Live Laugh Leeds: Comedy Roundup – September 2026

Your guide to the best comedy shows in Leeds in September 2026

I blooming love the Edinburgh Fringe. Yes it’s dead expensive and busy and not great for the artists and a load of venture capitalist DUDES use it as a way to rinse money from struggling creatives, but other than that, it’s great. 

So I’m back from a few days in the capital of what must be America (given the predominant accent) and it was ace, with a capital A, followed by a capital C, and a capital E. Too many capitals in this paragraph. 

And lo, though I smell of deep-fried Mars Bars (yes I did have one) and full-blown existential crises (because I rubbed shoulders with the acts), I am delighted to be back in Leeds. Because September is one of the best comedy months of the year.

City Varieties is the place to start. The gorgeous Phil Ellis (2nd Sept) starts things off with Bath Mat, which was repeatedly sold out in Edinburgh. As was Glasgow’s own Larry Dean (9th). There’s bona fide writing geniuses in the shape of BAFTA-winning Jack Rooke (16th) and the unstoppable Jonathan Pie (18th). Completing September at City Varieties are Mark Thomas (20th), Laura Smyth (25th), Jazz Emu (27th), and Vittorio Angelone (28th).

Over at the Leeds Grand Theatre, post-Fringe touring is in full swing. Cult favourite Phil Wang (13th), weird Aussie (he won’t mind that name) Sam Campbell (23rd), the daft Mike Wozniak (26th) and Sir Lenny Henry (27th) all pass through in the same month. You lucky sausages.

The Leeds Playhouse has two of the most hotly-anticipated shows of the autumn. The near-mythical (is he even real?) Daniel Kitson (19th) performs Thrum, while one-liner king Gary Delaney (29th) arrives with what his own billing calls “utterly splendid filth.”

The Glee Club has a packed September of its own. One of India’s biggest stand-ups Kanan Gill (9th) gets a standalone show, Leeds favourite Ray Bradshaw heads the bill on the 11th/12th alongside Blank Peng and Lost Voice Guy, and the chaotic joy of Jamie Hutchinson’s Can My Mate Come? He’s Sound (21st) is already sold out.

The Wardrobe welcomes Reuben Solo (15th), Alfie Brown (16th) and the lovely Lucy Porter (27th), with Barry Castagnola (29th) and crowd-work favourite Kane Brown (30th) following on. 

The HiFi Club runs its Saturday sessions all month, with spots from Dave Longley (5th), Rob Rouse (12th), Sean Percival (19th) and Charlie Lewis (26th).

And Hyde Park Book Club brings the Fringe home: Newcastle’s award-winning Elaine Robertson (7th) is one to catch, alongside Scout Boxall (7th), David Correos (13th) and Sashi Perera (22nd).

September. Leeds. No deep-fried Mars Bars (unless you know something I don’t), but an absolute tonne of comedy. Enjoy.

And as ever, look out for regular comedy nights at Headrow House, The Original Oak, The Old Woollen, and the Parkside Tavern.