Paddy Power Comedy Festival Brings 20 Years of Laughter to Iveagh Gardens with Dylan Moran and Foil Arms & Hog
The Paddy Power Comedy Festival is marking its 20th anniversary at the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin with a four-day programme running from July 23 to 26 that brings together over 50 acts including Dylan Moran, Foil Arms and Hog, Jason Byrne, Fern Brady, Emma Doran, and Neil Delamere, alongside an expanded series of 14 club shows at Whelan's on Wexford Street, in a celebration of Irish and international comedy that has become one of the most beloved fixtures of the Dublin summer cultural calendar.
Background
The Paddy Power Comedy Festival has been a fixture of the Dublin summer for two decades, and its home at the Iveagh Gardens — one of the most beautiful outdoor venues in the city — has given it a distinctive character that sets it apart from indoor comedy events. The gardens, tucked behind the National Concert Hall in the heart of Dublin 2, provide an intimate and atmospheric setting that suits the conversational nature of stand-up comedy, and the festival has consistently attracted both established names and emerging talent from Ireland and internationally.
The 20th anniversary edition is the most ambitious in the festival's history, with a lineup that spans the full range of comedy styles — from the absurdist surrealism of Dylan Moran to the sketch comedy of Foil Arms and Hog, the observational warmth of Jason Byrne, and the sharp political commentary of Fern Brady. The expansion to include 14 club shows at Whelan's on Wexford Street reflects the festival's growing ambition and its recognition that the Iveagh Gardens programme, while central, cannot accommodate all the talent that the festival wants to present.
The festival has been a launching pad for several Irish comedians who have gone on to significant international careers, and its role in the Irish comedy ecosystem — providing a platform for emerging talent alongside established names — has been consistently valued by the industry. The 20th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on that contribution and to celebrate the depth of Irish comedy talent that has emerged over the past two decades.
Key Developments
The 2026 lineup is one of the strongest in the festival's history. Dylan Moran, whose dark, wine-soaked philosophical comedy has made him one of the most distinctive voices in British and Irish stand-up, is one of the headline acts. Foil Arms and Hog, the Dublin sketch trio whose online videos have accumulated hundreds of millions of views, bring their live show to the Iveagh Gardens for what is expected to be one of the most popular performances of the week. Jason Byrne, one of Ireland's most beloved live performers, provides the kind of high-energy, audience-interactive comedy that the outdoor setting suits perfectly.
The international lineup includes Fern Brady, Simon Brodkin, Chris Redd, Marjolein Robertson, and a range of other acts from Britain, the United States, and Europe. The Irish contingent is particularly strong, with Emma Doran, Enya Martin, Aoife Dunne, Shane Daniel Byrne, Neil Delamere, Karl Spain, Mike Rice, Gearoid Farrelly, Kevin McGahern, Alison Spittle, and Chris Kent all featuring across the four days.
The social media comedy contingent — Rachel Galvo, Tony Cantwell, Killian Sundermann, Ryan Carrick, Ross McCarney, and Serena Terry — reflects the festival's recognition that the comedy landscape has changed significantly over the past decade, with online platforms creating new pathways to audiences and new forms of comedic expression that deserve a place alongside traditional stand-up.
Why It Matters
The Paddy Power Comedy Festival's 20th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable growth of Irish comedy as an art form and an industry over the past two decades. When the festival began in 2006, Irish comedy was dominated by a relatively small number of established names, and the infrastructure for developing and showcasing new talent was limited. Today, Ireland has a thriving comedy scene with multiple festivals, dedicated comedy clubs, and a generation of performers who are competing successfully on the international stage.
The festival's role in that development has been significant. By providing a platform that combines international acts with Irish talent, it has helped to raise the standard of Irish comedy and to create the kind of competitive environment that drives improvement. The expansion to include club shows at Whelan's reflects the maturity of the Irish comedy scene and the recognition that there is now sufficient talent and audience demand to support a more ambitious programme than the Iveagh Gardens alone can accommodate.
Local Impact
The festival generates significant economic activity in the Dublin 2 area, with thousands of comedy fans attending across the four days. The Iveagh Gardens, which is managed by the Office of Public Works, benefits from the festival's profile, and the surrounding area — including the National Concert Hall, the Shelbourne Hotel, and the restaurants and bars of Harcourt Street and Leeson Street — sees increased footfall during the festival period. The club shows at Whelan's on Wexford Street provide an additional boost to the Portobello area, which has become one of Dublin's most vibrant cultural quarters.
What's Next
The festival runs until Sunday, July 26. The club shows at Whelan's continue through the weekend, with tickets available on a show-by-show basis. The festival organisers are already in early planning discussions for the 2027 edition, which will mark the 21st anniversary. The success of the 2026 programme — particularly the expansion to include club shows — is expected to inform the shape of future editions, with the possibility of further expansion to additional venues being explored.
