Your Base for the Galway Comedy Festival 2026

The Galway Comedy Festival returns for its 2026 edition from 20–26 October, filling the city with seven days and nights of stand-up, improv, live podcasts and late shows across venues like the Town Hall Theatre, the Black Box and Róisín Dubh. Sitting directly on Eyre Square, The Hardiman puts you a short walk from most of the action so you can roll from an early show to a late one, then straight back to a comfortable bed without hunting for a taxi. Between shows, MacNeill’s, our pub in the heart of the city, pours a proper pint alongside Irish cooking, while the Oyster Bar is set up for cocktails and sharing boards. Our team knows the city and the festival inside out. Book your stay direct for our best available rate.

First held over five days at Easter 2006, the Galway Comedy Festival has grown into Ireland’s and, by its own account, the EU’s  biggest comedy festival, now drawing around 20,000 fans to some 70+ shows across roughly 20 venues each October. The 2026 edition runs from Tuesday 20 to Monday 26 October, ending on the October Bank Holiday.

What the week typically includes:

      International headliners – big touring names in the Town Hall Theatre and Leisureland

      Irish comedy favourites – established acts and household names across the city-centre venues

      Club and late-night shows – mixed bills and rising talent in Róisín Dubh and Monroe’s

      Beyond stand-up – improv, theatre, mime, live podcasts, table quizzes and more.

Most festival venues are an easy walk from our front door on Eyre Square — here’s roughly how far.

Venue	Area	Distance / walk time from The Hardiman
Town Hall Theatre	Woodquay	approx. [8–10 min] walk via Eyre Square & Courthouse Square
Black Box Theatre	Dyke Road	approx. [15–18 min] walk, or a short taxi
Róisín Dubh & Monroe’s Live	Upper Dominick St	approx. [12–15 min] walk across the river
Pálás Cinema	Merchants Rd	approx. [7–8 min] walk via Merchants Road
Leisureland	Salthill	approx. [3 km] — a [10–15 min] taxi or the Salthill bus (not walkable)

For the city-centre shows, leave the car with us — you won’t need it.