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The latest updates from the global comedy scene, including industry announcements, major deals, legal stories, platform changes, and breaking news affecting comedians, venues, and audiences.

Comedy clubs miss out on Burnham’s 20% business rates cut

July 26, 2026 River Leanox

The door charge is the bit that disqualifies you The government’s own guidance sets out which venues qualify for its business rates relief. Buried in…

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Edinburgh’s visitor levy starts today – the 5-night cap spares Fringe acts

July 24, 2026 River Leanox

“I honestly think Edinburgh will lose the festival,” Elf Lyons told Midlothian View this week. It’s a heavy thing to say about the event she…

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Sandringham festival axed five weeks out, and the refund got messy

July 23, 2026 River Leanox

A day ticket to watch Lionel Richie at Sandringham this August was priced at £135. Christina Aguilera on the Friday came in cheaper, at £84.80.…

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Leicester comedy festival files ‘serious incident’ report over unpaid acts

July 22, 2026 River Leanox

The regulator now has it in writing The charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival has done the thing you do when a cashflow problem stops being…

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Shane Gillis played to 73,946 people in an NFL stadium

July 20, 2026 River Leanox

Three 6 Mafia closed a stand-up gig By the time Shane Gillis got to the sincere bit, the bill had already run through a Dave…

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Equity claws back pay for three unpaid Leicester festival comics

July 17, 2026 River Leanox

Three comedians paid, and a union that won’t name them Equity has got three comedians their money. That’s the concrete result out of the Leicester…

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A new £1500 Fringe award for the acts risking it all

July 16, 2026 River Leanox

The Banneret Award will hand £1,500 to one Edinburgh Fringe act. Its criteria are unusually blunt about who qualifies: the performer for whom turning up…

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Peter Kay’s four new Bolton shows are BL-postcode only

July 15, 2026 River Leanox

The instruction reads like a captcha with a chip on its shoulder: type your postcode in UPPER case, with a SPACE. Get it wrong and…

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The £1,000 student award behind Lycett, Gamble and Gadd

July 13, 2026 River Leanox

The cheque at the end of the Chortle Student Comedy Award is £1,000, with £250 for the runner-up. The comedians who have stood roughly where…

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Club Comedy Seattle closes July 15 after no buyer steps up

July 12, 2026 River Leanox

The last show at Club Comedy Seattle goes up on Wednesday. Once that room empties the lights stay off on a stage that spent five…

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