Full lineup as Edinburgh Fringe Preview Festival brings top comedy and spoken-word shows to Preston

Edinburgh Fringe is heading to Preston this summer as the #EdFringe Previews Festival showcases some of the most exciting comedians, storytellers and spoken-word performers on the UK circuit.

Taking place across June and July 2026 at The Ferret and ARTCH Studios, the festival offers audiences the chance to see performers fine-tuning their Edinburgh Fringe shows before they head north to the world's biggest fringe festival.

With tickets starting from just £8 and double-bill evenings available for £15, the season provides an affordable opportunity to experience award-winning stand-up, spoken-word and character comedy performances in intimate venues.

The season opens on Wednesday, June 10, at The Ferret with a double bill featuring spoken word artist The Chubby Northerner and his first-ever solo show Condoms & Cucumbers, followed by award-winning stand-up Henning Nilsen's A Letter to My Parents. Nilsen has amassed more than 100 million online views and sold out runs at both the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe.

The Chubby Northerner – poet Tom Stocks – brings his full show to The Ferret after performing it a scratch night at the same venue in September 2025.

ARTCH Studios hosts a series of double bills beginning on Friday, June 12, with audience-interaction specialist Ben Van der Velde and his latest show Van der Laugh Generator, alongside Denzil Ede’s Artificially Intelligent Procrastinating Pundit, a fast-paced hour packed with puns, absurdity and musical mayhem.

On Saturday, June 13, audiences can catch rising comedy star Courtney Buchner's One of the Girls alongside acclaimed character comedian Shaun Guff's Enuff is Enuff. Character comedy Shaun Guff, written by and starring Clementine Bogg-Hargroves, was a smash hit at the 2025 #Edfringe Previews festival.

The season continues on Wednesday, June 24 with Bróccán Tyzack-Carlin's Good News! It's Been Destroyed at The Ferret. The multi-award-winning performer has been described as ‘riveting’ and ‘a star of the future’ and blends comedy and spoken word into a unique theatrical experience.

On Wednesday, July 8, acclaimed stand-up Tom Little brings his latest show In His Comfort Zone to Preston. Hailed by critics as one of the most inventive voices in British comedy, Little has earned praise from The Scotsman, Chortle, The Mirror and The Spectator.

The festival concludes on Friday, July 17 at ARTCH Studios with another double bill featuring BBC New Comedy Award winner Anna Thomas and her work-in-progress show How To Juggle A Ferret, followed by Natalie Patuzzo's Every Single Sound in the World, a character comedy performance guaranteed to leave audiences smiling.

Organised by Enjoy The Show, the #EdFringe Preview Festival gives Lancashire audiences the chance to discover future stars and established favourites before they take their shows to Edinburgh.

Festival organiser Garry Cook said: “Edinburgh Fringe remains the most important launchpad for comedy and spoken-word talent in the world. I am delighted to that festival energy to Preston and give local audiences the opportunity to see fantastic performers in intimate venues before they head to Scotland. These previews are often where the magic happens and audiences become part of the creative process.

“Preview shows are massively important to performers who are getting ready for Edinburgh, a month-long festival which for many performers is the most important few weeks of their careers.

“These preview shows are also a very cheap way for audiences to experience these shows. If you are going up to Edinburgh it will cost you in excess of £250 per day before you have even bought a £15 to £20 ticket.

“Some of the shows coming to Preston are brilliant – I’ve seen them before. Others, I have personally wanted to see for a long time and it’s a real honour to bring them to Preston. Natalia Patuzzo’s character comedy performance – Every Single Sound In The World – is being previewed in London and Manchester only, so it’s a real coup to bring her show to Preston.

“I am particularly delighted to be working with The Ferret and ARTCH studios, two independent venues who are huge supporters of live entertainment in Preston. Both of these venues have helped keep alive theatre, comedy and performance in Preston. I wouldn’t be working in the city without their long-term and continued support.”

LINEUP:

• Wednesday June 10 – The FerretThe Chubby Northerner / Henning Nilsenhttps://www.skiddle.com/e/42446508
• Friday June 12 – ARTCH StudiosBen Van der Velde / Denzil de Cristohttps://www.skiddle.com/e/42446518
• Saturday June 13 – ARTCH StudiosCourtney Buchner / Shaun Guffhttps://www.skiddle.com/e/42446519
• Wednesday June 24 – The FerretBróccán Tyzack-Carlinhttps://www.skiddle.com/e/42450019
• Wednesday July 8 – The FerretTom Littlehttps://www.skiddle.com/e/42448131
• Friday July 17 – ARTCH StudiosAnna Thomas / Natalie Patuzzohttps://www.skiddle.com/e/42446520

VENUES:

• The Ferret, 55 Fylde Rd, Preston PR1 2XQ. Website: theferret.info
• ARTCH Studios, 22-24 Gradwell St (just off March Lane), Preston PR1 8SD Website: artch.studio