Stuart Mitchell and Susan Calman among big-name acts to appear
Festival is third major cultural event to be staged in Paisley this year
The line-up has been revealed for the second Paisley Comedy Festival.
Stuart Mitchell, Susan Calman and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd are among the comedians who will take to the stage in the town between September 10 and 13.
A wide programme of events will take place at Paisley Town Hall and Paisley Arts Centre.
The festival, which will also showcase emerging comedy talent with two open-mic nights, is making a return after its successful inaugural event last year.
It will be the third major cultural event to be held by leisure and arts charity OneRen in Paisley this year, following the first Paisley Arts Festival and last month’s record-breaking Paisley Book Festival.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Chair of OneRen, said: “We are delighted to unveil the line-up for the second Paisley Comedy Festival as our expanding cultural calendar strengthens Paisley’s place as a leading destination for arts, cultural and major events.
“The reaction to last year’s opening festival was fantastic, so we are looking forward to building on its success and showcasing why Paisley’s reputation as a festivals town is growing all of the time.
“Audiences and performers enjoy our venues, which is reflected in the calibre of acts that we have been able to attract. We are looking forward to a brilliant four days of comedy.”
Some of the biggest names in Scottish comedy are in the line-up.
Fresh from his debut sell-out UK tour, Stuart Mitchell - whose one-liners and audience interaction has made him a social media star - will return to Paisley Town Hall on the Thursday and Saturday, with special guests, as he brings a version of his renowned Blackfriars of Glasgow gig to the town.
Comedy performer, television host and presenter Susan Calman, meanwhile, will stop off in town as part of her first stand-up tour in 10 years. Her show, Tall Tales, sees her share stories about cruising, driving tanks, cats and getting older.
At Paisley Arts Centre, meanwhile, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, will perform his latest show Howling at the Moon. One of Scotland’s most in-demand stand-ups, he is also co-host of the popular Here Comes the Guillotine podcast and has appeared across a range of major TV comedy programmes including Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and the BBC New Comedy Award.
The Arts Centre will also host open-mic nights on Thursday and Sunday, showcasing emerging and established talent. It will also be the venue for the Comedy Club 4 Kids on Sunday afternoon.
Paisley’s growing cultural calendar - and investment in its venues- was one of the major factors in the community’s Town of the Year success in the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards.
The first Paisley Arts Festival, held in March was themed on The Sound of Paisley, featuring Trainspotting creator Irvine Welsh leading a tribute to Paisley-born fashion icon Pam Hogg, as well as broadcaster Vic Galloway leading a celebration of the town’s musical journey, From Punk to Paolo.
Last month’s (May), Paisley Book Festival attracted record audiences, with a line-up which included former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and The Young Team author Graeme Armstrong, as well as a special Paisley edition of Book Club Scotland.
Paisley Comedy Festival tickets are available via https://www.oneren.org/culture/comedyfestival/.
Paisley Comedy Festival: The full line-up
Thursday
Open Mic Night, Paisley Arts Centre, 7pm
Stuart Mitchell & Friends, Paisley Town Hall, 8pm
Friday
A Scottish Comedy Collective, Paisley Arts Centre, 8pm
Saturday
Stuart Mitchell & Friends, Paisley Town Hall, 3pm
Christoper Macarthur-Boyd, Paisley Arts Centre, 4.30pm and 8pm
Sunday
Comedy Club 4 Kids, Paisley Arts Centre, 2pm
Susan Calman - Tall Tales, Paisley Town Hall, 7.30pm
Open Mic Night, Paisley Arts Centre, 7.30pm