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#Influencer takes a selfie and zooms in on the toxic self obsessed epidemic. Drowning in the shallow waters of our content creator generation – selling of souls, branding our bits and enhancing your tits. An exposé on what has become of us. Don't forget to like and subscribe!
Trainscendence
After selling out venues across the country, 100% Scottish Comedy is back at Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Jojo Sutherland, David Callan, Gill Cordiner, Grant Mushet & Iain Pringle. This show is a celebration of Scotland's unique culture, wit and charmingly quirky sensibilities. We're talking about a comedy experience that's as robust as a good single malt whisky, as hearty as a bowl of haggis and as sharp as a Highland blade. 'Hilarious… unapologetically Scottish and irresistibly funny.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed Featuring a rotating lineup of: Jojo Sutherland Since bursting onto the UK comedy scene in 2002, Jojo has been an unstoppable comedy force known for being able to expertly garner laughs from every subject she touches on. 'Jojo Sutherland is bloody brilliant.' The Scotsman 'A performer the audience could have watched all night!' The Herald (UK) 'Will unnerve and mesmerise in equal measures.' ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) You may have seen Jojo on tour with Jonathan Pie, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or the online sitcom M.U.F.F alongside Netflix and HBO star Daniel Sloss and she was a standout act on BBC Scotland's Comedians at the Kings. 2019 saw Jojo return to the Edinburgh Fringe with a new solo show Riches to Rags which received glowing reviews, saw her take the 2020 Scottish Comedy Award for Best Show and has since been recorded for a Radio 4 special. David Callan David cut his teeth in Scottish comedy institutions like The Stand and Monkey Barrel before travelling the world performing at comedy clubs and festivals. 'A master storyteller whose yarns are funny at every turn.' Fringefeed 'Sharp, charismatic stand-up.' TwoThree Comedy Taipei'A classy, funny performance.' The Joke Factory, Kuala Lumpar Gill Cordiner Raunchy, relatable and outrageously funny; Gill is the wildest auntie at any party and definitely isn't ready to settle down. Regular guest on 6PR 'Inappropriate, raucously hilarious.' Chortle (UK) Winner of WA Comedian of the Year 2023 Winner of Funniest 5 2023 Grant Mushet Having moved to Australia to work on oil rigs and mine sites before quitting to pursue comedy full-time, Grant Mushet is a seasoned professional stand-up comedian of pure gusto who works a room with incredible crowd work, unbelievable stories and hilarious gags. Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2021 Perth FRINGE WORLD 'Intelligent, nuanced and surreally hilarious observations.' ★★★★½ The Fourth Wall'A seasoned professional.' ★★★★ Fringefeed Iain Pringle Australian comedy’s most recent Scottish import, Iain hits the spot like a cold can of Tennent’s on a hot summer's day. Last year, he was selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Panel Prize-winning show Deep Fried in Patter. 'Iain delivers a riotous blend of relatable and absurd comedy.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed 'Iain is a fearless new comic with a unique voice. Definitely one to watch!' Chris Forbes 'Absolutely class act.' Mark Nelson Best International Act Nominee at the 2024 Perth Laughies Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart and humour of Scotland. Whether you're a true Scot or just a curious visitor, 100% Scottish Comedy is here to welcome you with open arms, a warm smile and a punchline that'll keep you laughing all night long. Slàinte!
The Oxford Scholar
After selling out venues across the country, 100% Scottish Comedy is back at Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Jojo Sutherland, David Callan, Gill Cordiner, Grant Mushet & Iain Pringle. This show is a celebration of Scotland's unique culture, wit and charmingly quirky sensibilities. We're talking about a comedy experience that's as robust as a good single malt whisky, as hearty as a bowl of haggis and as sharp as a Highland blade. 'Hilarious… unapologetically Scottish and irresistibly funny.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed Featuring a rotating lineup of: Jojo Sutherland Since bursting onto the UK comedy scene in 2002, Jojo has been an unstoppable comedy force known for being able to expertly garner laughs from every subject she touches on. 'Jojo Sutherland is bloody brilliant.' The Scotsman 'A performer the audience could have watched all night!' The Herald (UK) 'Will unnerve and mesmerise in equal measures.' ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) You may have seen Jojo on tour with Jonathan Pie, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or the online sitcom M.U.F.F alongside Netflix and HBO star Daniel Sloss and she was a standout act on BBC Scotland's Comedians at the Kings. 2019 saw Jojo return to the Edinburgh Fringe with a new solo show Riches to Rags which received glowing reviews, saw her take the 2020 Scottish Comedy Award for Best Show and has since been recorded for a Radio 4 special. David Callan David cut his teeth in Scottish comedy institutions like The Stand and Monkey Barrel before travelling the world performing at comedy clubs and festivals. 'A master storyteller whose yarns are funny at every turn.' Fringefeed 'Sharp, charismatic stand-up.' TwoThree Comedy Taipei'A classy, funny performance.' The Joke Factory, Kuala Lumpar Gill Cordiner Raunchy, relatable and outrageously funny; Gill is the wildest auntie at any party and definitely isn't ready to settle down. Regular guest on 6PR 'Inappropriate, raucously hilarious.' Chortle (UK) Winner of WA Comedian of the Year 2023 Winner of Funniest 5 2023 Grant Mushet Having moved to Australia to work on oil rigs and mine sites before quitting to pursue comedy full-time, Grant Mushet is a seasoned professional stand-up comedian of pure gusto who works a room with incredible crowd work, unbelievable stories and hilarious gags. Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2021 Perth FRINGE WORLD 'Intelligent, nuanced and surreally hilarious observations.' ★★★★½ The Fourth Wall'A seasoned professional.' ★★★★ Fringefeed Iain Pringle Australian comedy’s most recent Scottish import, Iain hits the spot like a cold can of Tennent’s on a hot summer's day. Last year, he was selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Panel Prize-winning show Deep Fried in Patter. 'Iain delivers a riotous blend of relatable and absurd comedy.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed 'Iain is a fearless new comic with a unique voice. Definitely one to watch!' Chris Forbes 'Absolutely class act.' Mark Nelson Best International Act Nominee at the 2024 Perth Laughies Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart and humour of Scotland. Whether you're a true Scot or just a curious visitor, 100% Scottish Comedy is here to welcome you with open arms, a warm smile and a punchline that'll keep you laughing all night long. Slàinte!
Ballers Clubhouse
After selling out venues across the country, 100% Scottish Comedy is back at Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Jojo Sutherland, David Callan, Gill Cordiner, Grant Mushet & Iain Pringle. This show is a celebration of Scotland's unique culture, wit and charmingly quirky sensibilities. We're talking about a comedy experience that's as robust as a good single malt whisky, as hearty as a bowl of haggis and as sharp as a Highland blade. 'Hilarious… unapologetically Scottish and irresistibly funny.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed Featuring a rotating lineup of: Jojo Sutherland Since bursting onto the UK comedy scene in 2002, Jojo has been an unstoppable comedy force known for being able to expertly garner laughs from every subject she touches on. 'Jojo Sutherland is bloody brilliant.' The Scotsman 'A performer the audience could have watched all night!' The Herald (UK) 'Will unnerve and mesmerise in equal measures.' ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) You may have seen Jojo on tour with Jonathan Pie, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or the online sitcom M.U.F.F alongside Netflix and HBO star Daniel Sloss and she was a standout act on BBC Scotland's Comedians at the Kings. 2019 saw Jojo return to the Edinburgh Fringe with a new solo show Riches to Rags which received glowing reviews, saw her take the 2020 Scottish Comedy Award for Best Show and has since been recorded for a Radio 4 special. David Callan David cut his teeth in Scottish comedy institutions like The Stand and Monkey Barrel before travelling the world performing at comedy clubs and festivals. 'A master storyteller whose yarns are funny at every turn.' Fringefeed 'Sharp, charismatic stand-up.' TwoThree Comedy Taipei'A classy, funny performance.' The Joke Factory, Kuala Lumpar Gill Cordiner Raunchy, relatable and outrageously funny; Gill is the wildest auntie at any party and definitely isn't ready to settle down. Regular guest on 6PR 'Inappropriate, raucously hilarious.' Chortle (UK) Winner of WA Comedian of the Year 2023 Winner of Funniest 5 2023 Grant Mushet Having moved to Australia to work on oil rigs and mine sites before quitting to pursue comedy full-time, Grant Mushet is a seasoned professional stand-up comedian of pure gusto who works a room with incredible crowd work, unbelievable stories and hilarious gags. Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2021 Perth FRINGE WORLD 'Intelligent, nuanced and surreally hilarious observations.' ★★★★½ The Fourth Wall'A seasoned professional.' ★★★★ Fringefeed Iain Pringle Australian comedy’s most recent Scottish import, Iain hits the spot like a cold can of Tennent’s on a hot summer's day. Last year, he was selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe with the Panel Prize-winning show Deep Fried in Patter. 'Iain delivers a riotous blend of relatable and absurd comedy.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed 'Iain is a fearless new comic with a unique voice. Definitely one to watch!' Chris Forbes 'Absolutely class act.' Mark Nelson Best International Act Nominee at the 2024 Perth Laughies Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart and humour of Scotland. Whether you're a true Scot or just a curious visitor, 100% Scottish Comedy is here to welcome you with open arms, a warm smile and a punchline that'll keep you laughing all night long. Slàinte!
Elephant and Wheelbarrow
Bold. Honest. Too spicy for Singapore. Get ready, Melbourne – a new flavour is about to hit your comedy scene, and this one confirms extra sambal. Straight from the little red dot, a lineup of Singapore’s sharpest, sassiest and honest comedians are touching down with jokes so hot, even Changi customs wouldn’t let them through. Expect no filter, no fear and no holding back. These comics have spent years squeezing their jokes into PG-friendly spaces back home… but tonight? They’re on foreign soil. Which means:No rules, No laws. Just pure, unrestrained Singaporean chaos. Melbourne, buckle up. Singapore is about to unleash.
Central Club Hotel
Bold. Honest. Too spicy for Singapore. Get ready, Melbourne – a new flavour is about to hit your comedy scene, and this one confirms extra sambal. Straight from the little red dot, a lineup of Singapore’s sharpest, sassiest and honest comedians are touching down with jokes so hot, even Changi customs wouldn’t let them through. Expect no filter, no fear and no holding back. These comics have spent years squeezing their jokes into PG-friendly spaces back home… but tonight? They’re on foreign soil. Which means:No rules, No laws. Just pure, unrestrained Singaporean chaos. Melbourne, buckle up. Singapore is about to unleash.
Captain Melville
Only show where ghosts, grief and giggles share a mic. From eerie encounters with supernatural to quiet moments of unraveling, these stories blur the line between hilarious and heartbreaking.Some will make you laugh out loud; others might leave a lump in your throat. Each tale is a glimpse into life’s darker chapters – told with honesty, vulnerability and a touch of the absurd. It’s not all doom and gloom, but it is real. Come curious. Leave a little changed. Maybe even lighter.
Collins St Comedy Hub
Only show where ghosts, grief and giggles share a mic. From eerie encounters with supernatural to quiet moments of unraveling, these stories blur the line between hilarious and heartbreaking.Some will make you laugh out loud; others might leave a lump in your throat. Each tale is a glimpse into life’s darker chapters – told with honesty, vulnerability and a touch of the absurd. It’s not all doom and gloom, but it is real. Come curious. Leave a little changed. Maybe even lighter.
Captain Melville
The total sell out 2025 returns! Five top comedians perform their very best material, one after the other. No picking on the audience, no MC in between asking you where you're from – just non-stop laughs from headline-level, international comedy circuit professionals who know exactly how to bring the funny. For the unbeatable price of $25, there is no better value-for-money hour of comedy at the Festival. Total sell-out 2023, 2024 and 2025 at Perth, Adelaide and Ediburgh Fringes, returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with an all-star cast. Perfect for a quick after-work laugh, date night or for anybody looking to discover their new favourite comedian.
Elephant and Wheelbarrow
Brand-new show, back after every show sold out in 2024 & 2025 season! The best darkest jokes from all around the world. Dark comedy has never been this good! Brace yourself for a night of gut-wrenching laughter as fearless comedians delve into the darkest corners of humour, exploring the morbid, the taboo and the absurd with a devilish grin.No topic is off-limits in this no-holds-barred plunge into the abyss of comedic brilliance, where the laughter is as pitch-black as the Aussie night.
Collins St Comedy Hub
Brand-new show, back after every show sold out in 2024 & 2025 season! The best darkest jokes from all around the world. Dark comedy has never been this good! Brace yourself for a night of gut-wrenching laughter as fearless comedians delve into the darkest corners of humour, exploring the morbid, the taboo and the absurd with a devilish grin.No topic is off-limits in this no-holds-barred plunge into the abyss of comedic brilliance, where the laughter is as pitch-black as the Aussie night.
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
Brand-new show, back after every show sold out in 2024 & 2025 season! The best darkest jokes from all around the world. Dark comedy has never been this good! Brace yourself for a night of gut-wrenching laughter as fearless comedians delve into the darkest corners of humour, exploring the morbid, the taboo and the absurd with a devilish grin.No topic is off-limits in this no-holds-barred plunge into the abyss of comedic brilliance, where the laughter is as pitch-black as the Aussie night.
Captain Melville
A revolving lineup of local and international comedians from across the Festival.
Elephant and Wheelbarrow
Enjoy 3 exotic Chinese drinks and 3 exotic comedians from around the world in this intoxicating Chinese experience with laughter galore. This tasting show blends Chinese spirits, cultural chaos, and stand-up mischief into one gloriously tipsy adventure. Learn, laugh, and question your life choices as history, heritage, and hangovers collide in the educational bad decision you’ll make.
Captain Melville
A Comedy Championship: Festival's BEST Comedian show brings the best comics to the stage – and you decide who’s funniest. Heats all through the Festival, where audience votes crown who advances to the grand finale on Fri 10 April. Expect killer jokes, fierce competition and unexpected chaos as comedians fight for glory, bragging rights and the crown of Australia’s next comedy champion.
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
A Comedy Championship: Festival's BEST Comedian show brings the best comics to the stage – and you decide who’s funniest. Heats all through the Festival, where audience votes crown who advances to the grand finale on Fri 10 April. Expect killer jokes, fierce competition and unexpected chaos as comedians fight for glory, bragging rights and the crown of Australia’s next comedy champion.
Captain Melville
A Comedy Championship: Festival's BEST Comedian show brings the best comics to the stage – and you decide who’s funniest. Heats all through the Festival, where audience votes crown who advances to the grand finale on Fri 10 April. Expect killer jokes, fierce competition and unexpected chaos as comedians fight for glory, bragging rights and the crown of Australia’s next comedy champion.
Collins St Comedy Hub
We are on a mission to change the way the world looks at PowerPoint. Aditya Gautam, Delhi Buoy and friends, armed with wildly unhinged slides on topics they definitely shouldn’t be trusted with. Expect chaotic charts, rogue animations and laughs that make Excel crash from sheer joy.You will never be able to look at PowerPoint the same way again.
Captain Melville
Drive into the adventure of a lifetime with Ready Steady Go! – a fun interactive experience for 3 – 8 year olds and their families that will get everyone colouring, creating and playing together. Once greeted by your driving instructors, you will then colour in and build your very own cardboard car. After some safety checks, you’ll be ready to take your driving test and face the hazards… Slippery roads! Wiggly mountain tracks! Sinking sands and of course, roos! Once you’ve passed your driving test*, you can relax in the bubbly car wash before proudly driving your car all the way home! A Line Art comes to Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time with Ready Steady Go!, an immersive show combining arts and crafts, storytelling and live music. Participants will be playing with crayons, pens, paint pads and rollers... so don't wear your best clothes! Please note, the show is not suitable for under 3s due to the size of the car. An A Line Art production, presented by Roustabout Theatre.Performed by Robin Hemmings & Shae Rooke. *100% pass rate guaranteed.
Balam Balam Place
Pyramids. Pharaohs. Spells. Few civilizations capture the imagination quite like Ancient Egypt: a world of mystery, magic and mildly concerning burial practices. Now, award-winning comedian and amateur Egyptologist AJ Lamarque (Celebrity Letters & Numbers, ABC Radio Evenings) invites you to unwrap the myths in a crash course 5,000 years in the making. After sold-out seasons at Sydney Comedy Festival, Melbourne Fringe and Brisbane Comedy Festival, AJ returns with an adults-only hour that’s part history lesson, part comedy and entirely entertaining. Expect gods, gossip and a few historically questionable practices along the way. ★★★★★ Sydney Arts Guide ★★★★½ Theatre Thoughts ★★★★½ The Barefoot Review ★★★★ Time Out Sydney ★★★★ Hugging Comedians ★★★★ Lilithia Reviews
Storyville Melbourne
Aaqib Merchant has no secrets from his audience! But yours are invited. Confess honestly and anonymously (or make public) the events that broke you and let Aaqib create catharsis from the comfort of your seat. Getting scammed over a d*** pic, witnessing goat sacrifice and a man killed by a flying cow – Aaqib brings true stories and hilarious stand-up to an all-new show format where audience confessions make up half the show. He's an immigrant brown man with zero jokes about Uber, and he's a long way from being the Ubermensch, but after an hour in his company audiences will leave feeling lighter, refreshed and with a sense of satisfaction that makes them a better person. 'Mischievous... cheeky routines to impress.' Chortle (UK)
The Charles Dickens Tavern
Fresh off a sold-out worldwide tour, international comedy sensation Abby Govindan returns to Australia with her new hour of jokes about dating, getting older and breaking generational curses.
The Greek
Welcome to The Cave. What is The Cave? Well, you’ll have to come to find out. Does Abby know what The Cave is? Oh yeah, don’t worry about that. The Cave is funny (hopefully hahahah) The Cave is nice, I reckon come on in. The Cave is presented by Abby Howells. Abby is best known for coming last on season five of Taskmaster NZ, but she gave it a really good go. She won New Zealand comedy’s prestigious Billy T Award in 2023 and can also be seen on Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, 7 Days and Conan O'Brien Must Go. 'Gem of a show.' ★★★★★ The Age Directed by Carlo Ritchie
Melbourne Town Hall
After waking up in the hospital following a late miscarriage, Abby Wambaugh – still high on anesthesia – made an unexpected decision: to become a comedian. Now, in her uniquely goofy and heartfelt hour, Abby shares her 17 best ideas for her first show. The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows sees Abby exploring her talent for a wide range of comedy styles in this one-person variety show, including potential hits like 'Old Man Learns Parkour' and a very long impression of the number nine – a setup that explores gender, pregnancy, loss and creativity, and uncovers a deeper story about the value of beginnings that don't necessarily have a middle or an end. Fresh off a four-week NYC Off-Broadway run produced by Jenney Shamash (Hannah Gadsby: Douglas, Something Special, WOOF!), Mike & Carlee Productions (Broadway’s Oh, Mary!) and Ally Engelberg (The Other Two, Just For Us), and sell out runs in LA, London and Edinburgh, Abby Wambaugh brings her critically acclaimed, award-winning show to Melbourne for the first time. Don’t miss it! WINNER2024 ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards: Best Newcomer2024 European Comedy Awards: Best Show2024 Theatre Weekly: Best of the Fest, Best Comedy2024 On The Mic: Best Ticketed Show NOMINEE2024 Edinburgh Comedy Awards: Best Newcomer2024 Comedian’s Choice Awards: Best Newcomer2024 Next Up: Biggest Award in Comedy: Best Show 2025 Chortle Awards: Best Newcomer 'Sheer genius… I did not want this show to end.' ★★★★★ Broadway World (UK) 'A joyous romp through the inner workings of a brilliant mind.' ★★★★★ Theatre Weekly 'A masterpiece of construction.' ★★★★ The Guardian (UK) 'Hits each comic beat perfectly.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Bursts with creativity and unexpectedness.' ★★★★ The Observer (UK) 'Utterly charming.' ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) 'Delightfully joyful, honest and vulnerable.' Forbes 'One of the most inventive comedy shows of the theatre season.' New York Theatre Guide Presented by Hannah Gadsby Directed by Lara Ricote Produced by Jenney Shamash
Melbourne Town Hall
Starring Australia’s premier First Nations comedians Andy Saunders, Elaine Crombie, Janty Blair, Jay Wymarra, Kevin Kropinyeri and Sean Choolburra. With sell-out seasons and five-star reviews in the UK, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond, the Allstars bring huge belly laughs from the heart of the wide brown land. 'Belly aching, cheek-hurting, hilarious.' Adelaide Advertiser 'Thought-provoking and wildly funny.' The Wee Review (UK) 'Properly entertaining. Fresh voices, new perspectives. As Kevin might say – this show is deadly. Go see it and you will understand.' The Scotsman 'Truly funny, indigenous comedy!' Broadway Baby (UK) 'To be able to blend light, easy-going jokes with a piece of political protest is an incredible skill. This is warm, genuine comedy but with an underlying message that you’ll carry with you.' Broadway World (UK) 'While pulling no punches, these six comedians deliver a night of bignight of laughs that resonate with their entire audience. Aboriginal Comedy Allstars has humour for everyone, which is all anyone can ask from a great comedy show.' IN Review ★★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser ★★★★★ IN Review ★★★★★ EdFest Mag
Melbourne Town Hall
Our premier First Nations comedians present laughs, singalongs, dance and an education for all – no matter where you’re from and who's your mob. Starring comedians Andy Saunders, Elaine Crombie, Janty Blair, Jay Wymarra, Kevin Kropinyeri and Sean Choolburra. With sell-out seasons and five-star reviews in the UK, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and beyond, the Allstars bring huge belly laughs from the heart of the wide brown land. 'Belly aching, cheek-hurting, hilarious.' Adelaide Advertiser 'Thought-provoking and wildly funny.' The Wee Review (UK) 'Properly entertaining. Fresh voices, new perspectives. As Kevin might say – this show is deadly. Go see it and you will understand.' The Scotsman 'Truly funny, indigenous comedy!' Broadway Baby (UK) 'To be able to blend light, easy-going jokes with a piece of political protest is an incredible skill. This is warm, genuine comedy but with an underlying message that you'll carry with you.' Broadway World 'While pulling no punches, these six comedians deliver a night of big night of laughs that resonate with their entire audience. Aboriginal Comedy Allstars has humour for everyone, which is all anyone can ask from a great comedy show.' IN Review ★★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser ★★★★★ IN Review ★★★★★ EdFest Mag
Melbourne Museum
We're on a mission from God. Adam Turner & Maggie Baker are returning to Melbourne International Comedy Festival to finally give the public what they have been begging for – A Religious Experience. It's been a few years since Adam or Maggie have attended their previously chosen houses of worship, but it used to be the centre of their respective personalities. For fun, and perhaps a bit for therapy, they are revisiting that time in their lives to make the public laugh. They are dumping their religious trauma as theatre. Old habits die hard, they will follow in the path of the Lord and sacrifice themselves – specifically their wellbeing and scarcely held together sanity – for comedy. For the glory of God. But mostly for you. Amen. 'Brilliant chemistry between these two, almost distressingly so.' Ned Mcvicar
Trainscendence
A journey from scams, Hindu gods, video tapes and Instagram fame to Enlightenment. After receiving rave reviews for his first two solo shows, Aditya Gautam is touring his third, and most honest, show where he takes you on a journey to Enlightenment! 'Sure to leave you feeling positive inside.' Chortle (UK)'Master of toying with the fourth wall.' ★★★★★ ArtsHub'Will have you laughing out of shock!' ★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser'Comedy so spicy that your cheeks will be in constant pain.' ★★★★ Fringefeed
Captain Melville
Everyone’s favourite pansexual, time-travelling songbird is back! Adore Händel returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with Cautionary Tales, the scandalous sequel to Little Black Book. This incorrigible 18th-century raconteur isn’t just dishing gossip – they’re revealing the perils of passion and desire gone spectacularly wrong. From Baroque heartbreak to Roaring Twenties ruin, Adore serves up outrageous love lessons with wit, flair and a dash of mischief. Featuring a dazzling mix of opera, pop and original songs, Cautionary Tales is camp, classy and cheeky cabaret for lovers of drag, drama and decadent storytelling.
