Robin Hood International Improv Festival

Last updated July 8, 2026 at 10:44 AM

Field	Details
Dates	September 2-6, 2026 (5th Edition)
Location	Nottingham, United Kingdom
Venue	Squire Performing Arts Centre (The Propatulum, Lenton Avenue, NG7 1DY)
Language	English
Organizer	The Curious Network CIC
Website	robinhoodimprov.co.uk
Facebook	Robin Hood Improv
Instagram	@robinhoodimprov

Overview

The Robin Hood International Improv Festival (RHIIF) is an international improv comedy festival held annually in Nottingham, England. Created by Nottingham-based improvisers Lloydie James Lloyd and Liam Webber, the festival was born from a conversation at iO Chicago and launched in September 2022, attracting over 100 performers from around the world. The 2026 edition is its 5th year.

RHIIF's mission is "to showcase the best of the world's improv to Nottingham and the best of Nottingham's improv to the world." The festival programmes a mix of international teachers and new voices alongside UK talent for shows, workshops, coaching sessions, and ensemble building. It is highly selective, accepting roughly 10-15% of applicants, with nearly 150 improvisers participating. The festival is committed to accessibility pricing, offers volunteer positions exchanged for tickets, and provides free festival ensembles with coaching and performance opportunities.

Pre-festival activities begin Monday 31 August, including the PGraph 3-day intensive workshop, with public shows running Wednesday 2 through Sunday 6 September at the Squire Performing Arts Centre (260-seat main house, 77-seat studio).

Year-round, the organizers run improv courses and shows in Nottingham under the "Little John Improv" banner, in partnership with Nottingham Playhouse (UK Theatre of the Year 2025).

Headliners

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (Olivier Award-winning West End show) headlines Saturday with a one-hour special. The full 2026 lineup spans 19 acts across five nights, with groups from the US, UK, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Bulgaria, Greece, Japan, and Vietnam. Tickets via TryBooking; a Whole Festival Pass is £120/£95.

Workshops

Workshops run daily from 31 August through 6 September, with many already sold out. Teachers include PGraph (3-day narrative intensive), Katy Schutte, Inbal Lori, Aree Witoelar, Paul Berrocal, Kim Thanh Le, Raschid Daniel Sidgi, Teresa Senyah, Timothy Yeo, Emily Murphy, Jim Fishwick, Oshow, Zlatin Tsvetkov, Showstopper!, Owen Scrivens, Sarah McGillion, and others. Workshop spaces include the Squire PAC, The Malt Cross, and Fisher Gate Point.

Robin Hood International Improv Festival

Overview

Headliners

Workshops

Sources