With extra late-night gigs and family shows

The Aberdeen comedy festival has officially launched its 2026 line-up, including some of the biggest names in British and Irish stand-up.

Russell Howard opens the festival on September 19 at the Music Hall, with his previously announced show Don't Tell the Algorithm. Other names at the venue include Susan Calman, Connor Burns and Saturday Night Live UK’s  Larry Dean, pictured.

At The Lemon Tree, Fred MacAulay and Mark Thomas both revisit careers spanning four decades, while Janet Street-Porter appears in a show titled Is Still Off the Leash at 80. Other comics appearing here include Alexandra Haddow, Grace Campbell, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Ted Hill and  Shaparak Khorsandi performing a work in progress.

And Sharon Burgess, chief executive of organisers Aberdeen Performing Arts, explained: 'We had such a great response to our late-night gigs and family shows at the Lemon Tree in 2025 that this year we've expanded on both of those, featuring some of the sharpest and funniest up-and-coming comics.'

Elsewhere, Maisie Adam brings her new show Whatsherface to the Tivoli Theatre while the Breakneck Comedy Club will feature Al Thompson, Shazia Mirza and Rab Mulheron, among others. 

Full listings for the festival, which runs to October 4, are available at aberdeenperformingarts.com.

Published: 30 May 2026