Speakeasy HQ
It has been some time since the wizarding world had their apocolypse. Everyone's favourite Potions professor is trying to find a new career – with your help! How is he still here? What has he been doing? What is the inside scoop on life in the biggest school of wizardry and witchcraft? Snape now finds himself trying to make a living in our Muggle world. 2025 was the Year of the Snake, but 2026 is the Year of the Snape! Bring your friends, come along and be ready to help him find his way forward in our muggle world.
The Carlton Club
The show is great.Warning though – if you have a "Live Laugh Love" poster in your house, or personalised number plates, dont come, you'll absolutely hate it.
Coopers Inn
As Kirk Lazarus said.... you never go full..... nah we're not going to say it. Welcome to Topic Thunder, a split bill comedy show where two comedians, Alex Main & Jet Nye, stranded in the open mic jungle take you on a journey through their ups, downs, highs and lows before taking on your suggestion and riffing on the spot in the hopes of a spot in stand-up stardom. As a cohesive unit of comedy combatants their show will leave you in stitches. With no audience suggestion too bold, no topic too taboo, we encourage you to bring your worst to help these boys out of the jungle.
Grace Darling Hotel
Alex had an awkward weekend in a painfully generic Airbnb, and she’ll probably tell you about it. How generic? Well, it had the black-and-white koala print – legally, it has to. She’s in her mid-30s and making major life decisions (like figuring out which part of MJ’s discography is still okay to listen to). Lately, Alex has been unpacking questions* about identity and what it means to play a role that doesn’t quite fit. The only role she truly nails is an act-out she does to trick her dog into taking his medicine. *The questions: How do we trust ourselves? How do we trust that we will become the person we want to be? And most importantly, how do we trust the people who write Google reviews? ...they could be literally anyone. Seen on Have You Been Paying Attention? 'A solid, unshowy hour of relatable stand-up.' Chortle (UK) 'Studded with punchlines.' The Age 'Sophisticated comedy.' The Music
The Westin
Alexandra isn't the King of the Carpark, but she is the queen of her own universe, the boss of advocating for herself. She's also an expert in leaning into things (usually objects, sometimes people). She does things at things full tilt, again, quite literally and not always intentionally – Alexandra just has an innate ability. So she's leanin' in, this time to embrace the awkward and mostly misunderstood disabled existence, with the sole goal of finding the fun in it, for all of us. Because she has a lot of fun, being disabled. You're invited to meet Alexandra at the quandary and chaos and leave understanding this one disabled experience a whole lot better. Alexandra is doing/ has done the following: Joint wational winner RAW Comedy 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival The Comedy Zone member 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Recipient of Creative Australia’s Arts and Disability Initiative 2023–2024 Adelaide Fringe Fund Recipient 2026 She's toured nationally, including with Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2024 & 2025 and Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase 2022, 2024 & 2025 and loves hitting the comedy clubs in every major city and any kinda small time gig too. The cripple gigs are her fave, she's not pulling your leg there, if ya know, ya know. She's gone international – in 2024 to Edinburgh Fringe, full season (and for a dabble in 2022 for So You Think You're Funny), Scotland and USA ( the latter to 44 people in her cousins' loungeroom, made up of 10 or so family members and neighbours, and friends of the cousins) with her debut show, Making Lemonade. She's been funny in a TEDx, (Byron Bay 2022). She's been funny opening for Hannah Gadsby in 2024. Unbeknownst to Dave Chappelle, Alexandra has been funny before him too. Alexandra loves being funny to disabled people, never making fun of us. She loves being funny to nondisabled people too, and sometimes making fun of them. This show is for people who feel pride about their own disabled life or want to understand what disabled pride feels like. _____For those who feel pride for their own disabled life, enter DISABLEDPRIDE for further discounts on your ticket purchase.
The Westin
Alexei Toliopoulos simply adores cinema, films, movies and the techniques filmmakers use to elicit emotions from an audience. He has sacrificed everything to be one of the most respected movie minds in the country. Pop the tape into the VCR and join Alexei as he takes you on an adventure in movie watching, charting through the genre films that made him the tragic film obsessive he was destined to become. You know Alexei from Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, The Cheap Seats, Question Everything, The Weekly, his comedy investigations FINDING DRAGO/FINDING YEEZUS, his podcast THE LAST VIDEO STORE and from last year’s festival hit REFUSED CLASSIFICATION with Zachary Ruane. Directed by Zachary Ruane
Melbourne Town Hall
This brand-new show is the ultimate comedy cocktail demonstration featuring the wit, charm and fruity personality of your generous host Alf Alpha. Equal parts humour and mixology, this show blends boozy brilliance with masculine drag excellence to serve up an unforgettable night of entertainment. Working in the local gay bars of Fitzroy, you learn a thing or two. Alf is ready to share his cocktail recipes, stories of working hospitality, queerness and the forgotten history of Australian bar culture. This dandy clown takes the extra step beyond simply lip-syncing, using aspects of physical comedy, drag and clown to bring his unique storytelling to performance. Having performed across Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, Alf is finally ready to perform his solo comedy special. Get comfortable in Grouse – Melbourne’s captivating cocktail lounge (Room 7) – as he mixes specially-curated recipes with flair. He’ll tell all about the local bar history of fabulous queer Fitzroy and you’ll learn a thing or two about a good "Cocky-T". Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the world of drag kings, this is your chance to experience the magic in an intimate, welcoming atmosphere. Learn how to create show-stopping cocktails while watching a master performer turn every stir, shake and garnish into a laugh-out-loud moment. Alf Alpha’s Cocktail Hour is a deliciously unique night out that promises to leave you shaken, stirred and utterly entertained. Bring your friends, your thirst and your sense of humour – this is one cocktail hour you won’t want to miss. Cheers to the perfect blend of comedy, creativity and cocktails!
Grouse
Get ready to laugh 'til your sides hurt with Alfred Adriaan's brand-new show, Positive Strokes! This South African comedy sensation, known for selling out shows across Mzansi and beyond, is returning to Australia to tickle your funny bone with his unique take on life. In Positive Strokes Alfred dives headfirst into the wonderful, bewildering world of fatherhood, contrasting his own parenting style with the hilarious differences he observed from his own folks. He'll take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, exploring his childhood and the wild dynamics of growing up with his family, cousins and siblings. You've heard the buzz! Critics have raved about Alfred's "unapologetically hilarious" (IOL) performances and "sharp wit" (The Citizen). He's been praised for his "relatable comedy that hits home" (Cape Town Magazine), proving why he's a comedic force to be reckoned with.
QT Melbourne
Get ready to laugh 'til your sides hurt with Alfred Adriaan's brand-new show, Positive Strokes! This South African comedy sensation, known for selling out shows across Mzansi and beyond, is returning to Australia to tickle your funny bone with his unique take on life. In Positive Strokes Alfred dives headfirst into the wonderful, bewildering world of fatherhood, contrasting his own parenting style with the hilarious differences he observed from his own folks. He'll take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, exploring his childhood and the wild dynamics of growing up with his family, cousins and siblings. You've heard the buzz! Critics have raved about Alfred's "unapologetically hilarious" (IOL) performances and "sharp wit" (The Citizen). He's been praised for his "relatable comedy that hits home" (Cape Town Magazine), proving why he's a comedic force to be reckoned with.
The Greek
Join Ali Woods, viral comedy sensation, as he returns with his latest stand-up comedy show Basher. Online, Ali has gained hundreds of millions of views and likes for his relatable and satirical sketches. With his unique blend of sharp wit and relatable humour, his performances are a must-see.
The Greek
Winner Comedian’s Choice Award for Best Show 2025 Edinburgh FringeWinner Best Performer Award 2025 Dublin Fringe One of British Comedy Guide’s Best Reviewed Shows of 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. The award-winning sell-out smash-hit show of last summer’s Edinburgh Fringe lands in Australia. A man told Alison to sit down and now she’s doing a whole stand-up show about it. As seen and heard on House of Games, Celebrity Goggle Box, Pointless Celebrities, Off Menu, The Gargle and Trusty Hogs. Alison co-hosts her new podcast Magazine Party and has also co-hosted Wheel of Misfortune and Guilty Feminist. Support act for Fern Brady, Rob Delaney and Maria Bamford. Top 10 Shows of the Edinburgh Fringe. ★★★★★ Rolling Stone 'Her finest show to date.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman 'A carefully-crafted, expertly-delivered show.' ★★★★ The Herald (UK)'Spittle has delivered a stormer of a show.’ ★★★★ The Evening Standard (UK)'An audacious, gloriously silly hour that is chaotically driven and utterly original.' ★★★★ The Skinny (UK)'Undeniably rib-tickling and punchy, the one-liners are unmatched.' ★★★★ Metro (UK)‘Spittle dishes out laughs at a rapid rate.’ ★★★★ The List (UK)
The Greek
No more Indians they say! The Indians are now striking back with the most lethal of all weapons – comedy! The spiciest lineup show in the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival! The best and the boldest Indian comedians in one single show. Award-winning comedians who have been spicing up comedy rooms all around the world are now performing in this first-of-its-kind lineup show in Australia. Note: No free tech support or taxi rides with the show! PS: March for more Indians.
Collins St Comedy Hub
No more Indians they say! The Indians are now striking back with the most lethal of all weapons – comedy! The spiciest lineup show in the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival! The best and the boldest Indian comedians in one single show. Award-winning comedians who have been spicing up comedy rooms all around the world are now performing in this first-of-its-kind lineup show in Australia. Note: No free tech support or taxi rides with the show! PS: March for more Indians.
Captain Melville
From the stake to the stage, Ruby Teys unleashes Alt Grl Wrld – the variety show where “quirky” is a slur and weird is sacred. It's a late-night, full-frontal-lobe frenzy featuring the freakiest, fiercest femme and non-binary legends of Melbourne International Comedy Festival – the ones too wild for primetime and way too cool to have peaked in high school. Expect genius. Expect chaos. Expect the kind of acts you'll still be laughing (or slightly haunted) about tomorrow. Live, laugh, lobotomy. Come for the comedy, stay for the cause – Alt Grl Wrld proudly supports Mary’s House Services, helping women and children escape domestic violence.
The Greek
Presented at CERES Environmental Park, Brunswick East Get ready to laugh, drum, dance and play in the fresh open air with Australia’s favourite family puppet show – The Amazing Drumming Monkeys! After more than 22 years of sell-out performances all over Australia and around the world, these cheeky monkeys are bringing their famous little show to one of Melbourne’s most loved natural spaces — CERES Environmental Park. This is not your usual indoor theatre experience. This is comedy, rhythm and joy... under the trees, surrounded by birdsong, fresh air and laughter. Parents, imagine this: instead of sitting in a stuffy venue with no windows and restless kids squirming in their seats, you’re stretched out on a picnic blanket under the shade of a gum tree, coffee in hand, the kids drumming along, giggling and dancing on the grass. Where would you rather be? Indoors with fluorescent lights… or outdoors where your children can run, jump, dance and be free? At CERES Environmental Park, you can relax and let nature do its magic while The Amazing Drumming Monkeys deliver their legendary blend of puppetry, live music, comedy and heartfelt storytelling. The show will be performed either on the Village Green or in the beautiful undercover Pavilion, depending on the weather and availability – both spaces are surrounded by greenery and the lively hum of nature. This year’s monkey show, brings all the classic monkey fun audiences know and love – plus some awesome new interactive dance segments! Kids (and parents!) can join in clapping, drumming and dancing while the Monkeys perform hilarious comedy routines, introduce their daredevil special guests and finish with their signature Monkey DJ family dance party. It’s a full-on feel-good experience designed to get everyone up and moving! The Amazing Drumming Monkeys aren’t just a puppet show – they’re a phenomenon. For over two decades, they’ve been delighting audiences from major festivals to tiny country towns, from the Woodford Folk Festival to the Shanghai International Arts Festival, and everywhere in between. This show is aimed at little ones and adored by adults alike. 'Our favourite concert.' ★★★★★ Rolling Music, Shanghai 'Kids adore them, parents love them.' Woodford Folk Festival 'Banging good fun.' WOMADelaide So grab your picnic blanket, pack a few snacks and make a day of it! CERES Environmental Park has plenty of open space to explore, a café on site and a beautiful community atmosphere. It’s the perfect place for kids to be kids – free to move, free to laugh and free to enjoy live performance surrounded by the natural world.
Ceres
In the midst of Melbourne’s rental crisis, Amelia navigates her early 20s in an all-girl share house with a taxidermy fox named Heephah. Through an eclectic blend of folk, pop and musical theatre-style songs, Amelia debuts her greatest sharehouse hits: ‘I Cried to the Exterminator’ ‘One Metre is what distances me from the Neighbors’ ‘Chastity Room(Hymm .69)' ‘My Roommate wants a Baby' ‘Justice for my Cutlery Draw’ ‘Aldi Wine’
Trainscendence
In 2017, American comedy writer Greg Fideler decided to move to Australia because he reckoned that the USA would go to shit under Donald Trump. Whilst we can all agree that he was dead wrong, it would be fun to check in with this bloke and see how he goes in the lucky country. Certainly, adventures have been had, friends and enemies have been made and possibly even a little romance has taken place romance during this journey. In Americunt Greg Fideler chronicles the joys and sorrows that one must go through when one moves from the greatest country on earth to one they hope is even greatest-er.Surely, it will all work out. Or at least there will be better coffee.Greg has written comedy for David Letterman, Jay Leno, SNL’s Weekend Update and was a writer producer on The Soup w/ Joel McHale. He has performed stand-up comedy all across the United States and the shitty parts of Canada.
Trainscendence
In 2017, American comedy writer Greg Fideler decided to move to Australia because he reckoned that the USA would go to shit under Donald Trump. Whilst we can all agree that he was dead wrong, it would be fun to check in with this bloke and see how he goes in the lucky country. Certainly, adventures have been had, friends and enemies have been made and possibly even a little romance has taken place romance during this journey. In Americunt Greg Fideler chronicles the joys and sorrows that one must go through when one moves from the greatest country on earth to one they hope is even greatest-er.Surely, it will all work out. Or at least there will be better coffee.Greg has written comedy for David Letterman, Jay Leno, SNL’s Weekend Update and was a writer producer on The Soup w/ Joel McHale. He has performed stand-up comedy all across the United States and the shitty parts of Canada.
Trainscendence
It is Amy's full intention for this debut Melbourne International Comedy Festival show to be about the dumb health fads she has been sucked into while trying to figure out what being 'healthy' even means. But best believe if something more interesting comes along, Amy will jump ship. Maybe she finally learns what stocks are and becomes a Wall Street tycoon. Maybe she gets asked to create a new Cadbury chocolate block flavour. Maybe she gets cast in the final installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise playing Vin Diesel's new street racing rival. And then I'm sure we'd all rather see a show about that. But if not, being diagnosed with two brain tumours (not the deadly kind) means Amy has got a bit to talk about anyway. Amy Ruffle is an actor, comedian and producer most recently seen on two seasons of Channel 10's TV comedy Thank God You're Here and ABC’s Urvi Went To An All Girls School. She appeared on Aunty Donna's cult hit Most Upsetting Guessing Game and starred as SIRENA on NETFLIX's hit show Mako Mermaids. She trained and performed improv at the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles and currently produces and performs improv every Wednesday at the Comedy Republic theatre in Melbourne with Something Good.
Coopers Inn
Enjoy four exotic drinks and comedians from around the world in this one-of-a-kind experience. A cultural cocktail of punchlines and pints!Enjoy this unique experience as we serve you alcohol from around the world, while comedians from those regions share hilarious stories. A cultural cocktail of punchlines and pints – because nothing brings Australia together like laughter and liquor. Tickets to this show will get you delicious exotic alcohol from around the world and award-winning international comedians from those regions. You can't possibly go wrong with this show. The most unique fun show at this Festival! (Alcohol tasting included in ticket price)
Collins St Comedy Hub
Enjoy four exotic drinks and comedians from around the world in this one-of-a-kind experience. A cultural cocktail of punchlines and pints!Enjoy this unique experience as we serve you alcohol from around the world, while comedians from those regions share hilarious stories. A cultural cocktail of punchlines and pints – because nothing brings Australia together like laughter and liquor. Tickets to this show will get you delicious exotic alcohol from around the world and award-winning international comedians from those regions. You can't possibly go wrong with this show. The most unique fun show at this Festival! (Alcohol tasting included in ticket price)
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
Enjoy four exotic drinks and comedians from around the world in this one-of-a-kind experience. A cultural cocktail of punchlines and pints!Enjoy this unique experience as we serve you alcohol from around the world, while comedians from those regions share hilarious stories. A cultural cocktail of punchlines and pints – because nothing brings Australia together like laughter and liquor. Tickets to this show will get you delicious exotic alcohol from around the world and award-winning international comedians from those regions. You can't possibly go wrong with this show. The most unique fun show at this Festival! (Alcohol tasting included in ticket price)
Captain Melville
Padre Andrea is here to administer a worship service, but his idea of a service is not quite what you expect. While navigating between eccentric prayers and unconventional confessions, you'll wonder if he knows what he's doing. Maybe he doesn't. But one thing he knows: you must repent your sins! Join his service to be guided on your path to salvation. From the creator of the award winning Tonight! A clown who wanted to be loved? (★★★★ "A little spa break for the soul", The List,UK), a new charming, absurd and a little disturbing character that will make you see church in a new light, reflect on its contradictions, and hopefully repent your sins! * Melbourne Premiere * Andrea Barello, born and raised in Italy, approached the world of comedy in San Francisco through improvisation and performed with different ensembles, including the Turkish-Italian duo Euro Trash. When he stumbled into clowning, he immediately knew that he had found his home. In 2023 he created Tonight!, his first solo show. Conceived and developed in Los Angeles, it was presented between 2024 and 2025 at Edinburgh Fringe, Toronto Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It has received great reviews and audience response, and won the ‘A Moontagna Fest award at the Catania Fringe (Italia Off) 2024. Since 2024 he has started a collaboration with Clowns without Borders USA and Llaven nü Mexico, and participates in humanitarian clown projects aimed at displaced and vulnerable populations. In 2025 he began to develop his second solo show, Full of Grace, where he plays a peculiar priest struggling with an unusual service and moral dilemmas. He lives in Los Angeles, where he hikes in the Hollywood hills and creates silly clown acts.
Bard's Apothecary
Older isn't always wiser... Classic geriatric Andy High returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with another unforgettable night of laughs, stories and life lessons. With many questions about the world both past and present Andy asks... "Where do you buy pingers?" and "Who brings the lube?" Andy's take on life’s absurdities comes in a way only age and hindsight can deliver. This show dives headfirst into the increasingly confusing world we all share. With Andy’s witty storytelling, expect everything from nostalgic anecdotes to razor-sharp takes on modern life. Andy High, a rapidly ageing comedian from the NSW South Coast, is proof that growing older doesn’t mean growing up. Born in the UK and sent to Australia in 1988 as a bicentennial 'gift' from the Queen, Andy’s comedy reflects a life lived with one foot in the past and the other stuck in a present he’s still figuring out. Whether you’re here for laughs, life lessons or just to see a seasoned comedian try to navigate today’s politically correct world OK, BOOMER promises an evening of entertainment that proves older isn't always wiser. Fueled by the hilarious tension between his youthful self-image and the reality of his bathroom mirror, Andy hit the stage becoming Runner-up in RAW Comedy Wollongong in 2019, NSW State Finalist 2023 and Australia’s Funniest Boomer finalist in 2024. Andy’s accolades speak to his ability to connect with audiences of all ages. A Melbourne International Comedy Festival regular, with Sydney and Adelaide Fringe shows under his belt and a crowd favourite at regional pubs and clubs around NSW, Andy is as authentic as they come.
Grace Darling Hotel
Winner The Second City Award for Best Comedy 2024 Toronto Fringe Winner Patrons' Picks 2024 Toronto Fringe Toronto Star Critics’ Pick 2024 Toronto Fringe Greek-Canadian comedian Anesti Danelis (Just for Laughs, CBC) asked ChatGPT to write him a show… and that was a big mistake. ‘Pure comic gold.’ ★★★★★ Parton & Pearl (Canada)
The Greek
Nominee Best Newcomer 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Anisa Nandaula (Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Gen) dives headfirst into the chaos of her life – nearly getting into a fight, feuding with her next-door neighbour and surviving her old workplace drama. Then, after a decade away, she returns to Africa and brings back a suitcase full of hilarious, unforgettable stories. No filters, no small talk – just big laughs. ‘Anisa is a must-see!’ Chelsea Handler ‘Put her in front of any crowd and she’d be at home... She’s one to watch, for sure.’ Chortle (UK) ‘She’s unstoppable, playing out scenarios with a bombastic side-eye and confident strut. If you’re seeking a comedic act that will keep you at ease, Nandaula should be your pick.’ The Age
fortyfivedownstairs
In the end you needed a form of love we were incapable of giving to each other. I was eating pink cloud candy and communicating with the moon. You were earning money and travelling with friends. Months later, you saw me hitchhiking across the desert, wearing all white linen and broken sunglasses. When we tried again, you were kinder and knew more about how things worked. I needed so much from life, and you worked in a small bar that illegally projected films onto the wall at night. In my kitchen there was only juice and some milk and three-day-old burritos. My cash was running out and creditors kept calling and I changed my number, and we moved to a newspaper shop. I sold magazines and cigarettes while you reconnected with your family. The next time we split, I didn't move for three days.
