Carlow Comedy Festival Returns with Bigger Countywide Programme for 2026

New name, new venues and new acts to be revealed at official festival launch on Monday, 12th October

Carlow Comedy Festival is back from Thursday, 3rd to Sunday, 6th December 2026, and this year the festival is getting a major makeover with a new name, new venues, new acts and an expanded countywide programme.

Full details of the 2026 festival will be revealed at the official launch on Monday, 12th October at 6.00pm in the Barracks, Carlow, and members of the public are warmly invited to come along and be among the first to hear this year’s line-up.

Building on the success of previous years, the 2026 festival has been redesigned as a truly countywide celebration of comedy, entertainment and live performance. This year’s programme will feature events across 16 venues, bringing audiences into pubs and venues in Carlow Town as well as Tullow and Bagenalstown over four days.

The laughter gets underway on Thursday, 3rd December, with a special opening event in the Tower that puts some brave new faces in the spotlight. Eight people will take to the stage and try their hand at stand-up comedy, with each getting just ten minutes to win over the audience.

From there, the festival moves into full swing with a packed weekend of comedy, entertainment and music. Friday night will see the first of the festival's headline acts take to the stage, followed by a programme of shows across the county throughout Saturday and Sunday, including performances in Tullow and Bagenalstown, before the festival draws to a close in Tully's on Sunday night.

Speaking about the festival, Cllr. Tommy Kinsella , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said: “I am delighted to see the Council working in partnership with the vintners and venues across Carlow to develop this festival and, importantly, to expand it into a truly countywide programme.

“Events like this create a great atmosphere in our towns, give people a reason to get out and enjoy themselves and, at the same time, support our local hospitality and entertainment sector. This year’s programme promises something very special, and I would encourage people to come along to the launch on Monday evening and see what is planned.”

Working with Shannon Basso Gaule, the festival has been redesigned for 2026 to broaden its appeal and offer something for a wide range of audiences and ages.

While comedy remains firmly at the heart of the festival, this year’s programme has been developed to provide different ways for people to get involved, including offerings designed with parents and families with young children in mind, alongside the evening comedy and entertainment programme.

Tickets for the festival will officially go on sale on Tuesday, 13th October, immediately following the launch. With previous festival tickets selling out quickly, audiences are being encouraged to book early once this year’s programme is announced. 

The festival is also designed to deliver benefits beyond the performances themselves, encouraging people to spend time in Carlow's towns, support local businesses and experience the county's hospitality and entertainment offering.

Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development and Enterprise, said:

“Events are an important part of building a vibrant local economy. A successful festival doesn't just benefit the venue hosting a particular show. It creates activity across our town centres, supporting our pubs, restaurants, cafés, accommodation providers, taxis and many other local businesses.

“For us, the ambition is to create events that give people compelling reasons to come into our towns, stay longer and spend locally. Expanding the festival across 16 venues and into Tullow and Bagenalstown is an important part of that. It allows us to spread the economic benefit while showcasing the quality and variety of venues we have right across County Carlow".

“December is also an important trading period for local businesses, so we would encourage festival-goers to make a night of it: enjoy a meal, visit a local pub, see a show and support the businesses and people that help make Carlow a great place to live, work and visit.”

This year, the festival will also have a wider community purpose, with two local beneficiaries set to benefit from the 2026 programme.

Details of the two beneficiaries, together with how the festival will support them, will be announced as part of the official launch on Monday evening.

The organisers are now encouraging anyone with an interest in comedy, live entertainment or simply finding out what's happening in Carlow this December to come along to the launch.

The official festival launch takes place at 6.00pm on Monday, 12th October in the Barracks, Carlow. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Come along, discover the festival's new name, meet some of the people involved and, most importantly, be among the first to find out who will be making Carlow laugh this December.

Tickets for the 2026 festival will go on sale from Tuesday, 13th October 2026. For further information e-mail enterprise@carlowcoco.ie or call 059/9129783