We’re excited to announce Live Comedy Day!
Taking place on 1 April 2026, it’ll celebrate the comedians, clubs, festivals, promoters, venues and audiences who make the UK’s live comedy scene the best in the world.
Created by the Live Comedy Association, in partnership with BBC Radio 4.
Find out more 👉
We’ve set out five key actions we’re asking government to take to support the future of grassroots live comedy.
These requests follow recent discussions in Parliament and ongoing work to ensure comedy is fully recognised as part of the UK’s cultural and creative industries.
Swipe through to see the five areas where meaningful change could make a real difference to comedians, venues, promoters and everyone who works in live comedy.
Today we launch Stand Up & Give
Live comedy gets no government funding – it survives because we support each other. Now we’re asking you to help keep it alive.
Your donation will:
✅ Support comedians & workers
✅ Strengthen our lobbying for recognition
✅ Fund mental health & accessibility projects
✅ Back comedy in hospitals & care homes
If you give a sh!t about live comedy, now’s the time to Stand Up & Give.
👉 Donate today and help us keep comedy alive. /p/stand-up-give
Promote live comedy? You need to know about counter-terrorism preparedness - and this free online workshop will bring you up to speed.
The LCA has teamed up with National Counter Terrorism Policing to run a session covering the current UK threat landscape, your responsibilities as a promoter, and practical steps you can take to build CT preparedness into your events.
📅 Wednesday 27 May, 2pm
👉 /events (link in bio)
The Live Comedy Association is heading to Parliament.
Next month, we’ll be hosting a Parliamentary event to champion the grassroots live comedy sector and build cross-party political support for the people and venues that keep UK comedy alive.
The event, sponsored by Liz Kendall, will build on growing momentum for greater recognition of grassroots live comedy within the UK’s creative industries - including the first ever Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee evidence session on live comedy last year.
Grassroots comedy plays a vital role in communities across the UK: supporting local economies, creating opportunities for performers, and bringing people together.
Watch this space.
Missed yesterday’s briefing on tackling bullying, harassment, and discriminatory behaviour in live comedy?
👉 You can now catch up online: /watch?v=fEfIEq-JMK0 (link in bio)
This session is essential viewing for anyone working in grassroots live comedy - including promoters, producers, venue staff, comedians, agents, and anyone responsible for creating safer and more inclusive working environments.
Delivered in partnership with Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, the briefing explores how industry-wide standards apply specifically to live comedy.
Did you know the Live Comedy Association website has a dedicated Resources section packed with useful guidance, support and training materials for people working across live comedy?
Topics include:
• Training & Development
• Abuse & Harassment
• Mental Health
• Comedy & Social Change
Whether you’re a performer, promoter, producer, venue or freelancer, there are loads of practical resources available under the “Resources” tab on our website.
👉 /
Have your say: women’s experiences in live comedy
The Women and Equalities Committee in UK Parliament is calling for evidence on the experiences of women in live comedy.
They want to hear about:
- Barriers to building a career
- Abuse, harassment, and how it’s handled
- The impact of freelance working
- What needs to change across the industry
🗓 Deadline: 1 June 2026
If you’ve worked in the live comedy sector in any capacity, your insight could help shape change. Submissions can be public, anonymous, or confidential.
👉 Submit evidence here: /call-for-evidence/3915
REMINDER: This Thursday
With CIISA, we’re hosting a briefing this Thursday on tackling bullying, harassment, and discriminatory behaviour in live comedy - turning conversation into action.
Delivered in partnership with Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, the session will look at how industry-wide standards apply specifically to live comedy.
🗓 Thursday 7 May
🕑 2pm
Membership to the Live Comedy Association is free - sign up and join the webinar here:
/events
The music industry already has an arena levy - £1 from every ticket at the biggest venues goes back into grassroots music. The LCA supports extending this to live comedy.
As Aimee Perry from the Frog and Bucket told the Women and Equalities Committee, that funding could support individual promoters, improve diversity, fund training and help comedians get off the ground.
👉 Watch the full committee: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/1d6aae15-580d-4a4c-8f5e-d47ad77cecd1
“The government doesn’t recognise the arts in the way it should”
Aimee Perry from the Frog and Bucket, speaking passionately at the Women and Equalities Committee yesterday about the experiences of women in live comedy and what steps need to be taken to get more women from minority ethnic groups into live comedy.
👉 Watch the full committee: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/1d6aae15-580d-4a4c-8f5e-d47ad77cecd1
Arts Council England Live Comedy grants advice workshop.
We are delighted to share details with our members about a special grants advice workshop for live comedy being run by Arts Council England.
👉 The workshop will take place on Thursday 28th May from 10.30am and FREE spaces can be booked here: /e/national-lottery-project-grants-advice-workshop-live-comedy-tickets-1988480582952