Coates Community Arts
This is my coming-out show – fashionably late, because I’m non-conforming (so gay!). I actually came out mid-performance, in front of a crowd… including my Nan. Let’s just say there was a joke involving a woman, a KFC and the phrase “finger-lickin’ good.” Afterwards, I had to ask my cousin: “Do you think there’s any chance Nan thinks I was just talking about original recipe?” This is a show about sexuality, identity and growing up as a girl who was better at footy than the boys – until the boys got to keep playing and I didn’t. It’s about family, feminism and the men in my life who, while largely useless, are actually quite decent. Some of them should even be studied, like lab rats. From bringing pants into my school uniform so I could play soccer, to dating an AFL player who later made headlines for a homophobic slur, to my dad quietly being a feminist without knowing the word, this show is a celebration of strong women, good men and the in-between. Expect jokes, back flips (aspirationally) and possibly a fallen hot chook on a lino floor. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is for anyone who’s ever questioned who they are, who they love or why the Richmond Tigers made them feel… things.
Melbourne Town Hall
Comedian Annie Louey and musician Miranda Hill have one uterus between them. Watch as they smash the stigma of women’s health with stand-up, improv and music. Annie and Miranda met at a night class for adults learning Chinese. When they found out they were both performers, they quickly ditched the Chinese and started bonding over their shared sense of humour. A decade later, both of them experienced women’s health issues that required major surgery. Miranda had a hysterectomy and Annie had a fibroid the size of an orange removed (why do doctors always measure serious medical conditions with fruit? Pregnancy included.)They shared many hilarious tales with each other about their farcical medical debacles – and so, this show was born (metaphorically, not literally). Annie is a former Moosehead Award recipient, who has appeared on Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow. She has been featured on various ABC TV programs, including Australian Story, China Tonight, Back Roads and Cross Border Comedy, a documentary about stand-up in Asia. Miranda is a double bassist and won the Victorian Luminary Award at the 2023 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards. She is the Artistic Director of Homophonic! a cult queer chamber music series. FAQs I don’t have / have never had a uterus, can I come?Yes, everyone is welcome at this show. Will both of you be on stage at the same time or are you doing separate sets?We will be on stage at the same time. That’s right, two for the price of one. Women are always banging on about their periods. Will there be period jokes?We expect there will be between 1 and 28 period jokes. But don’t worry, we’ll cycle through them.
Trades Hall
World tour. Sold out Enmore Theatre. Dream wedding on the horizon. 2025 was set to be the best year of Anthony’s life – then everything fell apart. With his heart in ruins, desperation (and destiny) pushed him into a Vipassana meditation retreat. The Divine Comedy is the story of ten gruelling days of silence, where Anthony journeyed to the depth of his mind and battled the hive of evil clowns behind his lifelong misery, and somehow returned with his soul intact. ‘Anthony embodies the thinking man’s comedian, prepared to traverse the publicly taboo and unexplored recesses of the human psyche.’ ★★★★★ Dark Stories Theatre ‘He is one of Australia’s most talented rising stars.’ ★★★★★ On The House Perth ‘Audience members jolting backwards in fits of laughter.’ ★★★★ Weekend Notes
Storyville Melbourne
Ariana and the Rose’s The Breakup Variety Hour: a sparkling, funny, neon-soaked one-woman show where heartbreak meets pop music, cabaret and comedy.
Trades Hall
Step into the strange and carefully curated world of Artisanal Wizardry, a one-man magic show of impossible craft and gleeful mania. It’s what happens when Willy Wonka snorts a philosophy degree and crash-lands in a cabaret bar – frenetic, unhinged and irresistibly funny. Award-winning* magician Mr Marmalade doesn’t just perform magic, he weaponises it, delivering illusions and miracles at a pace that’s part wizardry, part fever dream. Manic. Magnetic. Absolutely not your mother's magic show – but bring her along anyway, because Artisanal Wizardry is not to be missed. * Melbourne Magic Festival's Award for Artistic Excellence, Australian Society of Magician's Magician of the year, two-time Ballarat Beard and Moustache Competition Award Winner (Moustache Division)
Speakeasy HQ
Hosted by Lizzy Hoo An epic showcase celebrating the finest and funniest performers from India, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and beyond. A one night only, very special voyage of comedy discovery! See a stacked line-up of Asia’s brightest comedy superstars, festival faves, and discover the best new and emerging artists from our region. One night only. Sold out in 2025 so book now! Featuring (list line-up) ‘Hysterically funny…definitely a highlight.’ ★★★★★ ArtsHub
Melbourne Town Hall
Come watch some of Australia's funniest Asian comedians – ranging from professional acts seen on television as well as up-and-coming stars of the local comedy scene. From strict parents to racism, from the everyday absurdities of life to the political status of Taiwan, no topic is off limits for this 90-minute show of non-stop laughs.
Mamao Club - Bourke Street
A show where you decide who dies! Eleven fearless comedians enter, but with each joke, the audience holds the power to kill them!Who will be the last of the comics standing – the one survivor?The winner gets pride, dignity and most importantly, they get to live! Mwahahahahaha "I went in as a Vegan; I came out with blood on my hands! It was fun." Anonymous (it could be you)
Collins St Comedy Hub
A show where you decide who dies! Eleven fearless comedians enter, but with each joke, the audience holds the power to kill them!Who will be the last of the comics standing – the one survivor?The winner gets pride, dignity and most importantly, they get to live! Mwahahahahaha "I went in as a Vegan; I came out with blood on my hands! It was fun." Anonymous (it could be you)
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
A show where you decide who dies! Eleven fearless comedians enter, but with each joke, the audience holds the power to kill them!Who will be the last of the comics standing – the one survivor?The winner gets pride, dignity and most importantly, they get to live! Mwahahahahaha "I went in as a Vegan; I came out with blood on my hands! It was fun." Anonymous (it could be you)
Captain Melville
Get ready for a showdown between Aussie and UK comedians. Who will win? You decide! From 'fair dinkum' to 'bloody marvellous' this is a clash you won't want to miss.
Elephant and Wheelbarrow
Australia’s Funniest Lawyers features a lineup of criminal prosecutors, barristers, government regulators and corporate solicitors who are so funny, HR regularly request their jokes to be retold (and recorded) in their offices. Craving that courtroom spotlight once again, these lawyers have turned to the only profession more narcissistic than law – stand-up comedy. The lawyer-turned-comedians in this lineup have won and been nominated for numerous prestigious festival awards, appeared on television and have sold out festival shows nationally and internationally. Australia’s Funniest Lawyers will feature four comedians (including the MC) who will each perform approximately 12–15 minutes of material.
QT Melbourne
National Finalist RAW Comedy 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival In the past year Aves Robins has been under the knife, read way too much obscure Catholic history and somehow transformed into a goth jellyfish. Her friends and family are bewildered and concerned. And she has but one opportunity to convince them it's all going to be okay. Spite and Other Delights is a love letter to the absurd. It’s comedy that can only be performed by someone who is not afraid of the dark. At least not as much as overhead lighting. 'Aves Robins is a very funny lady.' ★★★★ Out In Perth 'Incredibly funny and often heart-warming.' ★★★★★ FringeFeed 'An audience favourite.' Chortle (UK) 'A side-splitting feat of rogue and subversive absurdity.' Seesaw Magazine
Queen Victoria Women's Centre
The five-star hit of the Edinburgh Fringe comes to Melbourne! Three top comics spill their worst dating disaster stories with unfiltered stand-up on sex and relationships. Plus we'll share your dating horror stories anonymously live on stage! If your dating life is a joke, this is the show for you. Whether you've found love, are forever single or are somewhere in between, you'll leave feeling happier about your dating mishaps! A different show every time. Perfect for date night or group outings!
Askal
BallaRatCat Comedy has been serving up laughs in Ballarat since 2013. This year BallaRatCat has a new home in an old church, delivering big name comedians with a great atmosphere, high ceilings and a large organ. This will be a special show for Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Ballarat Performing Arts Centre
The only show at the Fest by someone with ADHD. Sure you could schlep your way to a 'relatable' stand-up show. Or you could come and witness the erotic confusion, the mind virus, the pleasure vehicle that is King of the Pigs 2. King of Pigs 2 is a tender celebration of being a grot and the solo debut of actor and improvisor Barney Pollock (Thank God You’re Here, White Fever, Something Good). Developed with and directed by Hannah Camilleri (Winner Pinder Prize 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Nominee 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show, Nominee British Comedy Guide Best Newcomer (Long List) 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe) Performance direction by Ben Russell (Winner Directors' Choice Award 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Thank God You’re Here, Aunty Donna’s House of Fun, The Emu War, The Tokyo Hotel) Script supervisor, Kate Denhert (BBC Comedy staff writer, Get Krack!n) Lighting design and tech by Caitlyn Staples.
Trades Hall
From Tim Motley, winner of 21 fringe festival awards and creator of Dirk Darrow… Experience the wonder of world-class wizardry in a realm of messenger owls, robed wizards and flying broomsticks! Marvel at mind-blowing mysteries with cauldrons, goblets and talking snakes. Witness feats of sorcery in person, as a grown-up wizard delves into an untold story. Also, there’s jokes! 'Will leave you in awe.' ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide'Amazing.' ★★★★★ Australian Stage'Incredible.' ★★★★★ Edmonton Journal 'Seriously impressive.' ★★★★ The List (UK) 'Fun and surprise-filled.' ★★★★ Kiddo Mag 'Charms your red and gold socks off.' ★★★★ Winnipeg Free Press (Canada) 'Motley is a natural comedian and illusionist in Barry Potter.' Yahoo Entertainment 'An hour of miraculous fun.' Australian Arts Review 'This show brought the wonder of wizardry to life.' Theatre Haus 'Motley’s awe-inspiring illusions and well-placed puns make Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry a delight from start to finish.' A View From the Box (Canada) 'The way he brings this world together is simply marvellous.' Otaku No Culture 'Motley's charisma fills the stage as he effortlessly balances humour that appeals to both young and old alike.' Patron and Pearl (Canada)
ACMI
Witness the best basketball tricks you’ve never seen before as BasketballMan spins, dribbles, juggles and flies to save the word from evil. Don’t miss the world’s only and world’s greatest freestyle basketball show.
Kicks
All aboard the Ben Kochan express! Next stop, Funnyland! Make sure to buckle up because you're in for a wild ride of gags, props, hats and minimal eye contact! And sorry but there's no quiet carriage on this train – the only ones available are the raucous laughter carriages! So sit back, relax, bring some soup in a camelbak as we go full steam ahead to Funnyland! Ben has opened for comedians like Wil Anderson, Dave Hughes and Tom Gleeson, written for shows like ABC's 'Guy Montgomery's Guy-mont Spelling Bee, Channel 10's Sam Pang Tonight and has appeared on Talkin About Your Gen. You can check out his latest hilarious special on ABC iview No Coffee No Workee.
Coopers Inn
Welcome to the Auslan jungle is a show about Auslan, the sort of sign language you use in the jungle of today’s Australia, proper Aussie (bogan) Auslan. This show is half comedy and half learning sign language. If you've always been meaning to learn another language but never got around to it and thought maybe Auslan looks like a fun language to learn because of all of the hands and stuff, then this is the show for you. This show teaches you to sign the proper Aussie (bogan) way and ends with everyone in the audience signing together in an Auslan Aussie (bogan) choir. Your hands will sing with an Aussie twang. Ben is an Auslan interpreter from Tasmania. He has been doing comedy for over 20 years after being a RAW Comedy National Finalist in 2002. Ben travelled all over Australia last year doing his show Deaf Bridges, including at the Melbourne and Sydney comedy festivals. All of Ben's shows are Auslan interpreted as Ben presents his shows in English while signing some Auslan. The Auslan interpreter signs the rest. This show is accessible to both Deaf and non-Deaf alike.
Wheat, Wine & Whisky
Welcome to the Auslan jungle is a show about Auslan, the sort of sign language you use in the jungle of today’s Australia, proper Aussie (bogan) Auslan. This show is half comedy and half learning sign language. If you've always been meaning to learn another language but never got around to it and thought maybe Auslan looks like a fun language to learn because of all of the hands and stuff, then this is the show for you. This show teaches you to sign the proper Aussie (bogan) way and ends with everyone in the audience signing together in an Auslan Aussie (bogan) choir. Your hands will sing with an Aussie twang. Ben is an Auslan interpreter from Tasmania. He has been doing comedy for over 20 years after being a RAW Comedy National Finalist in 2002. Ben travelled all over Australia last year doing his show Deaf Bridges, including at the Melbourne and Sydney comedy festivals. All of Ben's shows are Auslan interpreted as Ben presents his shows in English while signing some Auslan. The Auslan interpreter signs the rest. This show is accessible to both Deaf and non-Deaf alike.
Wolfhound on Brunswick
Winner Directors' Choice Award 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022 Moosehead RecipientNominee Golden Gibbo Award 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Nominee Best Comedy Award 2017Perth FRINGE WORLDStand-up, sketch, characters and smooth synth. It's Bon, it's good. As seen on Aunty Donna, Grouse House, Thank God You're Here on Channel 10 and We Interrupt This Broadcast on Channel 7. 'Rarely is the serious and the silly blended so effortlessly as his telling of this story.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Thrillingly witty, filled with laser-sharp one-liners… it's also endearingly hopeful.' ★★★★★ The Funny Tonne 'Unlike anything even the most seasoned festival-goer will have seen before.' ★★★★ The Age Co-written and directed by Maggie Looke.
The Greek
Winner Directors' Choice Award 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022 Moosehead RecipientNominee Golden Gibbo Award 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Nominee Best Comedy Award 2017 Perth FRINGE WORLD As seen on Thank God You're Here, Aunty Donna's House Of Fun (Netflix) and The Let Down. After years of struggling with addiction Ben uses his new-found sobriety as a jump off point to explore his past, his clear-headed present and ask “what’s next?” An encore performance of Ben's award-winning hour of stripped-back and revealing stand-up. A hilarious, raw and honest account of how Ben navigated the most transformative year of his life. 'Rarely is the serious and the silly blended so effortlessly as his telling of this story.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Thrillingly witty, filled with laser-sharp one-liners… it's also endearingly hopeful.' ★★★★★ The Funny Tonne 'Unlike anything even the most seasoned festival-goer will have seen before.' ★★★★ The Age Co-written and directed by Maggie Looke.
The Greek
The best jokes from around the world, in one show.One of the best line-ups of award-winning international comedians this Festival! The best bang for your buck.
Captain Melville
The best jokes from around the world, in one show.One of the best line-ups of award-winning international comedians this Festival! The best bang for your buck.
Collins St Comedy Hub
The best jokes from around the world, in one show.One of the best line-ups of award-winning international comedians this Festival! The best bang for your buck.
Caz Reitop's Dirty Secrets
The best jokes from around the world, in one show.One of the best line-ups of award-winning international comedians this Festival! The best bang for your buck.
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
Get ready to swap your city slicker latte for a pub schooner – Best of the Bush is rolling into Melbourne! Handpicked by professional comedian Dane Simpson, this all-star lineup features the funniest up-and-coming comics from Wagga Wagga, Albury, Wodonga and Canberra. They’ve driven the long roads, dodged the kangaroos and written killer punchlines somewhere between the paddocks and the pub. This show brings a fresh, country spin to stand-up comedy – honest, unpredictable and packed with heart (and maybe a little dust). It’s your chance to catch the next big names of Aussie comedy before they blow up – or at least before they make it back to Wagga. So, grab your mates, park your tractor (or Uber) and come see why the bush is producing some of the best laughs in the country. Best of the Bush – because funny doesn’t stop at the city limits.
Ballers Clubhouse
Best of the Edinburgh Fest is one of Melbourne’s favourite and original line up shows, and it’s back in 2026! Three international acts for the price of one! Get ready to witness the freshest international comedic voices around including the the self-deprecating and lovable Jimmy McGhie (UK), the delightful and bubbly Laura Lexx (UK) and the clean yet edgy William Wang (CN/AU). This is the one Comedy Festival show which is not to be missed. Jimmy McGhie has performed stand up all over the world and is now a top circuit act in the UK, as well as a highly sought after corporate awards host and TV warm up artist. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programmes including the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Comedy Central, ABC Australia, THREE New Zealand, Absolute Radio and regularly provides the studio warm up for BBC1’s Graham Norton Show, ITV’s Loose Women and Ch4’s Deal or No Deal. Laura Lexx is a comedian, author and actor, with over 10 years in stand-up under her belt and 2 published books. In 2026 she was a finalist in the Amused Moose Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in 2018 won Best Performer in the Comedian's Choice Awards and was in the top 10 of the Funniest Joke of the Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and won the Comedians' Choice award at the 2019 Chortle Awards. Her television appearances have included Roast Battle, Hypothetical, Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week. William Wang, known for his sharp observational humour and distinctive delivery, has been performing stand up comedy since 2018 and has become a regular on the Australian comedy circuit. His comedy is clean yet edgy, blending quirkiness with a fresh perspective and confidence to the stage. Drawing from his immigrant experience, he hilariously unpacks cultural differences, everyday struggles, and the absurdities of life in Australia.
The Capitol
Better Off Said: For the Living and Dead is a spoken-word art salon – an afternoon of words it's time to air, featuring a lineup of fabulous comics.
Melbourne Town Hall
What Goes On Tour... doesn't always stay on tour! Join Bev as she recounts outrageous true stories of her travels on the road, behind the scenes, on set and post shows. From Puppetry of the Penis to Savage River, Jack Irish to the Mars Bar commercial where she appears nude. 'I can smell urine.' Alan Cumming
The Westin
Got a problem? Heartbreak? Existential crisis? Call the Bad B*tch Hotline! This is a live comedy advice show where your chaos becomes content. Bianka mixes her razor-sharp stand-up with unqualified (yet often helpful) wisdom, to help her audience gain the occasional emotional breakthrough. It’s part confession, part group chat, part therapy. Bring your questions, your best friend and your baggage. The hotline is open xx
Storyville Melbourne
After being humbled by Sportsbet yet again, I am forced to bring a brand-new show to Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Luckily I'm an aboslute gun, otherwise I'd be so off it hey. Brand-new hour from the straightest bloke on the east coast. Chasing a phone call from either Channel 10 or Robert Irwin. Come through mate, it's gonna be sick.
Coopers Inn
Look at this puppy. Don't tell me you don't feel it?Maybe you are emotionally available after all! In this split hour stan-up show, Raw NZ 2025 semi-finalists Bobby Ghe (NZ) & Wouter Moerloose (Belgium/NZ) explore what happens when men become emotionally available... Like sneaky peeking into their diaries, I'm not crying... You're crying! is a collection of the snappiest stories that led them to who they are today. From small town living to double-agent grandparents, from crazy travel stories to vanity plates... Bobby and Wouter leave no stone unturned in search of what's up with all this crying...
Central Club Hotel
Seventy minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike.This fast-paced gem brings you the entire 144 episodes of the hit '90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike. Buffy Revamped is returning to Melbourne following its award-winning Edinburgh Fringe premiere in 2022, a Christmas season in Toronto in 2023 and several sold-out national tours. Funny, satirical and bursting with '90s pop-culture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High alike. Created by comedian Brendan Murphy whose last show, FRIEND (The One with Gunther), won Best Play at the World Wide Comedy Awards. ‘A hilarious romp through Buffy’s life and times.’ ★★★★★ British Theatre Guide ‘Infectious and joyful energy.’ ★★★★★ EdFringeReview ‘If you are even remotely a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this is not to be missed.’ ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) Winner Best One Person Show and Best Comedy Performance at the DarkChat Awards 2022. Best Reviewed Comedy Show, Edinburgh 2023.
Trades Hall
Nominee 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show In 2002 Brett Blake was charged with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct and assaulting a public officer. Is he guilty? You be the judge. He was 16 years old and facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. What happened next surprised him, his parents, his lawyers, the neighbours and even the judge. This is a story of the importance of second chances, the hypocritical expectations we have of young people and how your number one enemy might just end up being your biggest champion. Only Brett can manage to make a story of police brutality, learning disabilities, questionable 90’s parenting and growing up in a shit suburb “funny”. Seen on the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Question Everything, Spicks and Specks and co-host of 'Work Hates Podcast'.'Blakey is also one of the sharpest minds in contemporary Australian comedy.' Wil Anderson 'Brett Blake brings the good stuff in spades night after night. Get at him now. You won’t regret it.' Dave Hughes 'It was a raucous, side-splitting 60 minutes of laughs.' Adelaide Advertiser 'Punchy and relevant insight… peppered with clever jabs at Australian culture.' The Age Directed by Tom Ballard
Coopers Inn
Nominee Best Newcome 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival I recently got a review that said “I’m not as talented as Hassed” which is not only a comedian’s wet dream, it means I won’t be taking any feedback at this time. But, with professional theatrical critique like that you can rest assured that you will be in the safe hands of a wickedly-relatable, award-nominated and frequently-correct comedian. Perfect Opinion No Notes is a darkly funny, wickedly-relatable one woman show where stand-up and storytelling collide in unique and unexpected ways. 'Hassed weaves both a mirthful and viciously cutting web similar to those conjured by Anne Edmonds or Celia Pacquola.' ★★★★ The Age 'An independent artist that should truly be bigger.' Theatre Travels 'Bridget’s raw authenticity and occasional vulnerability felt akin to the brilliant comedy stylings of Nina Oyama.' Hugging Comedians Bridget identifies as a queer, neurodivergent, chronically ill 6/10.
Chinese Museum
Bron Lewis’ life is complete and utter chaos – just ask her dog trainer. She has three kids – an emotional tweenager, a four-year-old stalker and a middle one, and just when things couldn’t get any harder, she bought a puppy. A glutton for punishment, Bron has welcomed the flourishing of her comedy career, which means she has a million plates in the air and even more smashed on the ground around her feet. Bron, an ex-high-school teacher, wears the battle scars of an undervalued profession and is still reeling from the initial shock of motherhood 12 years ago. Come bask in her humiliating attempts at juggle-parenting, teaching, a career change and flailing mental health, because as the saying goes, ‘if we can’t laugh about it, we’ll burn the city to the ground’. If you’ve ever thought ‘If one thing goes wrong, we’re all dead meat’ or ‘What the hell was I thinking?’ then this is the comedy show for you!
