The Live Comedy Association (LCA), in partnership with the Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) and British Comedy Guide (BCG), has released the findings of the UK Live Comedy Sector Survey 2025. This report, published today at an event in Leicester, follows the first survey report published in 2025 and reveals the significant economic, social, and cultural impact of grassroots live comedy across the UK. The report also highlights the pressing challenges faced by the sector and reinforces the call for live comedy to be recognised and supported by the UK Government.
The full report can be downloaded from the LCA website.
The LCA has also announced the launch of a new live comedy venue consortium that will be supporting and raising money for the Stand Up And Give Fund, set up in 2025 to financially support grassroots live comedy. The consortium members are Komedia (Brighton & Bath), The Stand (Glasgow, Edinburgh & Newcastle), The Glee Club (Birmingham, Cardiff, Nottingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Oxford), The Bill Murray (London), The Frog & Bucket (Manchester), Leicester Square Theatre (London), The Museum of Comedy (London), Soho Theatre (London) and Soho Theatre Walthamstow (London).
Each of these clubs and venues are founding members of the consortium and have agreed to raise money for Stand Up And Give Fund. It is hoped more clubs and venues will join the consortium to give back, support the grassroots sector across the UK and enable some of the reports recommendations to be delivered.
The survey gathered responses from industry professionals including comedians, promoters, venue managers and agents, and provides a detailed analysis of the live comedy ecosystem. Key findings indicate that people working in live comedy are earning less this year, when compared to last year. Average wages in 2025 were £21,143 compared to £26,778 and the average number of gigs has dropped from 3.2/week to 2.5/week. Comedians who need to work outside of live comedy is increasing, with 62% to 74% stating they need to generate additional income to supplement their careers. There is a slight reduction in ticket sales, with 31% of promoters selling between 71-90% of tickets, compared with 45% in 2024. Ticket prices have remained relatively stagnant, with 33% stating tickets are priced between £5 – £12, compared with 31% in 2024.
Jessica Toomey co-Chair of the LCA, said “we are delighted to be able to publish this second annual report showing the size and impact of the grassroots live comedy sector. It gives us, and our partners, reliable independent data about the work which goes on across the UK every week of the year, which feeds into the arena stars, and big name comedians of the future. The report gives us more information to continue working with governments to provide evidence about the support our sector needs.
We know we need more resources to address some of the challenges our sector faces and also to support others who are doing amazing work to build our community and grow our impact. The venue consortium is so important to this and is our next step to raise money to move things forwards. We are so grateful to the founding members of the consortium who have agreed to join us in our campaign and look forward to others joining.
We also must say a huge thank you to our colleagues at the CCSR for leading on the survey, and the report we have published today.”
Dr Sharon Lockyer, co-author of the report and Director of the Centre for Comedy Studies Research said “The Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) is delighted to have led the UK Live Comedy Sector Survey in 2025. The findings reveal the important economic, social and cultural contributions made by UK live comedy but also highlight, again, the issues and challenges that the sector faces around precarity, wage stagnation, geographical inequities and inequities related to protected characteristics. We are looking forward to using the report to support the sustainability and development of the UK live comedy sector.”
Over the last 12 months the LCA have made significant progress in terms of raising the profile of the grassroots live comedy sector to governments and echoing the work the grassroots live music sector has done to secure support for live music. The LCA lobbied DCMS 12 months ago which resulted in a special evidence session in Parliament to discuss the live comedy sector with politicians. This led to a letter being sent to the Arts Minister with a series of recommendations about what support is needed. The LCA is currently working with government to follow these recommendations up and ensure they are acted upon. Just last week the LCA secured confirmation from government that live comedy venues will be eligible for financial support from a new business rates package, after it was thought it would only apply to live music venues.
The LCA is producing Live Comedy Day on 1st April 2026, a national celebration of grassroots live comedy. Further information is available from www.livecomedyday.co.uk
The UK Live Comedy Sector Survey was administered by Brunel University of London and ethical approval to conduct the survey was received from the College of Arts, Law and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee at Brunel University of London.
Read the full findings of the UK Live Comedy Sector Survey here www.livecomedyassociation.co.uk
Jamie Patterson, General Manager, Komedia Brighton said “We at Komedia are so happy to be one a list of fantastic comedy venues working with the LCA and seeing that organisation build in strength and momentum. The work we’ve done over the last few years with the Music Venues Trust to support live music has been invaluable and has enormously enriched the creative sector in the UK; we’re excited to see the same spirit of solidarity and support in action as regards grassroots live comedy.
Live Comedy is such an intrinsic and totally indispensable part of British culture – we’re famous the world over for our comedy in television and film and for our live touring comedians who function as cultural ambassadors around the globe. We’ve seen how grassroots live comedy feeds the top levels of internationally touring and world famous comedy.
We will do everything we can to continue supporting grassroots live comedy and encourage everyone in our sector to support the Stand Up and Give Fund and the Live Comedy Association.”
Mark Tughan, founder and CEO of the Glee Clubs said “The Glee venues are delighted to be working with the LCA and other live comedy clubs and venues across the UK. I’m delighted that efforts have already resulted in permanent live comedy venues being rightly treated the same as live music venues with respect to the recent rates announcements.
The UK Comedy scene is one of the UK’s greatest artistic assets, and our output is world renowned. The grassroots live scene is where talent is nurtured and developed and deserves to operate in a business environment that enables it to thrive. The rates announcement is a good start however we urge the government to look afresh at ways in which they can support live comedy.”
Adam Robinson-Witts, Leicester Square Theatre and Museum of Comedy said “It’s great to partner with an organisation such as LCA to ensure the UK Comedy Industry has a voice, being established venue operators with multi-discipline offerings we are firm believers that comedy is not a vital part of the UK Heritage performing arts.
Increases in operating costs, including rates, staffing and essential services has made it especially hard for venues to offer a platform for the UK’s budding creators. We feel as an industry, that comedy as an art form needs to be supported as much as any other; to ensure comedians of tomorrow have the support and importantly the venues to perform in.
The UK has a rich and illustrious history of comedy, with it all essentially beginning in the venues that LCA strive to represent. From Inverness to Cornwall there are hundreds of venues & promoters which act as springboards for comedy creatives to hone their craft and become the UK’s next best. It’s important that the government realises that the UK is a worldwide leading voice in live comedy, with not only homegrown talent but attraction from across the world. To ensure this continues we believe the LCA with everyone’s support can show government how important our industry is in shaping the future in UK’s Live Comedy.”
Mike Jones, Managing Director of The Stand Comedy Club said “Everyone is aware of the challenging times that the hospitality sector is currently facing. Live comedy now makes up a significant proportion of the night-time economy and it’s becoming increasingly challenging to pay our staff the Real Living Wage, pay our performers competitive rates and keep ticket prices at an affordable level.
It’s great to have the Live Comedy Association as a body that can effectively lobby to enable us to continue to support and develop artists and entertain audiences at a price point they can afford. At the very least we deserve the same parity and recognition as live music venues. We’re delighted to be supporting the LCA with their great work.”
