The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival at Waterfront Hall

What to Expect

The Cat Laughs, billed by The Guardian as “the best little Comedy Festival in the world,” brings two nights of stand-up to Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September 2026, part of Ireland’s longest-running comedy festival extending its Kilkenny roots to Belfast and Derry. Each night is a gala-style bill with a rotating cast of comedians rather than a single headliner, giving audiences a broad taste of the current Irish and UK stand-up scene in one sitting. Friday’s lineup features Colin Murphy, Paddy Raff, Paddy McDonnell, Diona Doherty, Dane Buckley, Ali Woods, Hal Cruttenden and Serena Terry. Saturday’s lineup features Colin Geddis, Paddy McDonnell, Chris Kent, Emer Maguire, Susie McCabe, Finlay Christie, Dan Tiernan and Hal Cruttenden. With over 30 comedians appearing across the full festival, this is one of the biggest comedy events to land in Belfast this autumn.

Good to Know

• Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September 2026, both nights starting at 8:00pm, with different lineups each night.

• Tickets £30.00 to £35.50 plus a £3.25 booking fee per night; tickets are sold separately for each night.

• Age restriction 16 and over. All tickets are non-refundable.

• Venue: Waterfront Hall, 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast BT1 3WH.

• Buy through the Waterfront Hall website; both nights can sell out given the scale of the lineup.

Getting There

Waterfront Hall sits on the River Lagan in Belfast city centre, a short walk from Belfast Central station and the main city centre bus routes. The venue has its own adjacent multi-storey car park, and the Cathedral Quarter and Donegall Square are both within easy walking distance for a night out either side of the show.