The Westin
Bron Lewis’ life is complete and utter chaos – just ask her dog trainer. She has three kids – an emotional tweenager, a four-year-old stalker and a middle one, and just when things couldn’t get any harder, she bought a puppy. A glutton for punishment, Bron has welcomed the flourishing of her comedy career, which means she has a million plates in the air and even more smashed on the ground around her feet. Bron, an ex-high-school teacher, wears the battle scars of an undervalued profession and is still reeling from the initial shock of motherhood 12 years ago. Come bask in her humiliating attempts at juggle-parenting, teaching, a career change and flailing mental health, because as the saying goes, ‘if we can’t laugh about it, we’ll burn the city to the ground’. If you’ve ever thought ‘If one thing goes wrong, we’re all dead meat’ or ‘What the hell was I thinking?’ then this is the comedy show for you!
Melbourne Town Hall
A drunk witch told Bronwyn she should have a baby. She didn’t. But she could have. It’s not that hard. Anyway, this is about what happened instead. Bronwyn is an award-winning comedian who has featured on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, appeared on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, performed at Just For Laughs Australia and supported the likes of Hannah Gadsby, Nish Kumar and Mel Buttle. 'A style that screams confidence, and rightly so.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'A born raconteur.' ★★★★ The Age
ACMI
In 2021, the pekapeka-tou-roa (long-tailed bat) won New Zealand’s Bird of the Year – despite being a mammal, and not at all a bird. In this National Geographic-style comedy show, Brynley Stent dissects how this furry underdog pulled off the greatest con of the century. Brynley Stent is an award-winning comedian from New Zealand who has appeared on such shows as Taskmaster NZ, Have You Been Paying Attention NZ? and Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee.
Trades Hall
Shortlist Shanghai International Arts Festival 2025Winner Oustanding Play in Beijing (China) 2024Wnner Best in Fringe Kids 2024 Sydney FringeWinner Children's Event Weekly Award 2024 Perth FRINGE WORLDWinner Best Kids & Family Weekly Award 2024 Adelaide Fringe Have you ever been in a room with a million bubbles?Embark on a soap-tastic adventure to the intergalactic wonder that is bubbles in space!See flying bubble rockets that launches 10 metres into the air, clear bubbles filled with smoke, bubbles that join into each other and separate, shadow bubble puppetry, fire bubbles, a bubble fire tornado, square bubbles, giant bubble screens that shimmer, children inside bubbles, spinning carousels, giant bubble tubes that arch through the sky and bubbles so big that several people could fit inside! The show finishes in a million bubble party that fills the room in a celebration of bubbles. ★★★★★ SeeDoEat Review★★★★★ Edinburgh Festival for Kids★★★★★ Whats on in Adelaide★★★★★ Play and Go
Melbourne Museum
Welcome to the storytelling game show of the Comedy Festival! We found some of the best (and craziest) bullshit artists in Melbourne comedy and stuck them on a panel to share stories with one another, however, one element of their tale is a lie. It is up to the other comedians to figure out which is and isn't. Come hear their tall tales and disappointing ends in this chaotic show of wits and deception.
Central Club Hotel
If I were to sum this show up in a sentence – say for the purpose of promoting it at Melbourne International Comedy Festival – why I'd say it was "mostly jokes about the RMS Titanic." There'll be stuff about the country, some hard truths about pornography and maybe even our old friend the Austro-Hungarian Empire will stop in to say hello. I'll be there, you'll be there, it'll be a good time. I reckon you should see it. Carlo Ritchie returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time since 2018 and by god we all remember what happened the last time.
The Victoria Hotel
near the knuckle idiom (informal) close to the limits of what is socially acceptable or tolerable; risqué or sexually suggestive without being obscene. A new hour of stand-up from some gay guy. Carmelo Costa returns with his third solo show after sold-out runs of Sloppy Toppy (2024) and Homecoming (2025). A regular on the Melbourne comedy circuit, Carmelo delivers quick wit, sharp observations and jokes that live right near the knuckle. 'Killer wit and laser insights.' ★★★★★ Theatre Matters 'Killer punchlines.' ★★★★ ArtsHub 'Filled with pithy wit, campy melodrama and electric raunch.' ★★★★ The Funny Tonne 'Risque, cheeky, and will leave you doubling over with laughter.' ★★★★ What Did She Think
Coopers Inn
near the knuckle idiom (informal) close to the limits of what is socially acceptable or tolerable; risqué or sexually suggestive without being obscene. A new hour of stand-up from some gay guy. Carmelo Costa returns with his third solo show after sold-out runs of Sloppy Toppy (2024) and Homecoming (2025). A regular on the Melbourne comedy circuit, Carmelo delivers quick wit, sharp observations and jokes that live right near the knuckle. 'Killer wit and laser insights.' ★★★★★ Theatre Matters 'Killer punchlines.' ★★★★ ArtsHub 'Filled with pithy wit, campy melodrama and electric raunch.' ★★★★ The Funny Tonne 'Risque, cheeky, and will leave you doubling over with laughter.' ★★★★ What Did She Think
Coopers Inn
Winner Take a Chance on Adelaide Award (Best New Show) 2024 Adelaide FringeNominee Best Comedy 2024 Melbourne Fringe Judge's Pick 2024 Melbourne FringeMervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 & 2025 "Oh man, what a character." - Ancient Australian proverb. Idiom, used to describe either the best or worst person you know. Example, "Wow, that Casey Filips is such a character". Following his critically-acclaimed debut show Virtuoso, award-winning character comic Casey Filips brings his brand-new hour of comedic characters, sketches and "loveable buffoonery" (Lillithia Reviews) to the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It won't be stand-up, but you will be marvelling "oh man, what a character". 'Utterly brilliant.' ★★★★★ The Age'Filips is a master.' ★★★★★ The Funny Tonne'Truly inventive comedy.' ★★★★★ The Real Chrisparkle (UK)'Casey Filips is brilliant.' ★★★★★ Lillithia Reviews
Trades Hall
Winner Fringe First 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Back from the United States, multi-award-winning comic Cassie Workman presents You Are Here, a surreal elegy for New Jersey’s West Valley Mall. 'Captivated from start to finish.' Phoebe Waller-Bridge 'A colossal achievement.' ★★★★★ Herald Sun 'Fierce intellect... something raw and powerful. Brilliant.' ★★★★ The Age 'Workman delivers a darkly beautiful hour of spoken word.' ★★★★ The Guardian
Melbourne Town Hall
"What if I flop?" "Oh, my darling, but what if you fly?" This is the story of the death of Amelia Earhart and her in-flight navigator Fred Noonan. Written by Australia's most beloved historians, Charlie Lewin & Ella Lawry. Nominee - Best Online Comedy (‘Descent’) - AACTA Awards (2025) Nominee - Golden Gibbo (‘Frogaccini’) - Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2025) Winner - Best Newcomer (Charlie Lewin) - Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2021) Nominee - Best Comedy (‘The Candyman’) - Australian Podcast Awards (2021) Nominee - Best Comedy (‘Community Service’) - Melbourne Fringe (2018) WARNING: This show contains performers.
Trades Hall
Taking a deep dive into her upbringing at the height of lad culture, Chloe Petts brings a brand-new show to Australia. From fronting a Christian rock band, to accidents on the golf course, join Chloe for her most loutish hour yet. Chloe was acclaimed as one of the top comedy shows to see at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe by multiple titles including The Guardian, The Times, Evening Standard, The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News and Time Out. ‘A rock-solid hour.’ ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) ‘World-class stand-up skills… We must never take Chloe Petts for granted.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman ‘One of the most compelling young comics.’ ★★★★ The Guardian
Melbourne Town Hall
Do you spend your nights bathed in blue light, staring at screens and eating chips? Then you deserve a break. So come join me on my potato-ship and we'll sail across the seven seas of hilarities in this stand-up show about gastroenterologists, double vanities and so many more things. Please know this show is not nautical themed at all, but there may be an occasional reference to Below Deck. Chris, a former RAW Comedy Victorian State Finalist and mainstay of the Australian comedy scene, is performing in his fourth Melbourne International Comedy Festival after sell out runs of Casual Luxury in 2022, Legs in the Pool in 2024. and Actually Kinda Hot in 2025. 'Strong stage presence, gaggy punchlines and insightful storytelling.' ★★★★ The Funny Tonne ''Demos is instantly likeable, making an immediate connection with his audience... a comedian on the rise and one to look out for.' Australian Arts Review 'A hilariously and viciously observant, radiantly talented storyteller.' Praise Dionysus
Storyville Melbourne
An unhinged game show hosted by two gay men who once held a clipboard and thought, “Yeah, I could host a show” – Chris Demos and Carmelo Costa. With a few Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows under their belts and a love of attention, they’re teaming up to bring you two nights of games, guests and questionable prizes.Expect special guests dragged into gruelling challenges, loose rules that change by the minute and commentary that’s unhelpful at best. There will be points (that don’t really matter) and prizes (that you probably don’t want).This isn’t your typical game show. It’s part comedy, part variety and all mess.Whether you’re here for the laughs, the weirdness, or just to see if anyone wins anything at all, Gayme Show promises to be... something.
The Victoria Hotel
Cork’s Chris Kent debuts in Australia with his show Offline. He tries to give up the internet and navigate life without asking his phone what to eat, where to go or how to get home. He longs for a simpler time of playing ‘Snake’ and constructing emojis himself. Now that he has hit 40 years of age, he wonders if he can ever go back to thinking for himself. Join him on a journey that will either make him or break him. 'He really makes me laugh and I think his stuff is so smart, he would be one of the best comics that I would have seen. He's fantastic.' Tommy Tiernan 'Kent is a master storyteller.' ★★★★ The Irish Times ★★★★★ The Mirror (UK) 'Carefree comedic bullseye.' Dubliner Magazine
Trades Hall
Hello! I've been vying for your attention for a long time now. I'd comfortably say, it's been 30 years. Thirty years of trying to make people look at me. In that time there have been many attempts to try and masquerade it as something "important" or "educational" but the longer I've sat with it, the more I've come to accept that it could maybe just be vanity. So I won't sugar coat it in the blurb. There're no secrets about to be dished, no valuable lesson to take away. I'm just a 35-year-old gay man, who was told there was something special about him as a kid and has been grappling with that ever since, standing in front of an audience asking them to take a good hard look at ME!
fortyfivedownstairs
Join Chris Pucillo as he dives into the bizarre and chaotic experience of growing up in 90's South Africa, and unpacks the strange intersections of history, trauma and family. Blending absurdity with poignant reflections, this show hilariously explores how surviving an upbringing during the birth of a nation shapes a new generation of parenting – and why some scars just have to be laughed off. 'South African expat with a razor-sharp wit.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed 'Outrageously funny and super relatable.' ★★★★★ Whats on in Adelaide 'Insightful and hilarious.' ★★★★½ Fringefeed
Speakeasy HQ
How do you escape a mad world when time is fleeting, nothing is real and idiots are (still) everywhere? Chris Ryan gets lost in the weeds of her new rental, slowly pressing moisturiser into her face and scrolling Marketplace until everything’s a blur. When a stranger called Barbara taunts her on a no-buy garden group online, it stirs up more questions than answers. 'A trenchant, acutely funny hour.' ★★★★ The Sydney Morning Herald
The Greek
Winner of a Best Comedy Weekly Award at Perth FRINGE WORLD and with complete sell-out shows in Melbourne and Sydney comedy festivals, Swingers is smart, sexy and 100% hilarious! Filled with hilarious stories and witty one-liners, Swingers is a musst-see comedy show for anyone who has ever ventured into, or has ever been curious about an alternate side of life. As seen on Britain's Got Talent and Just for Laughs, award-winning UK comedian Christian Elderfield will have you belly laughing from start to finish on this hilarious rollercoaster of a journey! 'Edgy and polished, a master with incredible stage presence.' ★★★★★ Weekend Notes 'Fantastic intimate slap-dash comedy.' ★★★★½ Adelaide Advertiser 'His use of on the spot observational humour is a testament to his talent.' ★★★★½ Fest Magazine
Askal
Showman, jester, attention chaser... come with Chris on the ultimate hometown holiday night out. From your 1.5-star hotel, he’ll give you a hilariously fun soirée and have you tucked up back in bed at a sensible time. Christopher Hall, once first on the dancefloor and last on the night bus, is now in his early-mid 30s (very different to the late-earlies) and reflecting on his younger life-of-the-party self. This theatrical showboy started out putting on shows in the front room for his parents, then spent his early and late-mid 20s have dance-offs in Soho’s gay bars and performing in musicals on cruise ships. 'Background Singers' featuring collabs with Sugababes, Natasha Bedingfield, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Shania Twain shot him to fame on Instagram and TikTok. Now Chris is back IRL with his new, brilliantly hilarious stand-up show, with a high possibility of an outbreak of dancing. This chorus boy takes centre stage for a fun, glamorous and unforgettable night. Don't miss your chance to get your dose of Pizazz. ‘Brilliantly relatable and funny.’ Edinburgh Festivals Magazine ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) ★★★★★ On Your Markus ★★★★★ Corr Blimey ★★★★★ North West End UK ★★★★ The Student ★★★★ Brighton Journal ★★★★ Curtain Call ★★★★️ The Wee Review ★★★★ Ed Fringe Review
The Greek
Hot on the tails of their holiday season on 42nd St. New York City, Circus Oz is back in the Melbourne Town Hall with their all-new show Here, There and Everywhere! Packed with big skills, sly jokes, sudden detours, musical outbursts and the kind of playful pandemonium that erupts when a roomful of dazzling – and wonderfully silly –circus brains collide onstage… and off. Look out audience! It’s a fast, funny jumble of jaw-dropping tricks, deadpan silliness and glorious physical chaos, all fuelled by a raucous live soundtrack played by a delightfully disobedient band. The performers bounce between brilliance and nonsense with equal commitment, hurling themselves (and various objects) skyward just because they can. Mixing frou-frous, frills and fandangles with joyful acrobatics, live music, larrikin comedy and sheer physical audacity. One minute the cast are balancing on improbable things, the next they’re launching themselves into the air with suspicious confidence and absolutely no respect for gravity’s feelings. They are Here, There and Everywhere. This is a big, bold celebration of skill, stupidity, swagger and the joyful mess of humans doing epic things together. Bring your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and the neighbourhood kids – it’s a bona fide multigenerational good time. For over 40 years Circus Oz has been Everywhere, but now they’re Here and you should be There! See you at Melbourne Town Hall for Here, There and Everywhere!
Melbourne Town Hall
Claire just wants to have fun. But she’s the least fun person she knows, so she’s got her work cut out for her. This is going to involve time, energy, sweat and tears, and probably some lists*. One thing’s for sure, it’s not going to be fun. * 1. Hide behind a curtain.2. Throw things over a fence.3. Pat two dogs at the same time.4. Send a selfie to someone who’s standing next to you.5. Try to start a group hug with people who are too cool for it.6. Put someone else’s clothes on and do their voice.7. Draw a picture of your enemy.8. Explore a tunnel (not a euphemism).9. Whisper to someone through a library shelf.10. Run through the train doors as they’re closing.11. Wake up tomorrow and do another 10 things. She’s gonna discover how to have fun. Or she’s gonna ruin fun for everyone.
QT Melbourne
Part alter ego, part primal urge, full mental breakdown. We're all monkeys trapped in computers. Chimp is here to break us free.
Grace Darling Hotel
Who will be crowned Australia's funniest high-schooler? After a month-long search for the country’s brightest young comedy talent, we’re thrilled to present the best of the best in our epic 2026 finale – where one rising star will claim ultimate classroom bragging rights as Australia’s funniest high-schooler! Class Clowns is a national secondary school comedy competition, inviting young people to unleash their creative talents through stand-up, sketch, musical comedy or physical performance. Past Class Clowns participants include Joel Creasey, Rhys Nicholson, Annie Louey, Aaron Chen, William McKenna, Josh Thomas and more! ‘Class Clowns is about brand-new talent and ideas, building confidence in young people and watching them experience the pure joy of being on stage.’ Anne Edmonds FOR SCHOOLS Bring your students to see Australia's funniest high-schoolers in action! After searching the country for the nation's best young comedy talent, we're bringing together Australia's most hilarious high-school performers for an unforgettable showcase – and we'd love your class to be part of the audience! Class Clowns is Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s national secondary school comedy program, supporting young people to think and write creatively; to amplify and uplift their voices, and to have a good laugh while doing so! Comprising a workshop and competition program, some of Australia's most successful comedians have participated in Class Clowns over the years, including Joel Creasey, Rhys Nicholson, Anne Louey, Aaron Chen, William McKenna, Josh Thomas and more. Why bring your students?All jokes aside, this an opportunity for your students to witness their peers shine on stage, celebrate fresh talent and original ideas and experience the confidence-building power of performance. Whether your students are budding performers themselves or simply love a good laugh, the Class Clowns National Grand Final offers an inspiring and curriculum-relevant excursion experience. Attending also helps fulfil English, Drama and Media Arts curriculum objectives by immersing students in real-world creative practices and audience experiences. Special school booking rates available: Group discounts apply and teachers attend free! For more info head to classclowns.com.au, reach out to us at classclowns@comedyfestival.com.au. To book in your class complete our Schools Booking Form here.
Melbourne Town Hall
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Theory Bar
Bums on seats, everyone! It's time for a school assembly with special guest speakers Nick and Jesi – the Cobble Creek Rangers! Are they actual Park Rangers? No. Are they here to teach you animal facts? Yes. Will their relationship break down on stage? Maybe. Prepare for a night of laughs and juicy relationship drama, as Kyle McCallion and Ann Maree present: Cobble Creek Rangers! Seriously Jeremy shut up or you're going to the principal's office!
Trainscendence
Collarts Comedy students perform original sets of stand-up, sketch and character in this dynamic live show. Experience the next generation of Australian comedy. Collarts is a proud education sponsor of Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Melbourne Town Hall
Not a show about p**s, just an Asian comic who's a fan of dark comedy who might talk about p**s. Collin Christopher See has been doing stand-up around Asia (and a few places outside of Asia, too) for over a decade now and is trying his hand at his first festival show. Credits include winning the 2016 Magners International Comedy Competition (that nobody gives a f#%k about).
Captain Melville
The laughs are on us at this exclusive first taste of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival – live and on your radio. Join 774 ABC Radio Melbourne’s David Astle and Jacinta Parsons at the 20th edition of Comedy Bites! It’s your chance to stock up early on the finest bite-sized comedy morsels from the feast ahead. This exclusive, one-off event is your chance to try-before-you-buy, featuring a cracking lineup of local and international Festival performers and a load of laughs. And, if you can’t join us in person, tune in to 774 ABC Radio Melbourne or the ABC listen app. This event is free but get in quick, tickets will go fast!
Melbourne Town Hall
Looking for the ultimate school holiday treat? Comedy Club for Kids brings together the most talented kid-friendly performers in one massive showcase for children ages six and up! Featuring a lineup handpicked by Melbourne International Comedy Festival, expect side-splitting stand-up, jaw-dropping circus acts, wacky sketches and musical comedy that will keep everyone entertained from the first joke to the final bow. Comedy Club for Kids is a safe, welcoming space where silliness is celebrated and professional performers really know how to connect with young audiences. It’s a laugh-a-minute hour the whole family will enjoy. No boring stuff. Just pure, awesome fun!
Melbourne Museum
A stand-up show like no other! The audience spins the wheel and comedians deliver both sharp sets and off-the-cuff jokes based on surprise topics. From “worst date story” to “self-help book titles that won’t sell,” every spin adds suspense, spontaneity and side-splitting laughs. Each night features a fresh lineup of top comedians – from TV and radio favorites to rising stars – turning every show into a hilarious game of chance. Hosted by the funny Kru Harale, past guests include Tom Ballard, Claire Hooper, Elouise Eftos, Simon Taylor, Dane Simpson, Daniel Connell, He Huang, Mike Goldstein, Danielle Walker and many more. Spin. Joke. Laugh. Don't miss this must-see Festival favourite!
Melbourne Town Hall
Got a problem? One professional psychiatrist and four thoroughly unqualified comedians try to solve it. Like a hilarious, unlicensed group therapy session where no one actually gets better. After selling-out major theatres in Europe and London, André De Freitas and Dr Benji Waterhouse bring their box office hit to Melbourne. Past audience problems include: ‘How do I leave a cult without hurting their feelings?’ ‘What’s the most ethical way to kill my goldfish?’ and ‘Help, my mum is on OnlyFans!’ NB. Not a substitute for professional advice, obviously. 'Funny without turning patients into punchlines.' ★★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) 'Humane, hilarious and eye-opening.' The Guardian (UK) 'The Adam Kay of mental healthcare.' The Times (UK) 'Leaves them howling with laughter.' ★★★★★ Sunday Express (UK) 'Combination of quirkiness and intelligence. A pleasure.' ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) 'A winning presence from the first word to the last.' ★★★★★ The Recs (UK) 'Hugely entertaining storytelling.' ★★★★★ ThreeWeeks (UK)
The Oxford Scholar
Comedy Zone is celebrating its 26th year showcasing Australia’s next-gen comedy superstars! Don’t miss your chance to see the rising stars set to become ‘the next big things’ in comedy. Proudly supported by Lancemore Crossley St. Who is coming to Comedy Zone in 2026? Peter Josip (VIC) 2025 RAW Comedy National Winner 2025 Edinburgh Fringe So You Think You’re Funny National Finalist. Peter Josip is a Melbourne triple threat: a background in musical theatre, trained in martial arts and he frequents Northcote Plaza. The Greek-Australian comic had a breakout year in 2025, winning the prestigious RAW Comedy title and securing a spot in Edinburgh Fringe’s So You Think You’re Funny Grand Final. As a sharp observational comic, Peter can, and will, find the absurdity in absolutely anything. Bahaa Dabbagh (VIC) 2025 VIC RAW Comedy Semi-Finalist Hailing from Syria, Bahaa’s worst fear is bombing on stage. The writer, comedian and full-time cat whisperer’s dark comedy finds masterfully sharp and witty takes on displacement, racism, cultural identity and survival, while delivering unexpected belly laughs and a lasting impression. Stella Wu (NSW) 2024 RAW Comedy National Finalist Hong-Kong born and Sydney based comedian Stella Wu is a witty, sharp and playful storyteller. Bringing a unique global voice to the mic, Stella can skilfully bounce from themes of immigrant life to embarrassing dating fails, and has won praise from audiences across Australia and New Zealand for her engaging delivery. Jack Knight (QLD) 2022 QLD RAW Comedy State Finalist It’s been said that Jack Night’s comedy blasts from his brain like a Datsun 120Y backfiring on stage. A stand-out new comedy voice, the deranged soup-drinking maniac is bound for cult comedian status. Has supported the likes of Mel Buttle, Sam Campbell, and Dan Rath. Kushi Venkatesh (SA) 2023 & 2024 SA RAW Comedy State Finalist 2023 Class Clowns National Grand Finalist Part-time student, TV reporter and content creator, Kushi Venkatesh’s parents reckon comedy should strictly be a hobby. Her meteoric rise suggests otherwise. As one of Australia’s youngest and most dynamic emerging comedic voices, Kushi has amassed a strong online following for her hilarious, and inspiring storytelling.
