy Raw, Reading's No.1 Stand Up Comedy Open Mic: Apr 6

Outlook

COMEDY OPEN-MIC
WiFi Wars Easter Extravaganza!
Wed, 08 Apr at 03:00 pm WiFi Wars Easter Extravaganza!

21 South Street, RG1 4QU Reading, United Kingdom

EASTER COMEDY
SUPER SKINT THURSDAYS\ud83e\uddb8\u200d\u2640\ufe0f \u00a33 TICKETS
Thu, 09 Apr at 09:00 pm SUPER SKINT THURSDAYS🦸‍♀️ £3 TICKETS

Reading Lola Lo

ART NONPROFIT
'Meet Fred' by Hijinx, in association with Blind Summit
Fri, 10 Apr at 08:00 pm 'Meet Fred' by Hijinx, in association with Blind Summit

21 South Street, RG1 4QU Reading, United Kingdom

BUSINESS ART
MISSION:IMPROVable April Show @ Reading Biscuit Factory
Fri, 10 Apr at 08:00 pm MISSION:IMPROVable April Show @ Reading Biscuit Factory

Reading Biscuit Factory

ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY
Buff Bingo Drag Brunch
Sat, 11 Apr at 11:00 am Buff Bingo Drag Brunch

Reading Lola Lo

ART NONPROFIT
Pierre Novellie: You Sit There, I'll Stand Here
Sat, 11 Apr at 08:00 pm Pierre Novellie: You Sit There, I'll Stand Here

21 South Street, RG1 4QU Reading, United Kingdom

CONTESTS COMEDY
Mates Rates Comedy Raw: April 13
Mon, 13 Apr at 06:30 pm Mates Rates Comedy Raw: April 13

The Outlook

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Blubber
Thu, 16 Apr at 08:00 pm Blubber

21 South Street, RG1 4QU Reading, United Kingdom

ART SPORTS
Tom Rosenthal: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am
Sat, 18 Apr at 08:00 pm Tom Rosenthal: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am

21 South Street, RG1 4QU Reading, United Kingdom

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Reading?

Discover Reading Events