Live Laugh Leeds: Comedy Roundup – July 2026

I write this in a haze of joy. The weather is fantastic, and England are definitely going to win the World Cup. Don’t you dare spoil this for me. Or indeed send me this article once the Three Lions have lost to the world’s 98th best team thanks to a deflected own-goal in injury time. 

IF that happens, and it’s a big, but certain, “if”, then here are some cracking comedy shows to cheer you up. 

The Wardrobe welcomes two of the circuit’s best acts in work-in-progress mode. Legendary absurdist Paul Foot (14th) brings a baffling new hour, while sketch duo queens Flo & Joan (15th) road-test new material ahead of Edinburgh. Completing the line-up at The Wardrobe is the ace observational comic Pierre Novellie (16th).

Over in Chapel Allerton, Seven Arts hosts the Leeds preview of Glow Job (23rd) – a surreal two-hander character comedy from local duo Hall and Carr, skewering the absurdities of the cosmetic clinic industry, before they take it up to Edinburgh.

Hyde Park Book Club is the city’s unofficial Edinburgh pre-season warm-up venue, with a packed run of WIPs throughout July. Sell-out Fringe favourite Harry Stachini (2nd) shares the bill with character comic Clementine Bogg-Hargroves (2nd), both honing new shows before Scotland calls. Our other tips for the HPBC line up include Maia Tassalini and Grace Mulvey (8th), Alex Mitchell and Alice Fraser (9th), Tom Ballard and Marty Gleeson (12th), Kate Hammer and Eva Peroni (13th), Brennan Reece and Dom McGovern (29th) and Dave Durkan (30th).

The Glee Club welcomes gorgeous Mock the Week ledge Milton Jones (3rd, 4th), topping a bill alongside Matt Price and Adam Bloom. American stand-up Gary Owen (8th) brings a military-based observational hour, and the brilliant live improv show Comedy Bang! Bang! with host Scott Aukerman (26th) is in town for a totally improvised podcast taping. 

Here’s a big one (arf arf): Peter Kay (24th) brings his one-off charity spectacular to the first direct bank arena, with all profits going to cancer charities. What a good lad.

And over on Call Lane, The Comedy Cabaret at Revolución de Cuba has a variety format across two shows this month (24th, 25th). Cornish storyteller Matt Price and rapid-fire MC Jon Pearson appear on both bills, with deadpan 8 Out of 10 Cats writer Dave Longley also on the Saturday night.

The Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival returns for round two on the 26th July. Household name Jason Manford tops a brilliant bill alongside Dara Ó Briain, Lucy Beaumont, Sara Pascoe, Alan Davies, Geoff Norcott and Hal Cruttenden – all hosted by Jarred Christmas.

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

Oh. It’s raining now, and Declan Rice is injured? I blame you for that. A lot.