Trades Hall
The most Instagrammable Festival show is back! After three sold out seasons, Comedy on the Rooftop returns for a strictly limited run. Every Tuesday, Good Heavens’ freshly renovated rooftop will be taken over by some of the best from right across the Fest as Comedy on the Rooftop presents a rotating lineup of international acts, festival legends and rising stars. Whether you’re dipping your toes in the Festival waters, or want to have your finger on the pulse of who to see this Fest, Comedy on the Rooftop has something for everyone in one massive show. Discover the panoramic views of Melbourne’s CBD, sip away on a cocktail and find the comedic quenchers you’re looking for, all in style. With a hot new lineup every week, it’ll be packed to the laugh-ters! Lineups announced soon. ‘Belly laughs and a diverse range of comic tasters… a perfect night of comedy under the stars.’ Weekend Notes
Good Heavens
Nominee Best Comedy 2023 & 2024 Melbourne Fringe Nominee Green Room Award for Best Sound Design, Independent Theatre 2024 & 2025 Nominee Golden Gibbo 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Winner Sound and Technical Excellence Award 2024 Melbourne Fringe Judge's Pick 2023 & 2024 Melbourne Fringe A live comedy experience in surround sound! Con Coutis returns with his inimitable tech wizardry to search for a priceless artefact. To further his career, he’ll need to break in, steal it, make some jokes and get out alive before his parking runs out. Joke Protocol is like being inside a really funny spy movie. To add to the immersion, the show makes use of surround sound and some other tech trickery you'll have to see to believe. ★★★★★ ArtsHub ★★★★★ The Funny Tonne ★★★★★ Lilithia Reviews ★★★★★ Theatre Matters ★★★★ The Age 'There’s no one else, at least that I'm aware of, who is doing what he’s doing with stand-up, storytelling, and tech.' My Melbourne Arts
Melbourne Town Hall
Winner Spirit of the Fringe & Edinburgh Tour Award 2025 Melbourne Fringe Nominee Best Comedy Award 2025 Melbourne Fringe Conk gets on stage and sings the same song on repeat for an hour. That's the show. Which song? You'll have to come and find out.
The Westin
Don’t miss the all-new show from Scotland’s hilarious global break-through stand-up star! GALLUS is Connor Burn's fourth solo hour. A prolific joke writer who’s lightning fast, razor-sharp wit combines with his signature single malt Scottish-level cynicism to help create the perfect storm of brilliant jokes performed by a disarming comedy powerhouse and, now more recently, has seen Connor become a social media star. Connor’s previous smash-hit show 1994 sold 10,000+ tickets in Edinburgh, sold out 2 solo Glasgow King’s Theatre dates and toured worldwide (including 50+ UK shows, 35+ in Australia, 15 shows across Europe and included an off-Broadway run as part of 2024’s New York Comedy Festival). Winner of the prestigious international Fringe Encore Series in both 2025 and 2024, Connor has supported Daniel Sloss in 3 continents and filmed his debut special Vertigo, for world-wide release on the prestigious 800LB Gorilla comedy label. 'Burns has arrived... An authentic Scottish voice. And a gallus one at that' ★★★★ Entertainment-Now.com 'Hugely gifted' BeyondtheJoke.com 'Brilliant... gags coming at you at a terrifying rate... Superb!' ★★★★ The List 'Hilarious... he is fearless and it is wonderful!' ★★★★★ The Scotsman
The Greek
Rock 'n' roll is dead but don't tell Courtney that, she's searching its pockets for the good stuff and bringing it to you. After a lifetime of drug use (caffeine, adrenaline and estrogen) and rock 'n roll antics she's has realised one thing – being trans is pretty rock 'n roll, because the best way to stick it to the man is to become a woman. 'Courtney Maldo really is a comedian of international standards.' ★★★★★ OutInPerth 'Intimate and vibrant... Courtney keeps it real.' ★★★★ Perth Happenings 'Akin to a well-produced punk-rock album.' ★★★★ Hugging Comedians 'Courtney Maldo is a hurricane filled with sunshine.' X-press Magazine 'Razor-sharp humour, laced with defiance and joy… a voice worth hearing.' X-press Magazine
Grouse
Someone accused me of being a little Aussie battler at a party and it didn’t feel like a joke. I’m doing okay though, aren’t I? I guess we'll soon see.
Chinese Museum
Coward Man dazzled and perplexed Naarm audiences at last year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his quirky, unique style of performance filled with endearment, euphoria, laughs and cringe. Armed with a sampler, an effects pad and a computer full of dumb sounds, Coward Man looks to entertain his audience through music, jokes, visual content and storytime.
Grace Darling Hotel
Cowboy C*untry is a Queer line dancing event... or should I say rodeo, for all!Cowboy culture surprisingly (or not) has deep roots in LGBTQ+ culture and deserves to be celebrated. Hosted by Sydney based actor and content creator Kath Ebbs. Kath's passion for line dancing began when they visited Los Angeles, California and were introduced to the rich LGBTQ+ line dancing community. And now they want to bring these magical line dancing roots to Aussie for a special night. The night will consist of four line dancing lessons. It is not compulsory to join the dances if you would rather check out the competition on the side (although heavily encouraged). This event is for all bodies and experience levels. We're just here to have a good time and dance in a safe environment.
Melbourne Town Hall
Cross Continental Comedy is a multicultural stand-up showcase featuring four of Melbourne's fastest rising comedians, each bringing their own unique perspectives and lived experiences to the stage delivering a shared hour of non-stop hilarity! Also featuring special guests from around the Festival each night! Leo is a Parisian who left home for Australia after meeting his girlfriend in Darwin,after all Australia is the real capital of love and light? – at least now that he has arrived from Paris to share his humour. In the end we all share the same struggles in life, Except when you’re French, it’s twice as hard but c’est la vie.Leo will be sure to complain about it. Whether you’re French, Australian or any other nationality, come share a laugh you’ll never forget. After the show, he’s always happy to share a piece of camembert and a glass of wine to discuss the meaning of life.In 2017, Nadun Hetti was just a teenager who left war-torn Sri Lanka and ended up in Australia. Today, he’s one of Australia’s rising comedy stars and an award-winning comedian. In this hour, Nadun shares his unique origin story – from growing up during the Sri Lankan Civil War to navigating life down under. His humour is raw, relatable and unapologetically bold, delivered with sharp punchlines and a dark twist. Yeluselemi is a rising French-Congolese comedian who turns culture clash, migration madness and romantic chaos into pure comedy heat. She started as a poet, but quickly realised stand-up gives louder laughs, fewer tears and way more chances to make Australians laugh every single night.Her come dy blends big energy, sharp punchlines and the kind of stories that make you rethink your life choices… or at least your dating history. Audiences love her mix of French charm and Congolese attitude even if Australia absolutely wasn’t ready for it.Come for the jokes. Stay for the accent. Pray for the dating stories. Mort, our Australian representitive, is a two-time RAW Comedy State Finalist. He has swiftly made a mark on the Melbourne comedy scene, performing alongside household names in Victoria and at Adelaide and Sydney Fringe festivals and selling out several shows at his Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut Snake Eyes in 2025. Disarming you with a somewhat easy going delivery and coastal drawl attributed to his Sunshine Coast upbringing, the now Melbourne-based comic manages to find the ridiculous in the mundane and the silly in the serious, doing so with a disposition that is cheerful, considered and even charming, in a “let him know where the spare house key is because he’s trustworthy and a good landscaper but I wouldn’t want him to marry my daughter” kind of way.Littered with whimsical verbiage and a penchant for nostalgia, Mort has honed his unique take on the art of verbal f#%kery, delivering a comedic style that will no doubt catch you off guard and get you on board tout de suite.
Trainscendence
Cross Continental Comedy is a multicultural stand-up showcase featuring four of Melbourne's fastest rising comedians, each bringing their own unique perspectives and lived experiences to the stage delivering a shared hour of non-stop hilarity! Also featuring special guests from around the Festival each night! Leo is a Parisian who left home for Australia after meeting his girlfriend in Darwin,after all Australia is the real capital of love and light? – at least now that he has arrived from Paris to share his humour. In the end we all share the same struggles in life, Except when you’re French, it’s twice as hard but c’est la vie.Leo will be sure to complain about it. Whether you’re French, Australian or any other nationality, come share a laugh you’ll never forget. After the show, he’s always happy to share a piece of camembert and a glass of wine to discuss the meaning of life.In 2017, Nadun Hetti was just a teenager who left war-torn Sri Lanka and ended up in Australia. Today, he’s one of Australia’s rising comedy stars and an award-winning comedian. In this hour, Nadun shares his unique origin story – from growing up during the Sri Lankan Civil War to navigating life down under. His humour is raw, relatable and unapologetically bold, delivered with sharp punchlines and a dark twist. Yeluselemi is a rising French-Congolese comedian who turns culture clash, migration madness and romantic chaos into pure comedy heat. She started as a poet, but quickly realised stand-up gives louder laughs, fewer tears and way more chances to make Australians laugh every single night.Her come dy blends big energy, sharp punchlines and the kind of stories that make you rethink your life choices… or at least your dating history. Audiences love her mix of French charm and Congolese attitude even if Australia absolutely wasn’t ready for it.Come for the jokes. Stay for the accent. Pray for the dating stories. Mort, our Australian representitive, is a two-time RAW Comedy State Finalist. He has swiftly made a mark on the Melbourne comedy scene, performing alongside household names in Victoria and at Adelaide and Sydney Fringe festivals and selling out several shows at his Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut Snake Eyes in 2025. Disarming you with a somewhat easy going delivery and coastal drawl attributed to his Sunshine Coast upbringing, the now Melbourne-based comic manages to find the ridiculous in the mundane and the silly in the serious, doing so with a disposition that is cheerful, considered and even charming, in a “let him know where the spare house key is because he’s trustworthy and a good landscaper but I wouldn’t want him to marry my daughter” kind of way.Littered with whimsical verbiage and a penchant for nostalgia, Mort has honed his unique take on the art of verbal f#%kery, delivering a comedic style that will no doubt catch you off guard and get you on board tout de suite.
Trainscendence
Kade and Hardy, The Golden Twins, are trying to use comedy to make the world a better place, and they want to start with you, the audience. Join them for an exorcism of your inner demons through the power of laughter. But will they accomplish their goal of purifying everyone in the audience? And if they fail, what will happen to the world as we know it?
The Greek
DADAM is a Melbourne-based duo that specialise in absurdist sketch and musical comedy. Armed with a piano, a guitar and a silly dose of wordplay, the pair strive to explore the strange world of consumerist culture in an ironically detached, slightly satirical, pseudo-intellectual manner. They also dislike 'big words' and 'pretentiousness'.
Club Voltaire
Dahn Rozario turns his first year in London into a hilarious ride through shared flats, bed bugs and everyday absurdities
Caz Reitop's Dirty Secrets
Dahnward Spiral is my brand-new hour about travelling, learning how to live through misery and constantly finding myself in places I clearly don’t belong. From India to bed bugs, animals, culture shocks and bad decisions. It's also a shit pun. ‘Local rising star.’ Time Out ‘Not your typical comedian… he is funny, really funny.' Entertainment Now (UK) ‘There’s no denying that the Aussie-Indian comic’s rough-and-tumble approach has a raw appeal.’ Chortle (UK)
Bar 1806
A fun, fabulous circus adventure with laughs, flips and big camp energy. It’s all about being bold, proud and you! Can the Kumbayas, throw on Queen B and spark more than just the fire. This is your roll call for Camp Culture – an interactive circus show for campers of any age. This is no gammin summer camp. It’s serving up equal parts skill and sass. Hosted by seasoned and completely unqualified camp leader Dale Woodbridge-Brown, proud Kamilaroi man and circus artist from Mungindi. He can’t use a compass but will show that no matter where you come from, there’s always a way to earn your badge for being your most authentic self. From growing up as a Faboriginal kid from the bush to becoming one of Australia’s most prolific circus artists, Dale’s ability to use humour and heart to empower unrepresented voices will leave campers begging to stay just a little longer!
ACMI
Damian Callinan returns to the character narrative genre that has earnt him three nominations for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show. Renowned for this prolific output of live festival and touring shows, he is best known in recent times as the creator and lead of the hit movie The Merger (Amazon Prime), an adaptation of his own solo, character show of the same name. More recently he has been gracing our screens as Frank, the floor manager in The Newsreader (ABC TV) and as the lead, Major Meredith. in the cult hit film The Emu War (Hot Dad Productions). On stage, his acclaimed show Double Feature, where he pitched how his mother’s 1946 diary would play out as a 40’s Hollywood romance, won hearts and a Best Comedy Award at Perth FRINGE WORLD. He’s also been touring the nation with Hall Stories, a community engagement project extracting local stories mixed with his own, to present a loving tribute to the ubiquitous Australian hall. Here, Damian returns to the storytelling roots that he has been honing as the regular host of ‘Stranger than Fiction’ storytelling night at Comedy Republic. Recently widowed, Stan Coates (84), has been told he needs to move into a senior living facility, but he’s not having it. Sharp as a tack, but prone to falls brought on by orthostatic hypotension, he’s taken to wearing a bike helmet and knee pads to obviate the dangers at home. He eventually agrees to the move, but when he learns that he can’t bring his wife’s souvenir teaspoon collection, the deal is off. When his grandson starts filming his hilarious and heart wrenching riffs on the spoons and his scathing reviews of the homes that he’s toured, the clips go viral, and Stan becomes an unlikely poster boy for elder’s rights and aged care reform. Mixing Damian’s precise and relatable characterisations with hilarious monologues and moments of profound pathos, Spoons is a thoughtful examination of what it's like for those who suddenly realise they are part of the fading generation. Laced with sentimentality, black humour and championing of the underdog, you’ll find yourself cheering for Stan and his mates as they keep their dignity as they walk out the door. ‘One of Australia’s best character comedians.’ Herald Sun ‘The Merger is the kind of theatre that makes my life as a theatre-goer worth living. It is a well-crafted play, hilarious and gutsy, charming and dangerous, provocative and subversive. Callinan is a fine playwright and storyteller, and a skilful actor of great depth and complexity.’ ArtsHub ‘Some performances move you with such force they’re in your thoughts well after the theatre lights dim and you’ve left the venue. This is one of them. We laughed, we gasped and wiped tears from our eyes. Memorable, moving, brilliant.’ Adelaide Advertiser
Arts Centre Melbourne
Had an annus horribilis? Damian Cosgriff has and he's keen to share it with you! Live through the year from hell. Is there always someone worse off... ?
Wolfhound on Brunswick
Widely regarded as one of Australia’s best comedians, Damien Power returns to Melbourne with a new hour of comedy. Don’t miss him, off the back of a sold out tour.
Swiss Club
Finally there's a no nonsense TV court judge ready to deliberate, solve and sass a live audience. Damien Vosk in wig, heels and the iconic robe transforms on stage with his bailiff Nicky Lah and jazz accompaniment to settling small claims with big laughs. Bring your relationship woes, embarrassing neighbour disputes and office scandals. Judge Jazz Judy will call it like she sees it, delivering verdicts that are equal parts ruthless and ridiculous. Expect savage wit, scandalous revelations and an evening where everyone will be judged by Judy!
Trainscendence
Winner Best of the Fest Award 2025 Sydney Comedy FestivalWinner Directors' Choice Award 2025 Melbourne International Comedy FestivalSelected – New Faces of Comedy 2025 Just For Laughs Montreal You probably already know me from reading the news. In 2018, I dressed up as a sewing needle and hid inside a strawberry. There should be a French word for the moment you realise a bald dude actually has a ponytail. I'm so used to failure that success represents an existential threat. Welcome to the failure laboratory.'His mind works like no other.' ★★★★★ Chortle (UK)'These gags are pearlers.' ★★★★ The Guardian'Genius and insanity… a truly brilliant writer.' ★★★★ The Scotsman (UK)'Book yesterday.' ★★★★ The Age
Swiss Club
Winner 2022 BBC New Comedy Award Winner Winner 2022 British Comedian of the Year Winner Nominee Best Newcomer Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023 Winner Best Newcomer ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023 Nominee Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 Dan Tiernan is back at it again – and this time he’s got magic rocks in his pocket. With a hat trick of sold-out Edinburgh shows under his belt, Dan is a double-Edinburgh award nominee who has received countless five star reviews. There’s no wonder The Guardian has named him “One of Comedy's Most Distinctive New Voices”. Dan returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival armed with an amethyst, a bucket full of sage and a rose quartz the size of his impossibly large head. And if that isn't otherworldly enough, he'll be delivering his most ambitious hour of stand-up to date. As seen on Live at the Apollo, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Count Down, The Last Leg, QI, Just for Laughs New Faces and Mitchell and Webb are Not Helping. 'One of the most compelling voices in stand up to have emerged in years.' ★★★★★ The Daily Mail (UK) 'The real deal.' ★★★★★ The List (UK) 'Dan Tiernan provides an hour of unrelenting laughter, and the promise of an astonishing career in comedy ahead.' ★★★★★ The Skinny (UK) 'He’s in such utter command.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Gloriously original and very charismatic.' ★★★★ One4Review (UK) 'A loud, inventive, viscerally funny investigation of male mental health on the wonk… it’s a blast.' ★★★★ The Times (UK) 'A wild ride... mercurial talent.' ★★★★ The Scotsman 'Crude comedy with a big payoff is stand-up’s best yet.' ★★★★ The Guardian (UK) 'His show is really something to shout about.' ★★★★ Evening Standard (UK) 'It’s hard to overstate the extent to which Dan Tiernan owns a room.' ★★★★ Fest Mag (UK) 'The late night, edgy comedian you have to see... an unmissable hour.' ★★★★ Edinburgh Review 'Cleverly constructed, skilfully executed and has his audience in stitches.' ★★★★ West End Best Friend 'Beautifully comedic.' ★★★★ Binge Fringe 'His brutal honesty has the audience enthralled.' ★★★★ Scottish Field 'The stand-up world's Tasmanian devil.' Loaded Magazine (UK)
The Greek
All the killer punchlines, crowd favourites and greatest hits from Dane’s 10-year stand-up career. No fillers, just back-to-back laughs – the ultimate ‘best of’ collection, live on stage. 'Dane had me laughing so hard I had a hard time holding back tears of joy. Whatever you take from this review, please follow him!' ★★★★★ Theatre Matters 'Side splitting down to earth humour… how often do you go to a comedy show where you laugh until your sides hurt?' ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide'One of the most personable comedians in Australia… optimistic, upbeat and effortlessly charming.' Chortle (UK)As seen on Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Just For Laughs and Amazing Race Celebrity Edition.
The Victoria Hotel
Award-winning stand-up Daniel Connell (as seen on Have You Been Paying Attention?) returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a brand-new show. Book now as this show will sell-out. 'A comedic masterpiece.' Onya Magazine Hi there, Daniel here, the above paragraph is true, I am coming back to Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2026 with a brand-new show. If you haven't already made plans between 26 March and 19 April, perhaps I could interest you in a night out at my comedy show? It'll go for about an hour, and be held in a nice venue. I'll do all the talking. All you need to do is sit there and watch, pretty sweet. Here's the things you'd need to organise on your end: – Ask a friend or multiple friends if they're keen to see some comedy. (Talk me up if they're on the fence. Not too much though) – Book ticket/s – If needed, organise a babysitter. You're probably looking at 6pm–9.30pm. (Or send them for a sleepover if you're getting loose) – See who wants to grab dinner before/or after the show. (I'd eat before personally, then you can piss on post show) – See if anyone wants to drive you in? Or get the train/an Uber – Get to the venue 10mins early – Sit down – Phone on silent – Jacket off. (the rooms can get a bit warm) – Clap – Laugh – Clap – Leave – Piss on – Roll in at 3am the following morning
Swiss Club
Daniel was determined to handle his big breakup with the grace of Julia Roberts. He didn’t. Join him as he navigates dating in your 30s, Le Creuset addiction and 12-step skincare routines, all while trying very hard to emanate love and light. Described by Rolling Stone as "utterly hilarious and effortlessly charismatic", award-winning stand-up Daniel is best known for his viral comedy videos, which are enjoyed by millions of women and gays online. His critically-acclaimed debut show Villain toured internationally, including a sell-out run at New York’s SoHo Playhouse and London's legendary Clapham Grand. He co-hosts the podcast Welcome To Hell with fellow comic Dane Buckley, which debuted in Apple and Spotify's Top 10 comedy charts, and he is the author of the hit book Bedtime Stories for Privileged Children. ‘Utterly hilarious and effortlessly charismatic.’ ★★★★★ Rolling Stone 'Relentlessly hilarious.' ★★★★★ Broadway World (UK) 'A supremely gifted comic.' ★★★★★ North West End (UK) ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ The List (UK)
Trades Hall
They say you can’t put lipstick on a pig. Well call the Guinness Book of Records, 'cause I did it and she’s a sexy little sow. This show is not about that, I just wanted to let you know that it can be done, and the results are absolutely stunning. You may have seen me on Taskmaster, Gold Diggers, Thank God You’re Here or a bunch of other shows if you are partial to free to air TV. I’ve also won some bigtime comedy awards if you care about that stuff. I’ve won Raw Comedy, Best Newcomer at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Pinder Prize and been nominated for Most Outstanding Show.
The Westin
Two friends discover something strange in their sharehouse. Then even stranger things begin to happen... Ross Purdy (2022 Golden Gibbo nominated comedian) and Danni Robinson (The Improv Pit) combine shared experiences in comedy, improv and theatre for their debut narrative/sketch comedy collaboration.
Trainscendence
A night of laughs to raise money for the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Featuring some of the best comedians, this will be a glorious night for the worthiest of causes!
