Scottish Comedy Highlights: January 2026

Alongside The Stand and Monkey Barrel’s flagship mixed-bills, there’s a handful of excellent monthly gigs across Scotland we want to draw your attention to. First up is the wickedly funny freestyler MC Hammersmith and his improv, musical and stand-up pals on 11 January (Monkey Barrel, 7.30pm, £9/7). A week later (and every other Sunday) at Gilded Balloon’s new year-round home, The Gilded Saloon, is Hot Comedy. It’s a red-hot, super inclusive night of laughs presented by Scottish up-and-comers Nicholas Elliott and Eva Peroni (18 Jan, 7pm, £5. Also 1 Feb), who we featured a wee while ago for Behind the Mic.

Out west, Glasgow Improv Theatre hosts classes and shows several times a week, but each month presents Perfect Improv, with a team of some of the best Scottish improv talents and a special guest from the stand-up scene. This month, it’s Clydebank’s Marc Jennings' turn (Old Hairdresser’s, 20 Jan, 7pm, £6). And at the end of the month is Susan Riddell and Amanda Dwyer’s all-women mixed bill gig, Material, Girl. In a regular last Sunday of the month spot, January’s gig features our two hosts, Kat Powell and headliner Kim Blythe (The Stand Glasgow, 25 Jan, 3pm, £8/£7).

And here’s a handful of touring shows to nab tickets for lickety-split: mentioned as our book ahead tip last month, household name Sara Pascoe’s in Edinburgh for three nights shaping up a new show about her Dad’s jazz epic (Monkey Barrel, 12-14 Jan, 7.30pm, £10); Irish rising star Grace Mulvey works up her next hour (Monkey Barrel, 16 Jan, 8pm, £7.50); and Vittorio Angelone takes his acclaimed tour you can’t Say Nothing any more to Dundee (Whitehall Theatre, 29 Jan, 8pm, £20-£24).

Finally, put Dan Tiernan’s third solo hour All In (Monkey Barrel, 3 Feb, 7.30pm, £15) in your diary. The sweatiest, most aggressive show nominated for the big Edinburgh Fringe Award this year, it’s not for the faint of heart but perfect for those who love their comedy dangerous and frenetic.