Including Rosie O'Donnell's first gig in the city

The Glasgow International Comedy Festival has announced its full programme for 2026, with 560 shows across 40 venues and more than 100,000 tickets now on sale.

Running from March 11 to 29, the festival will welcome headline acts including Rosie O'Donnell (pictured), Harry Enfield, Ruby Wax, Sue Perkins, Daniel Sloss and Alan Davies to the city.

The 23rd edition of the festival will span 19 days and feature everything from traditional stand-up to improv, sketch, theatre, musical comedy, magic, kids shows, live podcasts and cabaret. Performers will include comedians from America, Australia, Canada, Spain and Ireland, alongside a strong Scottish contingent.

Venues hosting shows include the OVO Hydro, SEC Armadillo, King's Theatre, The Stand and the newly redeveloped Citizens Theatre, which will host Ruby Wax, Karen Dunbar and former MP Mhairi Black among others.

American comedian and TV host O'Donnell will make her Glasgow debut with her show Common Knowledge following her recent move to Ireland. She said Scotland's audiences 'really stayed with me' after her appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe last August.

Sloss will perform his new show Bitter at the SEC Armadillo, calling Glasgow 'the funniest festival in the funniest city in the world'. Alan Davies, returning to the city for his first gig in over a decade, said he was 'already thinking ahead to Glasgow’.

One of the more bizarre shows is Miaowaoke: Take A Look At Miaow, combining karaoke and cat-themed stand-up.

Festival director Krista MacDonald said 2026 would be 'a bumper year' for the event, saying : ‘A core principal of the festival is to spotlight homegrown comedians and this year more than ever, Scottish talent is well and truly on display’.

Of the comedians taking part, Craig Hill said: ‘This festival just keeps getting better and better! They’re literally putting the ‘go’ into Glasgow! The line up’s amazing this year and I just can’t wait to be part of it all over again.’ While Marc Jennings credited the festival from taking him from ‘basements of pubs to my own show at the King's Theatre’.

The festival will again work with Sir Billy Connolly to present the Spirit of Glasgow Award, with applications open until 14 January. Last year's winner, Rosco McClelland, received a personalised message from Connolly announcing his win at the festival's closing gala.

Last year's festival attracted more than 60,000 fans across the city. Tickets for 2026 are available at glasgowcomedyfestival.com.

Published: 7 Jan 2026