The Victoria Hotel
A seasoned performer whose shows have been described as "devastatingly effective" (Chortle. UK), Dave is back with a brand-new hour of stand-up, focusing on the small things that frustrate him and the large things that get on top of him… more or less. Dave played to audiences all over the country last year and continues to garner fans with his accessible, grounded comedy. Maybe you’ve seen him on Sam Pang Tonight, The Cheap Seats, hosting The Big Trip or really stretching his acting chops as Troy in Upper Middle Bogan on Netflix. Come and check out a performer who’s spent almost half of his life doing what he loves. With his stand-up clips routinely getting millions of views online, you’re gonna love More or Less. 'An hour of quick wit and cheery anecdotes.' ★★★★ The Age ★★★★½ Adelaide Advertiser ★★★★★ The Scotsman
The Victoria Hotel
Dave Woodhead is a big fella. How big, you ask?If you Google his name, the top question is “How tall is Dave Woodhead?”Followed closely by “How much does Dave Woodhead weigh?” Don’t trust the internet! Find all the answers you’re looking for when Woodhead makes his grand return to Melbourne International Comedy Festival! Host of triple j Lunch, Dave Woodhead is an acclaimed writer and actor. Credits include Get Krack!n’, Preppers, The Moth Effect and AACTA Award-nominated sketch series Black Comedy. 'Watch this space. I suspect we are watching a future comedy stalwart.' Adelaide Advertiser
Coopers Inn
David Correos always thought he knew who he was – a loud weird kid from Christchurch who could eat anything. But now he’s untangling a family history that includes suspected communists, secret children and a karaoke machine’s worth of cooked memories.
The Greek
A new opus from the hairy Enya, the Ryanair Bublé, the nine volt battery-powered Beethoven. Talking, songs, talking during songs, talking while walking around – it’s got the lot. Star of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), Live At The Apollo (BBC) and host of the What Did You Do Yesterday? podcast. ‘An unexpected, cathartic set that leaves the audience in tears of laughter.’ ★★★★★ The Irish Times
Melbourne Town Hall
A new opus from the hairy Enya, the Ryanair Bublé, the nine volt battery-powered Beethoven. Talking, songs, talking during songs, talking while walking around – it’s got the lot. Star of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), Live At The Apollo (BBC) and host of the What Did You Do Yesterday? podcast. ‘An unexpected, cathartic set that leaves the audience in tears of laughter.’ ★★★★★ The Irish Times
Melbourne Town Hall
We are in the process of moving this show to a larger venue. More tickets will be available on Monday afternoon. Thank you. The chart-topping, hit comedy podcast What Did You Do Yesterday? where people talk about what they did yesterday (yes, that’s it!) is coming to Melbourne for a live show! Join your hosts Max Rushden and David O’Doherty as they welcome a special guest to discuss their yesterday in hilariously forensic detail.
Melbourne Town Hall
The grizzly crime really took its toll on me, I have to say. It's been difficult, because until August last year I was the most famous from Porepunkah.
Coopers Inn
It's us versus them. It's the forces of light versus the armies of darkness. It's vegans versus pastrami shops. Or... is it all a bit of a joke? A stand-up show about bringing us closer while we tear ourselves apart. Join David Rose as he unpacks our collective insanity and proves that really, we're all in this together. 'A sharp joke-writer and solid performer.' Chortle (UK) 'His banter is confident and smooth.' ★★★★½ Glam Adelaide 'Comedy wunderkind.' Theatre Haus
Bar 1806
An electrifying one man show for book worms and guitar nerds! Pinky von Sox is the unwitting lead character in a series of wildly popular novels by the world-renowned, best-selling, brilliantly-brilliant author David P. Tieck Jr. Over dozens of novels, Pinky has been an international spy, a big time lawyer, a pool boy and even a romantic lead. But now, Pinky has been thrown into the deepest of dusty holes yet: a live comedy show that has yet to be written! How will he get out of this one? Fear not! Every night a brand-new novel will be written, performed and narrated live before your very eyes. ★★★★½ Good Reads “David P. Tieck Jr. can be ostentatious in ways that David Tieck Regular cannot.” David Tieck Regular Winner Thornbury's 2nd Best Dad Bod 2019 Directed by Sharnema Nougar (Mel McGlensey is MOTORBOAT & NORMAL, Sugar Bits are FEMINIST TRASH, Gemma Caruana's RAGE BAIT) 'Monty Python energy, but with an Australian edge.' ★★★★★ The List (UK) 'Loosely performed... tenuously thought out.' ★★★★ Fest Mag (UK) 'Sheer madness... the fun kind of madness.' Weekend Notes 'Legally recognised as having a physical stature of essential perfection.' David Tieck for Herald Sun
Trainscendence
Not your grandma's Bingo. You decide the winner of this (loosely based off Bingo) game show! Watch as two teams (of Melbourne's funniest improvisers) go head to head in this unscripted and unhinged improv comedy show.
Trainscendence
Melbourne, 2026 is about to be your Swiftie Era. You’ve watched the Eras Tour, you’ve listened to all 11 albums and you’ve probably had at least 13 fights while defending the queen herself, but have you spent an hour on a random teen’s Livestream, breaking down every minute detail about he TCU (Taylor Cinematic Universe)? A one-man comedy show by a self-confessed ultimate Swiftie, #SwiftTok is the brainchild of performer Dean Robinson. And with a raft of performances and glowing reviews under his belt, he is bringing his hilarious performance to Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Fresh from successful seasons at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Perth’s FRINGE WORLD and Newcastle Fringe, Dean is bringing his high-energy comedy and pop culture insight back to Melbourne. #SwiftTok is a deepdive into the hilarity of online stan culture, the TikTok generation and above all is a true celebration of Taylor Swift. Get in the 'Getaway Car' and let Dean take you on a journey through the eras, the highs and lows, the good and the bad and of course all of the 'Sad Beautiful Tragic' moments of teenage hood. Dean is Melbourne-based writer and performer, with sold out seasons of past cabaret The Date and Peter Pan: A Twinkle In Time and has worked as a performer in a variety of musicals, cabarets and plays. Dean premiered this show at Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2024, followed up by FRINGE WORLD in Perth last year and is coming fresh from Newcastle Fringe Festival. So drop everything now and I have one question left still… are you ready for it?
Grace Darling Hotel
Fit in or f#%k off they say? One immigrant’s chaotic, heartfelt and hilariously bogan journey through Australia. From drinking VB to perfecting the art of saying “mate”, he’s doing everything he can to belong – without losing himself. A bold, cheeky poke at prejudice, identity and the absurd pressure to “fit in”, delivered with full-throttle laughter.
Captain Melville
Hot off the heels of his award-nominated show Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip, Demi Adejuyigbe returns with a brand-new interactive hour of unpredictable songs, clownish bits and tight jokes, featuring surprise special guests.
The Greek
Dilruk Jayasinha confidently claims his superpower is “gratitude”. But after taking a break from touring last year, he realised he has actually spent most of the last few years whinging about his life. To be fair, his heart attack off the back of a global pandemic, sprinkled with a hearty serve of heartache from a breakup, are reasonable ingredients for a solid sook. But in spite of being single and alone at 40, and as the surgeries and visits to ER seem to keep coming, he is desperately trying to focus more on what’s going right in his life so he can return to being the GOAT (gratefullest of all time)! Dilruk Jayasinha has appeared on Utopia and Celebrity MasterChef Australia and filmed a stand-up special for Amazon Prime. ★★★★ Time Out
The Victoria Hotel
Melbourne’s most fabulous double act, Dolly Diamond and Skank Sinatra, are teaming up for a cabaret catastrophe of epic proportions and it’s going to be the funniest musical comedy failure you’ve ever seen. The Performers follows down-on-their-luck cabaret producers Dolly Diamond and Skank Sinatra as they hatch a scheme to save themselves from unpaid Edinburgh Fringe tax bills by producing a surefire flop. But when their “guaranteed disaster” turns out to be a surprise success, chaos, comedy and showtunes ensue. Expect dazzling costumes, razor-sharp banter, and musical parodies of Broadway’s biggest hits as these two cabaret icons do everything in their power not to succeed. Diamond: “It has to be a write-off.” Skank: “Let’s not sell a single ticket.” Spoiler alert: they’ll still bring the house down. *This show is not loosely based on any musical, whatsoever.
Grouse
Ignite young imaginations and nurture a lifelong love of science with Science Magic, a high-energy, interactive comedy experience designed for children aged 5 to 12. Created and performed by a comedian and zoologist who has delighted audiences in over 20 countries, this show combines clever science tricks with laugh-out-loud moments, all using everyday objects kids can find at home. Each performance demystifies scientific concepts, encouraging children to see themselves as budding scientists who can experiment, explore and discover on their own. Science Magic is more than entertainment, it’s an accessible gateway to curiosity and learning, priced affordably so that every child, regardless of background, can experience the wonder of science. Let’s inspire the next generation of scientists by showing them that magic is real – when you understand the science behind it! 'This show is a must-see for kids who love science and mess, and a must-see for kids who think science is boring – Donal will prove them wrong.' ★★★★★ Play & Go Adelaide 'Completely engaging with belly laughs included, it’s an unmissable show.' ★★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser 'Refreshing to see great stunts and to hear about the science of how they work.' ★★★★ The Clothesline 'There is a lot of mess. And plenty of good, solid science too.' ★★★★ One4Review (UK)
ACMI
Many people know Douglas Lim for his comedic commentary about all things Malaysian. They know his thoughts about politics, social norms, traditions, food, etc… They know this because he’s been talking about it for the last 18 years! But what about his personal story? His half naked debut in theatre? His misadventures in the world of TV and film? His testosterone level? VITAL STATS is Douglas Lim’s brand-new show for 2026. And after 18 years of stand-up comedy, he’s ready to talk about himself. It will be funny. It will be surprising. It will be personal.
Melbourne Town Hall
Sketch comedy quacks Dr. Duck are back with a brand-new show. Catch Aly, Andrew, Clinton, Ian, Marie and Tamsin back on stage for the first time in four years.
Trainscendence
Latency Entertainment presents Drunk and Disorderly! Coming straight from a successful run of shows at the world renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe, join us for a boozy stand-up comedy lineup show featuring some of Melbourne International Comedy Festival's best comedians telling dark, daring and dangerously funny jokes, that pair best with liberal libations. Hilarious, thought provoking and a damn good time, this is one comedy lineup show that you don't want to miss.
Trainscendence
Eben spent the last decade crafting the most perfect show, then ate some dodgy fruit and forgot it all. This is a tribute to that show, co-written by Jack Black (probably). Eben is a multi-awarded performer who launched Thorny Devil Theatre at Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2011 to a sell-out season and critical acclaim. Eben was then awarded Exceptional Emerging Artist funding to relocate to the US and work with an international theatre company on developing several shows to tour the globe. After 'emerging' and having clocked the artistic world, Eben did what no one – especially Jack Black – ever expected: he retreated from his artistic pursuits to pursue his dream job of sitting behind a desk and complaining about a sore neck from time to time. Now, a decade later, Eben and Thorny Devil Theatre are making a triumphant re-emergence into the artistic world, via a cellar venue under a pub. This show promises to make you laugh, cry, and... hopefully laugh more than you cry. Scribbler is a culmination of years of writings, conversations and experiences come to life. No two shows will be the same, so make sure you buy tickets for the whole run.
Grace Darling Hotel
Nominee Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 As seen on Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (ABC) and Comedy Central’s Roast Battle (Comedy Central) Underrated, pathetic wretch Ed Night returns with a sizzling new hour of mischievous, self-aware and utterly gratifying comedy. Following sold-out runs at Edinburgh Fringe and London’s Soho Theatre, the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show Nominee shares endearing tales of the fragile and penniless adulthood experience, including rent haggling, cheap coffee and eccentric grandparents with a penchant for multi-purpose biscuit tins. Chortle Award Nominee 2025 (Chortle), Shows Not to Miss in 2025 (The I Paper), The Best Live Comedy of 2025 (The Telegraph), 12 Stand Out Shows of the Edinburgh Fringe (Rolling Stone) ‘This is comedy as poetry... so good it seems effortless.’ ★★★★ London Evening Standard ‘Thrilling and original... so dense with ideas, laughs and observations you'll want to go back again.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman ‘Exhilarating... masterfully funny.’ ★★★★ The Times (UK) ‘Had me roaring.’ ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) ‘A singular talent who very much deserves a place on everyone's must-see list.’ ★★★★ The Skinny (UK) 'So bleakly funny on the lack of future prospects for his generation that you felt winded.' The Guardian (UK)
The Westin
Elaine Crombie is journeying though a grief season that's packed with all the favourites – tjamu, Nana, Mum, Dad and NannyGirl, like wtf! Come along and see some powerpoints of a very cute brownie, a chlorine bleached swimmer and listen to some tunes and complaints from a woman forever changed by stage left exits.
Melbourne Town Hall
A show about a girl who watched 2010 romantic comedy The Switch starring Jason Bateman and finds that the men in St Kilda are nothing like Jason!
Theory Bar
Winner Best Comedy 2024 Sydney Fringe Please join Elliot for an evening of pleasantries and prose. He has written a book just for you. Now, hear it from the horse's mouth. After a sold-out debut run at the 2025 Melbourne and Sydney Comedy Festivals, Elliot Ulm returns with his award-winning blend of graphic design and comedy. Elliot will be signing copies of his book, so please ensure you bring a copy of his book so he can sign it on the front page for you (the book does not exist).
Trades Hall
Nominee Best Newcomer Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 Winner Director’s Choice Award 2024 Sydney Comedy Festival Winner Best International Act 2025 New Zealand International Comedy Festival Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2025 Adelaide Fringe Winner Comedy Innovation Award 2025 New Zealand International Comedy Festival Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2025 Perth FRINGE WORLD To be desired is currency. To desire is a liability. Australia’s First Attractive Comedian is back! Award-winning, critically-acclaimed, smart, sexy, successful, talented – but all of this comes at a cost. Elouise has never been in love. It’s time to enter Aphrodite’s discotheque, where the Goddess of Love takes you through a Studio 54/Mount Olympus fever dream and she can hopefully teach all of us a thing or two about the ultimate trophy ‘love’ (if it even exists). Join Elouise as she explores the concept of loving men but hating them, modern dating vs ancient dating, women’s sexual liberation vs purity and trying to still be a good little 2nd generation Greek Macedonian girl while also being an empowered and independent woman. This is part two of a sexy, silly, feminist trilogy but is this show a Greek comedy or tragedy? You’ll just have to wait and see x 'She’s a feminist, fembot and fully fledged superstar.’ ★★★★★ Time Out ‘Refreshing, upending, laugh out loud funny.’ ★★★★ The Times (UK) ‘Empowered confident, sassy, smart, funny, relevant, sexy.’ ★★★★★★ Stage Whispers ‘Wickedly amusing and original.’ ★★★★ The Guardian (UK)
Arts Centre Melbourne
Tales from a Little Laughing Lesbian is an electrifying one-woman show packed with stand-up, improv and clowning, all delivered through Em’s signature energy and joy. From therapy to parenting, marriage to motorbikes, no topic is off-limits in this hilarious journey of self-discovery. Uplifting, bold and wildly funny, this is a show for everyone (yes, even non-lesbians!). So, are you ready to laugh, reflect and maybe even see yourself in a whole new way? Audiences from the UK tour described the evening as “funny, warm and thought-provoking”, with many saying they “didn’t want it to end”. Another audience member said they left feeling “inspired and life-affirmed”, while another shared that they were “face aching from watching the audience participation”. Em Stoud is proud to be coming over to Melbourne International Comedy Festival from the UK. She has been performing for over 20 years and has done two TEDx talks (one as a banana) as well as writing the book Lessons From a Clown. She has performed all across the UK and Edinburgh Festival as part of her own impro group and part of Improbotics. An uplifting and very funny show about how being brave and taking yourself out of your comfort zone will help you discover who you really are and how from there you can do anything. Straight from a UK national tour! (Yes I am a Pom! My wife is a Melboune local!) Directed by Didi Hopkins (who's worked with Eddie Izzard and Miles Jupp).
Queen Victoria Women's Centre
Deadbeat Academy with the one and only Emilie Biggar! Welcome to Deadbeat Academy, the only show in Australia dedicated to dissecting and publicly roasting one of our nation’s most common disappearing acts – absent fathers. Leading the charge is Sergeant Emilie Biggar, a deaf/hard of hearing, single mum, survivor, RPPFM Radio host and the woman who turned fleeing domestic violence into a full-blown comedy act. Sergeant Biggar went from dodging deadbeats to drilling them live onstage, but this time with military precision. During this powerhouse show, she will break down the science of selective responsibility and why some men can use a compass, but still can’t find their own children. With gorgeous wit, raw honesty and a battlefield grade of resilience, Sergeant Biggar transforms her lived chaos into a laugh loaded masterclass on survival and the women who show up when men don’t. It’s raw, hilarious and deeply relatable from one single mum to another, saluting the women doing it all and still looking sexy doing it. Fall in line, or fall for her.
Grace Darling Hotel
Nominee Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023 Nominee Best Club Comedian Chortle Awards 2023 As seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC), Qi (BBC) and Celebrity Mastermind (BBC). Emmanuel Sonubi survived heart failure and lived to… write a show about it! Following a sold-out run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK comedy powerhouse and two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns to Melbourne with an hilarious and heartfelt show. A deeply personal, refreshingly honest and outrageously funny take on life after surviving heart failure, facing the cause of trauma and finding unexpected comedy in life's toughest moments. One of the UK’s most in-demand comedians, Emmanuel Sonubi seamlessly blends earnest stories and big laughs, with an unstoppable energy and razor-sharp wit. Don’t miss your chance to see this masterclass live in Melbourne! ‘Big laughs, engaging tales, you’re seduced by the easy authority of his storytelling.’ The Guardian (UK) ‘A natural, this stand-up is going to be big!’ ★★★★ The Times (UK) ‘This man has funny bones.’ ★★★★ Evening Standard (UK)
Melbourne Town Hall
Nominee Best Newcomer 2025 Melbourne International Comedy FestivalWinner Best Eat & Drink Award 2024 Adelaide FringeWinner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2024 Perth FRINGE WORLDWinner Critics’ Choice Weekly Award 2024 Perth FRINGE WORLDWinner Best Comedy Dunedin Fringe 2023 Coming in hot from a world tour and a Las Vegas residency in 2025, comedian and serial renter Ethan Cavanagh returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his critically-acclaimed hour of solo stand-up. This hilarious hour of freshly renovated gags has been re-painted, re-grouted and is ready for inspection. As well as obliterating Ethan’s prospects of home ownership, Bond, Lost My Bond promises an hour of laughs, with material covering everything from serial killers to property managers (same difference, let’s be honest), plus a smattering of Venn diagrams for the PowerPoint fans. Ethan is fast becoming known by audiences for his trademark polished style and fast-paced delivery, and by landlords as “a little hostile”. This is your chance to catch him before he becomes hotter property than an unairconditioned sharehouse in December. 'Charmingly silly.' ★★★★ The Age'A laugh-out-loud, genuinely impressive and extremely engaging example of great storytelling.' ★★★★½ Beat Magazine'It won’t take much more exposure before Cavanagh is a household name and a global hot property,' ★★★★½ Theatre Matters'Made a pregnant woman laugh so hard during his gig that her waters broke.' Chortle (UK)
The Victoria Hotel
Ethel Chop was born sometime and has been around a lot longer. After sharing her unique wisdom on telly and the wireless, Australia’s best loved octogenarian is back with a brand-new blouse. Tina is Australia’s much-loved nightingale. With comedic wit that could shred brie and a voice as smooth as honey, her talents have hugged the globe to wild acclaim, garnishing her iconic. Together they are delighted to entertain you for a solid hour. Both have many accolades. Google them to find out. Then buy a ticket to relish them in person. 'A perfect pairing. No other show at this year’s Fringe has made me laugh as constantly and consistently! Wholeheartedly recommended!' Comedy Judges Pick 2025 Melbourne Fringe 'Excellent comic timing.' The Age 'Sidesplitting... hilarious.' Sunday Times
The Westin
It’s Fadzri Rashid’s third year at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, but this time, he’s pulling back the curtain. In his brand-new hour, Growing Pains, Fadzri gets real, raw and ridiculously funny as he traces the journey from his mischievous childhood in Malacca to the bearded menace of comedy he is today. Expect big laughs, honest confessions and stories that hit you right in the feels. Come find out what shaped the man behind the mic, and why every stumble, heartbreak and awkward young-adult moment was worth it. Growing up is painful… but at least he made it hilarious.
Melbourne Town Hall
Nominee Best International Act 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival Nominee Best Acting in a Comedy 2025 AACTA Awards Nominee Best Comedy Show 2028 Edinburgh Festival Fringe As seen on Dancing with the Stars,The Office Australia and Live at the Apollo, Felicity Ward is coming out of her shell, and she’s been doing just fine. Divorce. Bisexuality. The Paso Doble. It’s been quite the year. I WISH I COULD COME OUT OF MY SHELL is about how this bonafide showpony’s greatest gift is that she simply cannot shut tf up. 'If you could find space between great big snorting exhortations of comic laughter, you would surely gasp.' ★★★★★ The List (UK) 'The strongest single hour of solid jokes comes from Felicity Ward… in a rolling, ballsy, crazy show that draws near-standing ovations.' ★★★★★ The Times (UK)
Trades Hall
When reality has reached the height of lameness, it's up to Australia's dumbest observational comedian to set everything straight in the world. After slinging his own whacky style of jokes for years, Felix McCarthy has squeezed the best of his comedic essence into a debut show for Melbourne International Comedy Festival (and he's keeping the pulp). If you thought stand-up comedy has nothing more to say about the weird reality we inhabit, Felix proves we've only scratched the surface, and there's a lot of funny in the dullness of our lives that's still yet to be joked about. (Warning: Your favourite snack in the grocery aisle may be the subject of intense ridicule and scrutiny. Felix does not care whether it's your favourite.)
Club Voltaire
BOY dives headfirst into the chaotic, hilarious and often awkward journey of growing up as a boy. From schoolyard misadventures and early crushes to the strange rules of masculinity and dodgy teen decisions, Fergus brings his sharp wit and warm storytelling to the weird world of boyhood. With honest reflections, big laughs and a few cringe moments, BOY is a heartfelt, high-energy hour about finding your way as a man – whatever that means. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the jokes. It’s boyhood, but funnier. Heard on the podcast On It Off It. 'Top comedian.' Daily Mail (UK)
Trades Hall
Eighteen Lives (祖宗十八代) is a darkly funny, poetic comedy about the people we keep meeting again and again, across centuries, across lives. Three performers travel through six eras of Chinese history, from ancient dynasties to modern-day Melbourne, where past and present lives overlap in unexpected, hilarious and heartbreaking ways. Blending physical theatre, bilingual dialogue and absurd humour, Eighteen Lives explores reincarnation, identity and desire – how we love, lose and find each other, over and over again. Performed in both Chinese and English, with English surtitles throughout.No prior knowledge of Chinese history required, just curiosity and an open heart.
