Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (No. 333-184810, No. 333-188064, No. 333-206247, No. 333-217863, No. 333-226405, No. 333-233248, and No. 333-248083) on Form S-8 and (No. 333-194974 and No. 333-217861) on Form S-3 of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of our reports dated February 25, 2021, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ (deficit) equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, which reports appear in the December 31, 2020 annual report on Form 10-K of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York

February 25, 2021