Belfast Improv Festival
The Belfast Improv Festival is an international festival of improvised theatre and comedy held annually in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Shows run nightly at Lavery's Bar on Bradbury Place, with daytime workshops, and the festival features over 20 international ensembles and solo performers across four days. It runs alongside a Dublin leg organized under the broader Improv Fest Ireland umbrella, forming a two-city event spanning Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
History
The festival was founded in 2018 by Paul Mone, Creative Director of Belfast Improv. The inaugural edition featured teams from China, Europe, the UK, the US, and Ireland, and the event has since grown into a four-day celebration with more than 20 international participants.
Significance
The Belfast Improv Festival is Ireland's original international improv festival, and the broader Improv Fest Ireland of which it forms part has been awarded the EFFE label by the European Festivals Association.
Need current dates or submissions? This is a historical archive. Visit improvfestivals.org for live festival listings.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Belfast Improv Festival. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/festivals/belfast-improv-festival
The Improv Archive. "Belfast Improv Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/festivals/belfast-improv-festival.
The Improv Archive. "Belfast Improv Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/festivals/belfast-improv-festival. Accessed September 21, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.