Explosives Factory
First Nations Headliners is a powerhouse comedy showcase spotlighting the sharpest First Nations comics from across the country. Each performer brings their own voice, perspective and punchlines to the stage, weaving cultural pride with laugh‑out‑loud storytelling. This lineup celebrates artists who are not only headlining rooms but also redefining the comedy scene with fresh energy and fearless humour. Audiences can expect a night of boundary‑pushing sets, quick wit and unforgettable characters, as rising stars deliver routines that balance tradition, resilience and contemporary bite. More than just entertainment, this showcase is a cultural moment, a chance to see First Nations talent leading from the front, commanding the spotlight and proving that comedy is a powerful tool for connection and truth. With each headliner on the rise, First Nations Headliners is both a celebration of today’s trailblazers and a glimpse into the future of Australian comedy.
Chinese Museum
Winner Best Newcomer 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025 Moosehead Recipient Winner Best Actor 2025 Sydney WebFest Welcome to Frankie McNair’s unhinged stand-up hour packed with their favourite gags – some new, some classics you can sing along to like karaoke. After a lifetime of anxiety, CPTSD and low self-esteem (wild for someone whose eye colour changes between green and blue right?!) Frankie is done making themselves small. So, whenever self-doubt creeps in, they ask themself “What would someone with a huge ass do?” A chaotic love letter to resilience, delusional optimism and trying to become the ass you want to see in the world. Frankie McNair (she/they) is an award-winning comedian, actor, screenwriter and self described kind hearted himbo. Frankie has appeared on Thank God You're Here, Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe and Most Upsetting Guessing Game. Frankie creates work that is incredibly silly, driven by a love of chaos and a desire to uplift fellow li'l freaks. ‘A comedy festival hit.’ ★★★★ The Age ‘A show for those who like their comedy on the ridiculous and weird side.’ ★★★★ Upside Adelaide ‘McNair is a bona fide star in the making.’ ★★★★★ The Comic's Comic
The Victoria Hotel
The Fuccbois are the world’s biggest boyband. They’ve sold more tickets and broken more hearts than anyone, but now it’s time to say goodbye to their frosted tips forever; they’re done. With their record label demanding one last show, Brendan, Brandon, Tyler and Also Brendan will pelvic thrust their way through their back catalogue… providing their professional and personal rivalries don’t derail it all. From ARIA award-winning writer Bridie Connell, FUCCBOIS: LIVE IN CONCERT is a massive comedy-boyband-extravaganza. It’s an irreverent satire of toxic dating culture, but most importantly the music is banging. 'Perhaps the most fun you’ll ever have in a theatre...this is a show destined for big things.' ★★★★½ State of the Arts 'A glitzy, camp and hilarious pop extravaganza.' ★★★★ Time Out 'Fucc me, Bridie Connell is an exceptional talent.' Broadway World (UK)
Arts Centre Melbourne
Being mixed race is special and unique? Yes but Gajen Nad said there's a dark side to it, expecially growing up in the '90s. Wait, who is Gajen Nad? A Malaysian Chindian (Chinese-Indian mix) who has a Netflix comedy special. Ok back to the show content... Having spent a lot of time at family gatherings, he realised every Indian family has a HR director and job expectations have increased massively. Fun fact, he is a massive toilet enthusiast as he is a regular visitor but does he prefer manual or automated water taps? Watch to find out. Malaysians, including Gajen himself, love replying a thank you with a thank you and there is a reason why. Apart from that, he also explains the biggest privilage that was taken away from us adults. In Malaysia, Gajen emcees and performs for a lot of corporate events because he can't sell out a big theatre yet. There was once he had to go through a sustainability interview. He ends this special by sharing a big communication skills tip. This is a global Malaysian Chindian comedy special show! Recently perfomed in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Oh, by the way, this is Gajen Nad's debut at Melbourne International Comedy Festival (after 14 years of doing stand-up comedy). Come and watch lah! (100% new material, none repeated from Netflix comedy special Professional Mixed Breed)
Trades Hall
After surviving hospital stays, a sick cat, and a nerve-wracking stint on Dancing with the Stars Gearóid Farrelly heads to Melboune with his new show, No Pressure. In this candid and hilarious hour, he unpacks the chaos of modern life with his trademark wit. Gearóid reflects on the absurdities of life, the challenges of self-care, and the joy of embracing imperfection. “A solid and consistent hour of great standup” Three Weeks “An Incredible performer” Broadway Baby “Bloody hilarious” Sarah Millican “My absolute favourite” Joanne McNally
Trades Hall
Geelong's big night of laughs during Melbourne International Comedy Festival. There'll be local stars, international comedians and television personalities. Headed to Geelong for the Gala show is a big lineup of comedians, including Nicky Barry (MC), Michael Williams, Luke Morris, Lehmo (Utopia, Have You Been Paying Attention?) plus many more to announce.
The Old Courthouse Theatre
Gen Fricker (Question Everything, Have You Been Paying Attention?, triple j) is a woman in search of a good time. Too bad the world is ending. A brand-new, hilarious yet gloriously futile hour of stand-up and stories from Radio Today’s 9th Funniest Woman on Radio (2018). 'Genevieve Fricker is a genius.' Herald Sun 'Down to earth and sweet, but there’s always a bite at the end of every joke.' Louder Magazine
Storyville Melbourne
A comedy show with champagne. A champagne tasting with comedy. A fast, funny and fizzy ride through the myths, marketing and madness of champagne. Join rogue wine-lover and recovering marketing executive Gene Blackley for a blind tasting of five sparkling suspects and discover what’s hype, what’s true and why it still makes us all feel fabulous. Laugh, learn and leave a little smugger than you arrived. And maybe just a bit tipsy.
Askal
Nominee Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2017 Nominee Best Musical Comedy Show 2018 Leicester Comedy Festival In 2020, George Rigden was roundly (and rightly) cancelled, and his life fell apart. In 2025, he was finally diagnosed with autism, finally sobered up – and began to put his life back together. Now, more than half a decade on from his life falling apart, he’s finally stable (and sober) enough to talk about it. An interactive musical comedy show about attempted redemption, coming to understand yourself and self-improvement, while also staying true to yourself. A hilarious, heart-wrenching musical romp through the life of someone who’s been to hell and back through their own self-destructibe tendencies, and lived to tell the tale. (It's funnier than it sounds. A lot funnier.) ‘A fine, wretched persona.’ Chortle (UK) ‘Deliciously dark.’ Beyond The Joke ★★★★ The List (UK) ★★★★ The Wee Review (UK)
Limerick Arms
Georgie dives headfirst into life’s absurdities, finding comedy, chaos and heart in the most unexpected people and places. Bold, quirky and completely authentic, her adventures are a story you’ll laugh at, cheer for and leave thinking: “of course she did that.”
Bard's Apothecary
In 2023, I moved to the jungles of Costa Rica to do drugs and try to find God. I was mostly hanging out with a bunch of German professional poker players who would play poker online all night and then drink beer on the beach all day. It was pretty rad, but not very spiritual. A year later, one of them had a baby who didn’t sleep for six months (he should have stayed on the beach). Anyway, this show is a collection of stories about trying to find God, curing anxiety and calming that inner voice in your head that says, “What would happen if I pushed a trolley full of dog food in front of a tram?”
Coopers Inn
Award-winning musical comedian Gillian Cosgriff is here to talk about life. Not just her life. Not just your life. Life as a concept. And time. As a concept. We’re living in an age of relentless productivity, where every second should be optimised. We’re also outsourcing our questions to technology more than ever. But you know who has lived experience of being alive? Other people! The world is constantly offering us ways to save time, but no one is clear on what you’re supposed to do with saved time. Store it? Compound the interest? Buy a temporal beach house for your retirement? And if time heals everything why do we have penicillin? With original songs, existential questions and the kind of clever, lyrical joy only Gillian can deliver, Life, Oh Life is musical comedy for anyone who’s interested in life advice from people who have actually lived. 'An hour of hilarity.' ★★★★★ Time Out 'This is hilarious stand-up at its absolute finely crafted best.' ★★★★½ ArtsHub 'Joyous, funny, life-affirming.' ★★★★★ Chortle (UK)
Arts Centre Melbourne
The funniest women in the Festival have united! We don’t mean to be dramatic, but Girl Power Comedy Hour will change your life. Join us at the witching hour to cackle into the night. Award-winners, TV stars, festival favourites. Let the most hilarious women in Australia cast a spell on you! Fall victim to their charms, and leave enchanted.The hour of power is upon us. With five different hilarious acts each night, there’s so much incredible comedy to enjoy. You’ll be cursed if you miss this.
Coopers Inn
“Go big or go home(less)." A true story... On the verge of stardom, NYC trans icon Glace Chase loses everything and winds up on an epic road trip from hell, driving across the Outback in search of every giant fiberglass fruit (the Big Things!) that Queensland has to offer. Attempting to turn her meltdown into a YouTube travelogue rapidly disintegrates into an unexpected quest for purpose, kitsch and hilarious self discovery. 'Delightfully satanic... not to be missed.' ★★★★★ Time Out New York Content warning: group sex and fruit.
Grouse
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Glenn Moore has written too many jokes again. Expect a fast-paced whirlwind of punchlines from one of the greatest joke-writers of his generation. As seen on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. As heard on The Dave Berry Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio, The News Quiz, Just A Minute and his own Radio 4 series Glenn Moore's Almanac. 'The best showcase of pure joke-writing skill.' The Guardian (UK) 'An absolutely brilliantly crafted joy from start to finish.' ★★★★★ Mail On Sunday (UK) 'This is classy, gag-driven comedy at its most intense and funniest.' ★★★★★ Chortle (UK)
The Greek
After a sold out 2025 podcast Tommy and Evo are back with another huge live show with a special guest.
Golden Gate Hotel
Australian comedy’s number one autistic glamourpuss is back at Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a banging hour of trademark Jarvis oddball stand-up. She’s getting dragged backwards through a hedge and onto stage to perform some brand-new carefully crafted, deceivingly dark and genuinely funny stand-up comedy about the cruelty of reality TV, the cultural distrust being perpetrated by fairy floss flavoured vapes and the collapse of the social contract. There’s something, if not for everyone, then for a large spectrum of freaks.One of Rolling Stone's 12 Must-See Comedy Shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025.'One of the smartest and funniest comedians coming up in Australia right now.' Zachary Ruane (Aunty Donna)'Wonderfully upbeat for the angst generation.' ★★★★ One4Review (UK)'Unique, compelling and very funny, she’s like a pre-wanker Morrissey before he stopped looking at the stars.' Rolling Stone (UK)'Her energy is infectious and her jokes tightly wound.' The Guardian'A refreshing and unique perspective in amongst an ocean of generic stand-up.' Art Murmurs (NZ)'She’s got the jokes, the presence, and the pacing. Her delivery is warm and offbeat, with just enough bite.This isn’t a comic fumbling towards their “thing” – she’s already doing it, and doing it well.' One4Review (UK)
Melbourne Town Hall
Good Dick Energy is an award-nominated show performed by finalist of 2025 Australian Comedian of the Year – Grant Mushet. The show is high energy, part improvised, part storytelling, slightly dark, daft and brilliant! This show was nominated for Best Comedy at Perth FRINGE WORLD. 'Intelligent, nuanced and surreally hilarious observations.' ★★★★½ Fourth Wall Media 'It makes the most of every minute, with unexpected jokes that leave audiences shell-shocked and gasping for breath.' ★★★★ Perth Happenings 'If you’re a fan of bold, interactive stand-up with a bit of a wild streak, then this is going to be right up your alley. The gags are relentless and so is the laughter in this full on fun-fest.' ★★★★ One 4 Review (UK)
Askal
Hello I am Greg and I weigh more than 99 percent of all performers at this Comedy Festival, so in terms of dollars spent per kilo you are already saving huge amounts by coming to see me. I've won awards and stuff but who cares. What matters is that I am big and funny and I want to spend time with you. In any case I hope you buy a ticket and watch me grub around and get mucky. If you are a real estate agent or you own one of those Ford Raptors then don't come. You are banned. 'Not a peodophile.' Chortle (UK)
Coopers Inn
Featuring comedy stars from across the Festival. Fri 27 Mar + Fri 3 Apr: Hosted by Geraldine Hickey Fri 10 Apr + Fri 17 Apr: Hosted by Janty Blair Grouse. Awarded Melbourne Fringe’s Venue of the Year 2025.
Grouse
Probably shouldn’t have given it all away in the title. Like most people I’ve been trying to figure out how the worst dickheads have taken over everything with their insane bullshit. So I’ve read three books (mostly) (one was a graphic novel) and listened to five audio books (at normal speed) to try and figure out what the f#%k is going on? Credits to impress my mum: New Zealand Today (Netflix)Taskmaster NZ (Binge) Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee (ABC)The Weekly (ABC)The Hundred (Nine) ★★★★ The Age ★★★★ Chortle (UK)★★★★ The Skinny (UK) ‘Riotously entertaining!’ ★★★★ The Student (UK)‘If you want to spend an hour laughing out your worries and frustrations, I can’t think of a better way to do it.’ Squirrel Comedy
The Westin
A performance revue like you'll never get in an office tower, this riotous musical sketch-comedy takes on the ridiculous and objectionable in the modern workplace in the form of the blues, rap, latin plainchant and more to see what meets expectations and what needs improvement. Covering off transparent coworker communications ('Have I Told You Lately You're a C*%t?'), DEI ('CEO Song: Okay, so I'm white'), the human vs AI faceoff and endless restructuring, H.R. The Musical was the runaway hit of NZ Internatioinal Comedy Festival in 2024, selling out across New Zealand. Gather your co-workers and your boss and get to this close-to-the-bone work! “I was laughing so hard I nearly fell out of my seat” "Bloody brilliant" Audience members 'The absurdity of office nitwittery is on full display and it is a riot.' Theatreview (NZ) 'When work feels uncontrollable, laughter becomes survival… Impassioned, unhinged, and unapologetically fun.' Blackguard Media Reviews
Trades Hall
For almost 30 years, RAW Comedy has been scouring the country for the next generation of Australian comedians, and heats for 2026 are happening now! Come along for a massive night of unique, original comedy, and your chance at an ‘I saw them before they were famous’ moment. Every lineup is completely different, and you never know what you're going to get. Expect hidden gems, WTF moments, and comedy legends in the making. The only thing that's guaranteed is plenty of laughs and a great night out! There’s no better place to see the future of Australian comedy, so grab your tickets now!
The Evelyn Hotel
Harriet Dyer makes her long-awaited Australian debut with a brand-new blancmange of whimsy, nonsense, honesty and full-bodied fizz. Fresh from Live at the Apollo and winning the C4 Sean Lock Comedy Award, one of the most coveted accolades in British stand-up, Harriet arrives with the confidence, chaos and comic voltage of a performer soaring into her international era. In the UK, Harriet isn't simply popular – she's a proper comedy force. She is widely regarded as one of the most original comic voices in Britain today, combining emotional warmth, surreal imagination and a glorious streak of mischief that makes her shows feel alive in a way audiences don't forget. Now, in her Australian debut, Harriet unleashes a brand-new hour. A new blancmange of whimsy from the somewhat fizzy mind of Harriet Dyer featuring hot topics such as wearing a wetsuit on a bus, jaunty social commentary on why couples don't talk to each other anymore and trying to get a cow to lick the top of your head. Harriet's TV credits include Live At The Apollo (BBC Two), 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky Max), Movie Megastars: Made In The 80s (Sky Max), Rosie Jones' Disability Comedy Extravaganza (Dave) and Comedy Central Live (Comedy Central). Critics in the UK have been loud, clear and consistent in their praise: 'A must-see and a masterclass of originality.' ★★★★★ Neurodiverse Review 'Delightfully chaotic.' Fest Mag 'Comedy needs more voices like Dyer's.' Chortle (UK) If you simply want to spend an hour with someone who radiates joy, originality and pure comedic force, Harriet Dyer is the name you need to know. Step in. Buckle up. Prepare for delightful oddness. Harriet Dyer has arrived.
Trades Hall
Inside jokes or 'in-jokes' are jokes that are only understandable to people of a particular social group. The social groups this comedy show is for – People with active internet connections – People with/without jobs – North Koreans and also South Koreans I guess – People whose Instagram and TikTok algorithm have betrayed them – Fans of travelling – Fans of bed rotting – Mid-30s people who have started running If u belong to any of these social groups, come to the show cos I think you’ll enjoy it. If you don’t belong to these groups, come anyway and grow as a person please.
Chinese Museum
What a difference a year makes. Haylee Deutrom returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2026 with a new lease on life, a new series of hot takes and a new sense of self in the wake of navigating the current political, economical and environmental hellscape. Minority groups are being scapegoated while the billionaires are being GOATed, weapons are protected more than humans are, and we are not ok. But just when everything seems hopeless, we are witnessing the kind of counter-strike only pop culture can launch: a new Lily Allen collection of anthems, a fashion magazine obliterating the "male loneliness epidemic" by heralding boyfriends as embarrassing and Haylee's new offering – her first as a happily unmarried woman.
The Carlton Club
Sky-rocketing towards 40, with a happily untenanted womb and a life of love, leisure and lingus, Hayley Sproull feels less barren, and more… Baroness. She makes martinis, not milk. She changes her mind, not nappies. She wants durries, not diapers. Sure, her boobs are sliding groundward and she’s Googled 'facelift turkey' more than she’ll admit, but Botox placates for now. Hayley Sproull is The Baroness, bringing a brand-new hour of comedy to Australia. As seen on Taskmaster NZ, The Great Kiwi Bake-off and Have You Been Paying Attention?
Chinese Museum
You're now a worker at T.E.M.U Joke Factory. With team leader He Huang, you'll write a live show together. Mass produced comedy, big laughs! No toilet breaks!
Chinese Museum
Helen is back and is struggling. She has spent the last year being forced to hang out with someone she doesn’t like and who honestly does not like her. It’s tense, it’s uncomfortable, they won’t leave. A brand-new show from award-winning comedian Helen Bauer. Star of Live at the Apollo (BBC2), 8 Out Of 10 Cats (C4), Am I Being Unreasonable (BBC One) and Extraordinary (Disney+).
The Greek
Winner RAW Comedy 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Join reluctant bachelor, Henry Yan, as he unpacks growing up with tiger parents, being the ‘awkward guy’ no one asked for and swiping through life with a heart full of hope but the self-awareness of ChatGPT. See this confident nerd hilariously deep dive into one man's romantic misadventures, cultural chaos and awkward encounters in the world of modern dating. Just ask his Mum. 'He has a winningly odd energy, slightly awkward and nerdy but owning it with confidence, while being apparently entertained by his own gags.' Chortle (UK)
Chinese Museum
Come one, come all! Welcome to Get Your Hands off My Pinoys 2: This Time It's Poysinal, from the musical comedy duo Esky Escandor and Henry Zhu!
Grace Darling Hotel
Winner Billy T Award 2025 NZ International Comedy FestivalWinner Breakthrough Act 2024 NZ Comedy Guild Gotta be funny to make that money and Hoani Hotene (2025 Billy T Winner) is in Melbourne to make that happen. Catch this award-winning Kiwi comedian while you can. Known for a smart but casual style, Hoani has a long list of awards and has travelled through NZ, Australia and Edinburgh making people laugh. 'His material is a buffet of smart, sillly and sneakily sharp.' One4 Review (UK)
The Charles Dickens Tavern
Hoey & Sahib Escape Brisbane – two cultures, one wild comedy escape. Sharp, outrageous and unforgettable. Grab your ticket now!
Club Voltaire
A comical music show about the greatest Pokémon and Pokémon card ever made! Every song is about Charizard, interspersed with stories that take you on a journey of love, betrayal, hardship and humour. This 2026 Adelaide Fringe Fund recipient and cult hero of the Adelaide music scene is bringing his evolved showmanship and stories to Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time! The show mixes comedy, acoustic guitar and other spectacles alongside positive and uplifting crowd interactions (unless they are squirtle fans). You will hear all the cult classics including 'A song about Charizard', 'I choose you Charizard' and 'Why did you have to leave me Charizard'. Along with new works about Charizard adventures in far off lands like 'Everywhere you go is Charizard' and a song written entirely in Indonesian, 'lagu lagu Charizard harus dangdut la'. Many people have asked for it, now it's here, the Holographic Charizard experience at Melbourne International Comedy Festival! *Pokémon knowledge not required, but encouraged! Performance Thu 26 Mar 5pm at Trainscendence will incorporate some sensory friendly elements (such as keeping house lights on low during the performance and allowing audience members to move around during the show).Late-Night chaos: Thu 26 – Sun 29 Mar 10pm at Speakeasy 2026 Adelaide Fringe Foundation Recipient
Trainscendence
A comical music show about the greatest Pokémon and Pokémon card ever made! Every song is about Charizard, interspersed with stories that take you on a journey of love, betrayal, hardship and humour. This 2026 Adelaide Fringe Fund recipient and cult hero of the Adelaide music scene is bringing his evolved showmanship and stories to Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time! The show mixes comedy, acoustic guitar and other spectacles alongside positive and uplifting crowd interactions (unless they are squirtle fans). You will hear all the cult classics including 'A song about Charizard', 'I choose you Charizard' and 'Why did you have to leave me Charizard'. Along with new works about Charizard adventures in far off lands like 'Everywhere you go is Charizard' and a song written entirely in Indonesian, 'lagu lagu Charizard harus dangdut la'. Many people have asked for it, now it's here, the Holographic Charizard experience at Melbourne International Comedy Festival! *Pokémon knowledge not required, but encouraged! Performance Thu 26 Mar 5pm at Trainscendence will incorporate some sensory friendly elements (such as keeping house lights on low during the performance and allowing audience members to move around during the show).Late-Night chaos: Thu 26 – Sun 29 Mar 10pm at Speakeasy 2026 Adelaide Fringe Foundation Recipient
Speakeasy HQ
We’re putting the biggest names in the smallest spaces, sending them way back to where it all began. With names so huge we’re keeping them a secret, don’t miss our 40th birthday treat. Four pop-up shows only, in some of the Festival’s most intimate and long-serving performance spaces. Everyone started somewhere!
Melbourne Town Hall
We’re putting the biggest names in the smallest spaces, sending them way back to where it all began. With names so huge we’re keeping them a secret, don’t miss our 40th birthday treat. Four pop-up shows only, in some of the Festival’s most intimate and long-serving performance spaces. Everyone started somewhere!
