A plethora of British-based comics are heading to New Zealand this spring for the annual Laugh festival.

Ed Byrne will be headlining the festival, which will also mark the New Zealand debut of Daniel Kitson.

Others at the event, which runs in Auckland from April 26 to May 17, include Andy Parsons, Phil Nichol, Glenn Wool and Arj Barker.

Local acts playing include Brendhan Lovegrove and Flight Of The Conchords, the act which proved a surprise hit among comics at last year's Edinburgh Festival.