GICF will take over the city for 19 days of wall-to-wall comedy this spring, welcoming international comedians from America and Australia, as well as some of the UK’s top touring comics and an abundance of rising and established Scottish talent in venues from The OVO Hydro, Barrowland Ballroom, Oran Mor, The Stand, BAAD, Blackfriars, Strathduie Bar and many more. The 2025 edition of GICF runs as part of Glasgow’s 850 celebrations in 2025.

Plus, GICF has unveiled this year’s ‘Comedy Connects’ will have a youth focus with programming and development geared to the next generation of performers and audiences. The ‘Comedy Connects’ strand uses any festival profits to fund initiatives and projects with the aim of making comedy more accessible to all.

This also includes the return of GICF’s ‘Introduction to Comedy’ course for women and marginalised genders with a 6 week free workshop taught by acclaimed comedian Viv Gee at The Social Hub, aiming to encourage more women and people of marginalised genders to pursue comedy. Comedy fans can also see the course’s class of 2024 perform at a special reunion show ‘First Time Funnies’, with 2025’s course culminating in a live performance at GICF’s new community partner venue The Social Hub. 

Today’s official programme launch sees a host of shows added to the bill, from traditional stand-up to live podcasts, family comedy shows and more; UK comics Russell Kane, Jenny Eclair, Andy Zaltzman, Kate Butch, Jamali Maddix, Ania Magliano, Richard Herring, Matt Forde and more, international comedians Tom Segura, Catherine Bohart, Jimeoin, and Felicity Ward, and a roster of hometown heroes from Susie McCabe, Fern Brady, Old Firm Facts Live, Paul Black, Marjolein Robertson, Rosco McClelland, Darren Connell, Larry Dean, Plus, a host of rising Scottish stars who are set to make waves on the comedy scene including Kim Blythe, Connor Burns and Alana Jackson.

Catherine Bohart said: “I can’t wait to be back in Glasgow to do my show again, I’ve always loved performing there. Glaswegian audiences are raucous, and I feel like the Scottish and Irish share a sense of humour and are up for a good time!”

Craig Hill said: “Oran Mor is one of those fantastic venues that’s great for comedy, and Glasgow International Comedy Festival has an absolute riot of an audience, so this is one I really, really look forward to! Cannae wait to put the mad March hare intae mid March!”

Paul Black said: “I’m very excited to bring my new show All Sorts to GICF. Headlining the Festival in 2023 at The King’s was a dream and I’m very happy to be back with something totally different.”

2025’s highlights for GICF’s biggest ever year include hit podcast Here Comes the Guillotine’s first ever Glasgow live show; a King’s Theatre debut for Connor Burns following a hit Fringe season; The Office (Australia) star Felicity Ward returns for her first national tour in six years;  Scottish comedian and author Fern Brady headlines the King’s Theatre; internationally acclaimed Irish-Australian comedian Jimeoin; comedian and novelist Jenny Eclair’s autobiographical show; one of TikTok’s top stars Paul Black returns with brand new sketch show ‘All Sorts’; ‘Books and Banter’ will see comedy guests join Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon for lively chat and lots of laughs, whilst comedy band The Horne Section take a break from their own Channel 4 TV show to entertain Glasgow audiences.

Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: “We're thrilled to reveal Glasgow International Comedy Festival's 2025 programme with over 550 shows meaning this will be our biggest ever event and a real milestone year for the Festival as we go into our third year of rebuilding post-pandemic. We'll be showcasing some of the very best comedians from around the world, the UK and of course, lots of stellar homegrown Scottish acts."

Glasgow Life Chair, Bailie Annette Christie commented: “The Glasgow International Comedy Festival is a much-loved and eagerly anticipated highlight in our city’s packed cultural calendar. Renowned for our warm welcome and legendary sense of humour, this remarkable festival places Glasgow firmly on the global comedy stage.

“Throughout 2025, Glasgow will be marking its 850th anniversary with a vibrant programme of events, bringing communities together to celebrate our rich culture, music and food. Comedy is very much part of that culture. This year’s GICF promises an exciting mix of seasoned performers and rising stars, guaranteeing plenty of laughs for audiences from Glasgow and beyond.”

GICF has also announced The Social Hub as a brand new community partner, with the state of the art hybrid hospitality venue in Candleriggs set to be a hub for artists throughout the event as well as host this year’s Introduction to Comedy course for women and marginalised genders. Applications for the course close at 5pm 13th January.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival will celebrate Glasgow as the ‘funniest city in the world’ from 12th - 30th March 2025 with shows taking place across city including Paddy McDonnell, Jenny Eclair, Chris Forbes, Susie McCabe, Catherine Bohart, Jimeoin, Jamali Maddix, Jamie MacDonald, Kemah Bob, Fred MacAulay, Marjolein Robertson and more.

The 2025 festival will feature shows across every genre of comedy from traditional stand-up, live podcasts, clowning, improv, theatre, kids shows, musicals and more, with shows for all age ranges hosted in venues across the city.

Over 40 venues will host Glasgow International Comedy Festival events with shows in Barras Art and Design,  Barrowland Ballroom, Blackfriars, Glasgow Film Theatre, King’s Theatre, Platform, Oran Mor, SEC Armadillo, Flying Duck, Tennent’s Bar, The Old Hairdressers, The Stand Comedy Club, The Social Hub, Van Winkle West End and more.

2025 festival tickets are on sale via www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com.