Kickstarting your summer every year on the June Bank Holiday Weekend! 

Kilkenny Cat Laughs is Ireland’s annual craic pilgrimage, and has been heralding the start of the summer season since 1995.

The festival has played host over the years to international and domestic world class comedy and is renowned for treating both talent and audience to a warm, welcoming and convivial atmosphere in Kilkenny, at the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East.

Cat Laughs has a reputation for being the comedians’ comedy festival, and for creating an atmosphere where anything can happen.

Over the years the festival has nurtured the fledgling careers of Irish acts like Dara Ó Briain, Aisling Bea, Graham Norton, Dylan Moran, Maeve Higgins, Ardal O’Hanlon, Joanne McNally, Deirdre O’Kane, David O’Doherty, Des Bishop and many, many more. We have also welcomed international luminaries like Bill Murray, Zach Galifianakis, Laura Kightlinger, Bill Burr, George Wendt, Ross Noble, Peter Kay, Bill Bailey, Tig Notaro, Emo Philips and Sarah Millican among others.

Welcome to the 2023 edition of The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival! Summer’s nearly here and we’re delighted to be back with the happiest festival in Ireland.

This year we’re doing things a bit differently at Kilkenny Cat Laughs!

Alongside some of your favourite Irish comedians, we’re introducing lots of brilliant standups from England, Scotland and Wales who’ve never played in Ireland or Kilkenny before.

So as well as splitting your sides in the company of your comedy favourites, you can get an exclusive first look at the stars of the future, hand-picked by the Cat Laughs team.