What's On in Nottingham
Sunday 01 November 2026 · This weekend · City guide
Nottingham is turning November grey into something gloriously colourful on this first Sunday of the month, with the Comedy Festival absolutely taking over the city and filling every room from afternoon to late evening with laughter, heart, and the kind of razor-sharp wit that makes you snort your drink. Whether you fancy a quiet afternoon giggle over a canal-side pint, a headline night with one of Britain's biggest stand-ups, or a smash-hits singalong to round out the weekend, this city has got you thoroughly covered.
Highlights

Nottingham Comedy Festival Spotlight Showcase: LGBTQIA+ — Kick off your Sunday afternoon at Saltbox with this joyful, celebratory showcase shining a spotlight on LGBTQIA+ voices in comedy. Expect a lineup of sharp, personal, and genuinely funny perspectives that feel both timely and timeless — the kind of show that leaves you feeling warm as well as thoroughly entertained. At just £12 from 2:00pm, it's one of the most inviting ways to spend an early Sunday afternoon in the city.

Luke Harrower: An Asexual Guide On Love — For just £5 at 4:00pm in the Canalhouse Bar, Luke Harrower brings a fresh, funny, and genuinely rare perspective to the comedy stage — navigating love, connection, and identity from an asexual point of view. It's the kind of show that broadens your horizons while making you laugh out loud, and at that price it's practically a no-brainer. Grab a drink, pull up a stool, and let Luke make you see romance in a completely new light.

Chloe Petts: Work in Progress — Chloe Petts is one of the most exciting and distinctive voices in British comedy right now, and catching her in a work-in-progress setting at the Canalhouse Bar at 5:15pm means you're in on the ground floor of something special. These intimate WIP shows have a crackle and spontaneity that polished tours simply can't replicate — ideas tested live, tangents explored, and the audience genuinely part of the process. At £15, it's an evening you'll be telling people about.

Comedy Spotlight Showcase: Disability/Neurodiversity — Over at Saltbox at 7:00pm, this second Spotlight Showcase of the day hands the mic to comedians whose experiences of disability and neurodiversity are too rarely centred on the mainstream stage. It's bold, necessary, and — most importantly — brilliantly funny, because great comedy has always come from telling the truth about your own life. Tickets are £12 and the evening promises to be as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

Kevin Bridges: Here If You Need Me — The big one. Kevin Bridges rolls into the Motorpoint Arena at 8:00pm with his headline tour, and if you've ever seen him live you already know this is an unmissable night — and if you haven't, now is absolutely the time. Bridges has a rare gift for finding the profound inside the hilarious, spinning everyday life into storytelling that fills arenas and still feels like he's talking directly to you. Check the website for tickets and do not sleep on this one.

BILLY'S SMASH HITS - Every Sunday Night — When the comedians have taken their bows and the night is still young enough to keep going, Billy Bootleggers on Nottingham's Lace Market strip throws open its doors at 11:00pm for its beloved weekly Smash Hits night. Think floor-filling anthems, a crowd that absolutely knows every word, and that glorious end-of-weekend energy where nobody wants Sunday to be over just yet. Check the website for entry details and bring your dancing shoes.
Full listings
| Event | Venue | Time | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nightlife | |||||
| BILLY'S SMASH HITS - Every Sunday Night | Billy Bootleggers Nottingham | 11:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Comedy | |||||
| Nottingham Comedy Festival Spotlight Showcase: LGBTQIA+ | Saltbox | 2:00pm | £12 | Tickets | |
| NCF Comedy Presents Rachel Fairburn: Vexy Beasts | Canalhouse Bar | 3:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Luke Harrower: An Asexual Guide On Love | Canalhouse Bar | 4:00pm | £5 | Tickets | |
| Chloe Petts: Work in Progress | Canalhouse Bar | 5:15pm | £15 | Tickets | |
| Melissa Todd: Gag Writer | Canalhouse Bar | 5:45pm | £10 | Tickets | |
| Hannah Byczkowski: Killer | Canalhouse Bar | 6:45pm | £10 | Tickets | |
| Comedy Spotlight Showcase: Disability/Neurodiversity | Saltbox | 7:00pm | £12 | Tickets | |
| Eli Hart: Work in Progress | Canalhouse Bar | 7:15pm | £8 | Tickets | |
| Musical Chairs | Canalhouse Bar | 8:15pm | £10 | Tickets | |
| Arts & Theatre | |||||
| Rachel Fairburn: Vexy Beasts | Canalhouse (Main Stage) | 4:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Kevin Bridges: Here If You Need Me | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham | 8:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |