Glasgow International Comedy Festival Marks Biggest Ever Event With Over 605 Events
Glasgow International Comedy Festival (GICF) welcomed over 61,000 comedy fans to 605 shows this year, marking its biggest ever event, as the Festival once again transformed Glasgow into ‘the funniest city in the world’.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival has now revealed the dates for 2026’s event as 11th March – 29th March 2026.
Scotland’s largest dedicated comedy festival, GICF hosted 605 shows and events over 19 days of wall-to-wall comedy this spring with headline shows from the likes of Susie McCabe, Jenny Eclair, Connor Burns, The Horne Section and Paul Black.
The Festival saw record attendance figures of over 61,000 with shows in new venues including The OVO Hydro, Barrowland Ballroom, The Social Hub, Berlinky’s and more.
Over 100 events taking part in the Festival sold out this year, including shows from local comedians Raymond Mearns, Tattoo Dave, Rowan Hackett and Ifrah Qureshi, Stephen Buchanan, Marc Jennings and Amanda Dwyer as well as Catherine Bohart, Jamali Maddix and Connor Burns.
GICF also hosted charity shows as part of 2025’s programme, with ‘An Afternoon for Janey’ at the King’s Theatre raising more than £12,000 split equally between Beatson Cancer Charity and The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice to celebrate the life of Janey Godley. Audiences gathered to watch performances from Janey’s friends Scott Agnew, Rosco McClelland and Tom Urie, followed by a screening of her documentary ‘Janey’.
Now in its 22nd year, GICF took place in all corners of the city, with 47 venues from the King’s Theatre to The Stand, Oran Mor, Glasgow Film Theatre, The Griffin, Van Winkle West End and Barras Art and Design, to name a few.
For the second year, GICF ran its ‘Introduction to Comedy Course’ for women and marginalised genders, with legendary comic skills teacher Viv Gee teaching stand-up and performance skills to boost confidence and encourage more women and marginalised genders to enter the comedy industry. Viv Gee was also honoured with a special award to mark Glasgow’s 850th anniversary, taking home a bespoke trophy from the Lord Provost on GICF’s final day to commemorate her contribution to comedy.
The Festival’s closing day included the highly anticipated announcement of 2025’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award which saw Glasgow comedian Rosco McClelland take home the coveted prize. Announced by the Big Yin himself via a video message, Rosco was presented with the award onstage by 2024 winner Susie McCabe, Festival Director Krista MacDonald and Elaine C Smith. The Comedy Gala saw the very best of the fest perform at the King’s Theatre, with sets from Zoe Lyons, Connor Burns, Susie McCabe, Ayo Adenekan, MC Hammersmith and more.
Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: “As this year’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival winds down, we’re celebrating what has been another record breaking year for the event with more shows than ever before, and a colossal attendance figure of over 61,000. We couldn’t host 605 shows in this city without the help and support of so many; from comics who come from around the world to perform their shows, venue staff and promoters, our sponsors and partners, audiences who head out to shows all over the city, our small in-house team, and of course the local comedians who are the backbone of Glasgow’s comedy industry, not just for these 19 days, but year round.
“With Rosco McClelland’s Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award win this year, we got the chance to celebrate an outstanding homegrown talent who has spent over a decade honing his craft and building a career that is so intertwined with this city. It is an honour for the Festival to be able to work with the Big Yin to recognise exceptional comics like Rosco in this way.
“As we look back on what has been another stellar year for the Festival, we’re proud to say GICF has surpassed the three year growth plan that was established post-pandemic to ensure the event can continue to support local comics whilst welcoming international acts and major comedy tours to the city.
“At a time when both audiences and acts are faced with less and less relative disposable income, it has been a real joy to still see so many people come out to support shows, and so many new comics begin to rise through the ranks. Glasgow’s unfailing desire to laugh, and make others laugh, is what drives the Festival and we’re looking forward to building on this success and ensuring Scottish comedy is supported and celebrated.”
Chair of Glasgow Life Bailie Annette Christie said: “Glasgow International Comedy Festival continues to be one of the city’s most celebrated cultural events, and the 2025 edition has been another outstanding success. With over 100 sold-out shows, this year’s festival builds on past achievements, delivering an even bigger and bolder programme that showcased the very best in comedy – from stand-up and improv to musical acts and family-friendly performances.
“The incredible mix of seasoned performers and fresh new voices from Scotland, the UK, and beyond has once again drawn record audiences from near and far, cementing the festival’s reputation as a highlight on the UK comedy calendar. GICF25 has further strengthened Glasgow’s standing as a world-class destination for entertainment, culture, and unmissable live events.”
In its biggest ever year, GICF spotlighted rising stars of the UK’s comedy industry, from homegrown heroes like Alana Jackson and Kathleen Hughes to mainstays like Fern Brady, Russell Kane and Susie McCabe. The Festival encompasses comedy of all genres with family friendly performances including Bring Your Own Baby and interactive shows like Kidocracy, as well as mixed bill shows, musical comedy, improv, game shows and traditional stand-up.
With an array of Scottish and international comedians performing throughout the city over the past three weeks, GICF once again showcased the importance of Glasgow’s comedy heritage as some of the industry’s greatest comedians performed in world renowned venues.
