A new comedy festival is set to bring a packed programme of live shows to a unique historic venue beneath Crystal Palace Park next year.
Stand-up at the Subway will run from May 21 to 24, 2026, with 11 shows across four nights inside the atmospheric Crystal Palace Subway, a Victorian-era structure hidden beneath the park.
The line-up includes well-known comedians such as Daniel Kitson, Elis James, Kerry Godliman, Scott Bennett, Hal Cruttenden, and improv group Shoot From The Hip, alongside rising talent and Edinburgh Festival preview shows from Finlay Christie and Dan Tiernan.
Tickets are priced between £8 and £20, and a licensed bar will be available throughout the festival.
The Crystal Palace Subway was built in 1865 to connect rail passengers to the original Crystal Palace.
While the palace itself was destroyed by fire in 1936, the subway remains as one of the few surviving structures from the site.
Over the years, the space has been used for a range of purposes, including as an air raid shelter during the Second World War.
It is now used as a distinctive cultural venue.
Festival organisers say the event will give audiences the chance to experience live comedy in an intimate and unusual underground setting, just beneath one of south London’s best-known parks.
The programme includes stand-up sets, improv shows, and preview performances ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
A spokesperson said the festival will showcase “the breadth of the UK comedy scene” while highlighting south London as a destination for cultural events.
Confirmed performers include Daniel Kitson, Scott Bennett, Sharon Wanjohi, Elis James, Sam Nicoresti, Kerry Godliman, Eshaan Akbar, Tom Towelling, Anna Thomas and more.
Festival schedule
Thursday, May 21
Scott Bennett, Sharon Wanjohi, Elis James (MC Peter Flanagan)
Friday, May 22
Sam Nicoresti & Friends / Shoot From The Hip
Saturday, May 23
Daniel Kitson / Finlay Christie (preview) / Tom Towelling, Eshaan Akbar, Kerry Godliman (MC Jimmy McGhie)
Sunday, May 24
Daniel Kitson / Dan Tiernan (preview) / Hal Cruttenden, Anna Thomas, Dan Tiernan (MC Eshaan Akbar)
The venue is fully seated but has no step-free access, with entry via two flights of stairs.
The subway is located within Crystal Palace Park, close to Crystal Palace Bus Station, with the nearest rail stations being Crystal Palace and Penge West.
Shows are for ages 16 and over due to adult themes and language.
Ticket sales will support Crystal Palace Park Trust, which maintains the park’s historic landscape and landmarks.