What’s on in Glasgow

Glasgow International Comedy Festival

13 — 31 March 2024

Various

Now more than a decade old, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival is the largest festival of its kind in Europe. The festival attracts bigger crowds every year, showcasing the best of local comedic talent as well as some of the biggest comedians worldwide.

The festival programme now includes more than 350 shows in 40 venues around the city, including the Citizens Theatre and the Kings Theatre. The festival is about more than just stand-up comedy, featuring a great variety of entertainment spanning all forms of comedy with something to suit all tastes and ages.

There are live stand-up shows by some of the biggest names in comedy, as well as character acts, political satirists, classic family variety acts, children's entertainment, workshops, screenings of comedy film classics, and theatre productions.

Every year, the full programme is released early in the year and it's a good idea to book a few months in advance to avoid disappointment, particularly for the most popular acts. It is also recommended that accommodation is booked well in advance for those visiting during the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Check the official website for details.

Website www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com

West End Festival

TBC 2024

Various

Every summer the Bohemian West End in Glasgow becomes the stage for performances, film, music, street parties and exhibitions. The West End Festival is the biggest event on Glasgow's cultural calendar. These days, the festival includes more than 400 performances in about 80 venues. Festival Sunday is the highlight of the celebrations, with the famous Midsummer Carnival and Street Party taking over Byres Road in a swirling procession of colour and dancing, with a variety of other activities in the area.

The day is filled with street theatre, funfair rides and stalls, comedy shows, a farmer's market, art fairs, music performances and regular features such as Shakespeare in the Park. Many of the events are public and free of charge, so that even without buying tickets for any of the big performances visitors can have a splendid time walking around the area and enjoying the street artists, exhibitions, stalls, live music concerts and party atmosphere. The festival was first held in 1996 and has been growing steadily in size and popularity ever since. Check the official website for the full festival programme and details on the event.

Website www.westendfestival.co.uk

Glasgow Jazz Festival

18 January — 4 February 2024

Merchant City

One of the biggest jazz festivals in Europe, the Glasgow Jazz Festival infects the Merchant City area with a celebratory atmosphere, spilling out onto the streets from the bars in the neighbourhood and from the main open-air stage in George Square. Musicians from around the world, and the best performers from all over Scotland and the UK, flock to the city to take part in lively concert performances that have attracted huge crowds every year.

First held in 1987, in a bid to rival the cultural festivals of other big European cities, the Glasgow Jazz Festival has become a major feature on the city's cultural calendar. As well as a variety of jazz styles, the festival has extended its programme to encompass compatible genres like world music, blues and hip hop. The full programme and venues are available on the official website and tickets can also be bought via the site. True jazz enthusiasts may well travel to Glasgow specifically to attend the festival, but travellers who happen to be in the city during the jazz festival will also find the programme entertaining. It is not necessary to be an established jazz fanatic to enjoy the variety of musical events on offer.

Website www.jazzfest.co.uk

Glasgow