The Greater Manchester Improv Festival returns for three days of shows, workshops and laughter at The Kingโs Arms in Salford 5-7th June 2026. The festival brings together some of the best in improv comedy and theatre from Greater Manchester and beyond, offering an energetic and varied programme across the weekend.
โWe were thrilled by the audience response to last year's festival, with many shows and classes selling out,โ explains festivalย organiser Bron Edge. โAudiences who might come for one show embraced the festival buzzย and said โYes, And... we'll stay for more shows!โ so of course we had to say โYes, And... we'll do it all again next year!โ.โ
Now a firm fixture in the comedy calendar, the festival features twenty shows in total, spanning a wide range of styles and formats. Audiences can enjoy everything from improvised musicals, horror stories and quick-witted chat shows, to solo performances, competitive comedy and genreโbased theatre. Performances range from emerging new talent to established, awardโwinning acts, ensuring something for both seasoned improv fans and firstโtime visitors. Thereโs even a show for people with short attention spans lasting just five minutes long! "We've had longform, we've had shortform, now it's time for microprov," says Blink And You'll Miss It performer John Cooper.
As well as local talent, the festival welcomes performers from Liverpool and London, as well as renowned American improvisers Landry and Summers with their improvised take on Billy Wilder's classic, Sunset Boulevard. Hugh Doherty from No Notes Improv, one of the Manchester groups performing at this year's festival, says, โIโm looking forward to seeing all the brilliant acts. Itโs going to be a great weekend.โ
Alongside the live shows, the festival offers a programme of workshops led by experienced performers and teachers. These sessions explore key improv skills, including game of the scene, improvised monologues, songs and genre work, with options suited to different experience levels. Workshops are designed to be welcoming, practical and inspiring for anyone interested in developing their improvisation skills.
The Kings Arms is an award-winning theatre pub that hosts a range of theatre and comedy events throughout the year making it the perfect home for the festival. All shows and workshops are ticketed at just ยฃ5, making the Greater Manchester Improv Festival an accessible and affordable celebration of creativity, spontaneity and live performance.
Tickets are on sale now. The full festival programme can be found here.