Melbourne Town Hall
We’re putting the biggest names in the smallest spaces, sending them way back to where it all began. With names so huge we’re keeping them a secret, don’t miss our 40th birthday treat. Four pop-up shows only, in some of the Festival’s most intimate and long-serving performance spaces. Everyone started somewhere!
Melbourne Town Hall
We’re putting the biggest names in the smallest spaces, sending them way back to where it all began. With names so huge we’re keeping them a secret, don’t miss our 40th birthday treat. Four pop-up shows only, in some of the Festival’s most intimate and long-serving performance spaces. Everyone started somewhere!
Melbourne Town Hall
Hunter Smith spent more than a decade in the trenches of celebrity journalism – and now, finally free, he’s ready to spill the secrets and expose the showbiz sausage factory in all its glamorous glory. Expect a no-holds-barred hour of green room gossip as Hunter blends his trademark storytelling with the glitter and madness of celebrity culture – plus the kind of behind-the-scenes intel you won’t hear anywhere else. Hunter Smith is one of Australia’s most exciting new voices in comedy. A regular on the stand-up circuit, when he's not onstage he's working as a writer and producer of Australia's biggest TV shows – including a five-year stint as head writer at The Project. Online he's amassed a dedicated following, thanks to his silly little videos including his popular 'Melbourne Mum' character, which has really struck a chord with the Gorman set. You can follow his shenanigans online @mrhuntersmith Hunter has appeared on ABC Radio, Fox FM and triple j and The Project. In print, his work has been published in The Age, Mamamia and, perhaps most prestigiously, LADBible.
Grouse
It's time to enter the Flatpack Thunderdome! IKEA Wars is a high-octane comedy game show pitting two comedians against each other in the ultimate home improvement indignity – building IKEA furniture on stage in front of a live audience. The challenge is simple: rip open the flatpack and build the piece of furniture before your opponent does. Is it a race? Yes. Is it a game show? Also yes! A plethora of chaotic sabotages are on hand to ensure that the road to glory is paved with pitfalls! Build the furniture. Survive the sabotages. *Be crowned the Champion of Sweden! *title not officially recognised by the Swedish government. Let's build! 'Who knew you could get so engrossed, anxious, agitated, in watching IKEA furniture being built!' Fringefeed
Trades Hall
Revolutionary political comedy from the largely uninformed, award-winning Glaswegian comedian Iain Pringle. Australian stand-up’s most recent Scottish import goes down like a cold can of Tennent’s on a hot summer’s day. Last year, he picked up a nomination for Best International Act at the Perth Laughies before selling out at Edinburgh Fringe with the Panel Prize-winning show Deep Fried in Patter. The world is changing at an alarming rate! Come and hear what Iain has to say about it. Listen to him attempt to answer the questions he and his drug-addled friends have pondered in the depths of a session like "Can you be one of life’s good guys and still get the bags in?", "What we gonna do about these Nazis?" and "Is it acceptable to ride an electric scooter?" 'Iain delivers a riotous blend of relatable and absurd comedy.' ★★★★½ Fringe World'Absolutely class act.' Mark Nelson'Iain is a fearless new comic with a unique voice. Definitely one to watch!' Chris Forbes
Ballers Clubhouse
Nominee Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 Two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Ian Smith makes his Australian solo debut with his critically acclaimed new show about stress, love and buying a magic spell off Amazon. As seen on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and heard on The News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth, Just A Minute and his own BBC Radio 4 series, Ian Smith Is Stressed. 'One of the tightest, most well-oiled hours at the Fringe this year.' ★★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) 'An hour of gimmick-free stand-up with a world-class gag rate.' ★★★★½ Chortle (UK) 'Catnip for comedy lovers.' ★★★★ The Guardian (UK) 'Ian Smith is at the top of his game.' ★★★★ The Scotsman 'A distinctive talent.' ★★★★ The Times (UK)
The Westin
Festival-favourite Impromptunes return with their award-winning improv musical comedy, delivering a show that has kept audiences laughing for more than a decade. Improvised comedy meets musical theatre in a performance that has to be seen to be believed. The audience suggests a title, seconds later the lights dim and a brand-new musical appears for the first, last and only time. Everything is made up on the spot – the music, the songs, the dialogue, the characters and the dancing. Sound ridiculous? It absolutely is. Australia’s top improv comedians will deliver a fast, funny and joyfully chaotic performance filled with hijinks, harmonies and hilarity. Since debuting in 2013, Impromptunes has astounded audiences across Australia and internationally, receiving critical acclaim, multiple award nominations and delivering over 500 completely improvised and absolutely hilarious shows. It's unrehearsed. It 's unpredictable. It's a whole lot of fun. It's Impromptunes. 'Outrageously funny.' ★★★★★ Theatre People'Improv music theatre at its best.' ★★★★★ Everything Adelaide'You will laugh, until you don't think you can laugh any more, and then you will keep laughing.' ★★★★★ You Should See It Melbourne'Will leave you in stitches.' ★★★★½ The West Australian
Trades Hall
One of Australia's fastest up-and-coming improv groups whips up an hour of wild characters, quick quips and suprising stories – all made up on the spot.
East Melbourne Library
Across four novels and 56 short stories, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle teased readers with hints of other daring adventures for Holmes and Watson. These cases were left untold… until now! Comedy duo Innes Lloyd take three of these legendary, never-written mysteries and explode them onto the stage in a bold, high-energy, laugh-out-loud theatrical event. Face the peril of Ricoletti of the Club Foot and His Abominable Wife! Puzzle over the enigma of Colonel Warburton’s Madness! Shudder at the terror of The Giant Rat of Sumatra! This is Sherlock Holmes as you’ve never seen him: bigger, funnier and more thrilling than ever. The game is afoot – and this time, it’s anything but elementary! 'Delightfully madcap.' ★★★★★Theatre Matters 'A must-see experience.' ★★★★ Lilithia Reviews
Impro Melbourne Theatre
Part woman, part spider, all cannibalistic blood lust. Arachnophobes encouraged. Black Widow: Sex, Bugs & A High Death Toll is a sensual and salacious cabaret with Queen Cannibal, mother of all spiders and the reason Daddy Longlegs got his name, Black Widow. Be enveloped in her web of lust, lunacy and love? A dynamic dive into the original femme fatale’s world as she grieves, digests and gets back on the hunt. 'Knight's performance… is absolutely captivating and fascinating to watch.' My Melbourne Arts 'Knight is a great talent and Black Widow is a cabaret well-worth being caught by.' ★★★★ Arts Hub 'Isabel Knight is a star.' Melbourne Fringe Cabaret Judge 'Oozing fun.' Melbourne Fringe Cabaret Judge 'Eight legs out of ten.' Audience member
Speakeasy HQ
Welcome to an evening where you control the clock! Every night is a new historic era, where no two nights will be the same. Could you find yourself in Ancient Rome? Or perhaps the Roaring '20s? Maybe you’ll be in Marie Antoinette’s perilous court or swinging through the psychedelic '60s? You choose the era and we create the magic. Musical improviser, comedian and cabaret artist Isabella Valette (Winner WA Tour Ready Award 2025 Melbourne Fringe, Green Room Award nominee for Best Ensemble 2023 – Cabaret Unscripted, Best Cabaret Nominee 2023 Melbourne Fringe) and her talented musicians will be spinning songs, stories and theatrical gold on the spot, in the spotlight. Be astonished by talented musicians switching instruments, witty one liners, intricate narratives and callbacks weaving your suggestions and more into the fabric of one incredibly live, wild and unique experience that must be seen to be believed. Cabaret Time Machine: Where history meets hilarity, and you hold the remote control to time itself.
Trades Hall
Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2017, 2022 & 2023 Adelaide Fringe Nominee 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show After the smash-hit success of All Bangers No Mash, Australia’s favourite Venezuelan is back with a hilarious new show about dancing through tough times, finding joy in chaos and shaking off your worries to a Latino beat. In these uncertain times, when your phone updates faster than your emotions, one thing is for sure – if you are not laughing, you are dancing, so why not do both with the happiest hombre in showbiz! Vamos! Ivan Aristeguieta is ready to mambo! Are you? As seen on Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You're Here and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow. 'Ivan Aristeguieta has outdone himself again...do yourself a favour and get a ticket.' ★★★★ ★ The Adelaide Hipster 'You absolutely MUST go, Ivan is witty, intelligent, and of course, hilarious.' ★★★★½ Glam Adelaide 'Skilful timing, energised delivery and supreme likeability... near sublime routines could have come from Jerry Seinfeld.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK)
Arts Centre Melbourne
Backstage at a weekly gig, five comics go to war on The Big Question – what is comedy for? A funny play by Tom Ballard. Directed by Ben Russell. ★★★★ The Age
fortyfivedownstairs
I, Jack Ansett (Taskmaster NZ, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee) am returning to Australia with a brand-new show! This is a great opportunity for you to get out of the house and enjoy a laugh with some friends. I’d also like to take this opportunity to plug a young up and comer Ray O’Leary, who I think could do really well in the Australian market if he can get in front of enough people. I know you would much rather buy tickets to the big acts like, Aaron Chen, Urzila Carlson, Jack Ansett – but it is always a good idea to take a shot on a lesser-known face.
The Greek
After a successful debut solo run in the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Jacky brings a brand-new hour of jokes from Singapore to make Melbourne Lah-ugh.'Honestly, I believe Jacky could handle anything thrown at him.' ★★★★★ Lilithia Reviews
Captain Melville
Legend has it that when James Cameron pitched the sequel to Alien, he wrote the title on a whiteboard, added an 'S', then put a line through the middle to make it a dollar sign. The rest is history$. Has the ever-encroaching threat of artificial intelligence on art and human services got you down? Book a session with the world's first AI therapist today! With a program originally designed to help people cheat on their taxes, comedian and qualified mentally ill person Jacob Jackman guides your self-improvement journey to help make sense of the fractured and chaotic world we live in, and maybe write it off on tax. Absurdist sketch comedy and incisive stand-up, Jacob delves into what makes us human to prove that artifical intelligence is no substitute for human stupidity. Sometimes the pieces don't have to fit together, but like James Cameron pitching the sequel to Alien, sometimes the 'S' is a dollar sign. Hailed as “hilarious, absurd, poignant, irreverent” (Upside Adelaide), “genuinely original and side-splitting” (Glam Adelaide) and “weird” (Chortle, UK), Jacob Jackman brings a dry slacker charm that ranges from the darkly philosophical to the gleefully absurd. When he’s not working in an Animal Crematorium, Jacob also co-hosts the podcast Ape Mania and illustrates a comic strip called Pissfeld. Based in Adelaide South Australia, Jacob Jackman is equal parts weird and wit. Often incisive and endearingly self-effacing, he is the everyman for every other man. 'Had the audience in hysterics.' Adelaide Advertiser
Trainscendence
Domestic abuse isn’t funny, but this show is. Trailblazing gay UK comedian James Barr makes his Melbourne debut with a bold, "genre-defying" (ArtsHub) hour of stand-up. A darkly hilarious reckoning with shame, survival and a pushy-wushy down the stairsy-wairsy.Nominee for Best Show at the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards, NextUp’s Biggest Award in Comedy and the Queer Performers Award at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Sorry I Hurt Your Son (Said My Ex To My Mum) was also named one of the best reviewed shows of Edinburgh Fringe.'Brave, funny and gloriously empowering.' ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK)'Not to be missed.' ★★★★★ Theatre Thoughts 'Hilarious and heartbreaking.' ★★★★★ Attitude Magazine'Courageous. Original. A tour de force.' ★★★★★ Fringe Review'Even in the uglier revelations he manages to make the audience laugh. A lot.' ★★★★★ CanalStreet.Co.Uk'Trauma collides with one-liners. Confronting and funny.' ★★★★ The List (UK)As seen on The Project and Piers Morgan Uncensored.
Trades Hall
It's the most wonderful time of the year. Finally, we have some proper Australian Christmas music. Fun for the whole family.
Bard's Apothecary
James Mustapic has been through a lot in the past year. He’s written a brand-new show about it. Join him as he 'pic's up the pieces and gets back on that saddle, girlfriend! As seen on Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, The NZ International Comedy Gala and Have You Been Paying Attention? NZ.
Theory Bar
After losing one of his best friends to cancer, Dr Jason Leong did a very Dr Jason Leong thing to process his grief: write a comedy show about it. Join him in his most personal hour yet, as he navigates loss and love with laughter. Dr Jason Leong is a medical doctor turned comedian and he never fails to bring that up, unprompted. He has had two Netflix specials, performed at Just For Laughs Montreal in 2022 and won the 7th Annual International Hong Kong Comedy Competition. He tours around the world because he loves comedy and ultimately, money.
The Capitol
Jayne Steer lost her mum, her fiancé and her mind – in that order, all two weeks before her nine-night Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut. After a psychotic episode on her 35th birthday led to a cPTSD diagnosis, Jayne decided to escape to a luxury treatment facility in Thailand for three months. Surrounded by millionaires healing trauma through smoothies and breathwork, Jayne finally faced her biggest addiction – not to men, not to drugs or chaos, but to love itself. Darkly funny and painfully human, Addickted is the brutally honest comedy about loss, lust and trying to heal yourself while constantly lighting yourself on fire.
Queen Victoria Women's Centre
In late 2023, Jenny met a very handsome boy. She immediately thought they’d get married. They didn’t (phew!). Join Jenny as she unpacks one of her most character-defining relationships in her signature style of storytelling. Fresh off touring the United States, Jenny Tian is back in Australia with her brand-new show. If she looks familiar, you may have seen Jenny on TV programs such as Taskmaster Australia or done a doom scroll through her online content. 'Excitable hour of comedy.' ★★★★★ The Wee ReviewDirected by Justin Hamilton
Melbourne Town Hall
Dress code: Pyjamas. Entry fee: Your teenage truth. Remember when a 'good night out' meant staying in? Throw on your best flannies and join award-winning comedian Jenny Wynter in The Slumber Party Society, a live video podcast that celebrates nostalgia, cringe and hilarity and where the only thing higher than the hair is the emotional stakes. Each show, Jenny invites a fascinating guest from the Festival lineup to join her onstage (in their PJs, of course) to crack open the vault of their teenage years. We’re talking excruciating diary entries, questionable love letters and the kind of vulnerable confessions that are usually only unleashed by a bottle of Passion Pop. But this isn't just a chat show. After the confessions are spilled and the artefacts revealed, Jenny does what she does best – she instantly transforms the guest's story into a custom, original '80s-themed pop song. It’s Dolly Magazine meets Spicks and Specks, with a dash of hormonal angst. What to expect: The Vibe: Think face masks, hair crimpers and the safety of a Babysitter’s Club sleepover. The Music: 100% improvised songs that sound like they belong on a cassette tape in 1987. The Schedule: It’s a 3pm matinee! You can laugh, cry, relive your youth and still be home in bed by 5pm. Or, use it as the perfect pre-game for a night out at the Festival. Your Turn to Join the Society: The Slumber Party Society is an interactive celebration, and we want you involved! Dress Code: Pyjamas are highly encouraged! Whether it’s an oversized tee or a matching silk set, comfort is key. (Crimped hair and blue eyeshadow optional, but highly encouraged). Bring Your Own Cringe: Have a dusty diary entry, a hilarious formal photo or a note passed in maths class? Bring it along! Audience members are invited to submit their own teenage confessions to the Pillow Talk box for a chance to have their story turned into an anthem on the spot. Whether you were a Madonna wannabe, a Molly Ringwald devotee or just someone who had a lot of feelings, this is your safe space. Cancel your plans for a big night out – the best party of the Festival is happening at 3pm! Praise for Jenny Wynter: 'An enviously quick mind, amazing, raw voice, fabulous humour.' We Know Melbourne 'Pure joy... my face hurts.' TalkFringe 'Had the audience crying in hysterics. Definitely an act that cannot be missed.' Scenestr
Storyville Melbourne
A one-man show about teamwork, tension and the silent treatment. Just over a year ago, visually impaired comedian Jeremy Moses mounted the biggest theatre production of his career, bringing costumes, stunts and set pieces to literally dozens of onlookers. But for reasons yet understood, his collaborators abruptly severed ties, never to utter a word to him since... and it isn’t the first time either. Now, using sketches, songs, puppetry and a little bit of resentment, Jeremy shines a light on the eternal struggle of artistic friction – a light that’s helpful given his bad eyesight. Join Jeremy as he re-litigates a lifetime of creative rejection (time permitting) to ultimately let you decide whether or not Jeremy Moses is HARD TO WORK WITH.
Trainscendence
Raised on bad ideas by dented men, shaped by dares that couldn’t end well, refined by the strangest strangers. I’m here to guide you past the Harmless Lunatics. Some families pass down heirlooms; mine passed down nothing but loose screws. I grew up around people who treated impulse like instinct, who made decisions the way other families make sandwiches – quickly, with questionable ingredients and usually standing up. There’s a particular rhythm to that kind of upbringing: the noise, the unpredictability, the unspoken understanding that no one is really steering the ship. And somehow, in the middle of all that, they never let a little insanity get in the way of a nice time. I’m a country boy from Benalla, which already tells you a few things. It tells you I grew up where entertainment had to be invented, not purchased. Where boredom was a sport and the only rule was “don’t get caught bleeding on Mum’s tiles”. Where the men didn’t talk much but somehow communicated everything anyway. Where your childhood friends doubled as accomplices. If you needed sensible role models, you were better off checking the wildlife. Then there were the strangers – always arriving unannounced, always saying things that felt slightly detached from the reality everyone else agreed on. Some drifted in from out of left field, only to disappear into the stands again, leaving you with a sentence, a story or a lingering sense that normality is a very fragile construct. Every one of them carried their own kind of chaos, and every one of them seemed to recognise something familiar in mine. Growing up like that shapes you. Not into something inspirational – just into something alert. You learn to clock danger without naming it, you learn which adults can be trusted and which can’t be left alone near electricity and you learn that “you won’t” is just another way of saying “you absolutely will”. Add in the Jackass era, a back-of-the-bus education and a talent for misunderstanding risk, and suddenly you’ve lived through things you didn’t realise were near-death experiences until much later, when a doctor reacts too loudly. Benalla eventually stopped being big enough. Comedy had been rattling around in me long before I understood that’s what it was. So I moved to Melbourne – barely a plan, definitely no savings and absolutely no awareness of what I was getting into. It was the first decision I made that wasn’t a dare or an accident, which already made it foreign territory. Melbourne is a place where people actually think before doing things. I arrived speaking a different dialect entirely. And somewhere along the way, I worked out I was gay, which cleared up a few mysteries and complicated a few others. It didn’t fix the chaos, but it gave it sharper edges and better punchlines. Being a gay bloke raised around dented men is its own kind of cultural bilingualism – you learn when to translate, when to go silent and when to politely walk away from a conversation you would’ve once laughed along with. This show pulls all that forward – the family chaos, the rural improvisation, the reckless youth, the strange strangers, the things I survived without understanding why surviving them mattered. Not in a “my trauma journey” way. Not in a “here’s what it all means” way. Just in the way you tell something true after you’ve finally stopped flinching at the memory. It’s not tidy, it’s not softened and it’s not made inspirational for people who like neat endings. The stories land how they land. Some of them come from childhood, some from Melbourne, some from nights where my judgment took the night off entirely. There are moments I should’ve walked away from, moments I should’ve never arrived for and moments where I nearly stepped clean out of existence because a friend said, “you go first”. And through all of it, there were the characters – family members who lived like warnings, strangers who felt like side quests and certain men who taught me every possible wrong lesson in the most convincing way. A lot of this isn’t dramatic. It’s just real. It’s what happens when you grow up in a place that doesn’t give you fences, move to a city that expects you to read signs and live long enough in both to realise you’re fluent in chaos but passable in reality. It's looking back and recognising the turning points, the moments of idiocy, the accidental wisdom and the people who drifted in and out like poorly behaved omens. The poster might show me dressed like a knockoff assassin with a plastic water pistol, but it’s truer than you think. Most of my life has been some variation on that image: taking myself too seriously at the exact moment I’m holding something ridiculous. And that’s the tone of the show – not quirky, not winky, not “random”. Just honest about the gap between who I thought I was and who I clearly was the entire time. If you’ve ever grown up around people who confuse volume with confidence… or survived a childhood motivated by dares… or moved somewhere bigger trying to outrun the version of yourself you learned back home… or realised later in life that your sexuality was the twist ending to a story that always made sense… you’ll recognise the terrain. If you haven’t, that’s fine. I’ll guide you. Follow me on Instagramto see the continued chaos in real time, and check out my podcast Broke’n’Home on YouTube and all podcast apps for more of the nonsense that didn’t fit onstage. Harmless Lunatic or not, I’ll see you at the show.
Wheat, Wine & Whisky
Winner People's Choice 2025 Sydney Fringe Winner Spirit of The Fringe Weekly Award 2025 Adelaide Fringe Judges Pick (Comedy) 2024 Melbourne Fringe Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2024 Adelaide Fringe Ciao! My name is Giuseppe. I present a very silly game show with lots of games. It is fun, yes! It is exciting! Indeed! It is also a little bit ooh la la! Of course! It is with lots of funny and jokeful people from the Festival. They will make you laughing. Wow! Fun! Play! Past Guests have Included:Tom Ballard • Dane Simpson • Tina Del Twist • Hot Department • Mel McGlensey • The Burton Brothers • Oliver Coleman • Sophie Power and many more! Molto bene! This show will be unhinged, absurd and undeniably cheeky. Strap in for an hour of non stop clowny chaos. Who is Jeromaia Detto?Jeromaia Detto is a multi-award-winning Melbourne-based comedian who specialises in clown and improv. His unique style is silly and playful, creating spaces for collaborative play between performer and audience. He has been performing for over a decade, selling out shows in Edinburgh and across Australia, touring his critically acclaimed solo shows MUSH, When I Grow Up... and kids show Jon & Jero: STUFF. Jeromaia has trained in London, Chicago, Oslo and with clown master, Philippe Gaulier, in Paris. Since 2017 he has been teaching comedy, selling out workshops across Europe and Australia. He has also featured in the solo shows of Garry Starr, Viggo Venn and has been an ensemble member of the cult hit chaotic variety night, STAMPTOWN.
The Victoria Hotel
Bold, cheeky and wildly relatable. Jess Fuchs brings sharp observational humour and playful irreverence to her first full-run Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, Feral. In this new hour, Jess turns on-stage heckling, off-stage gossip and the everyday absurdities of life into an unpredictable, uproarious show. A regular host at The Comedy Store and a seasoned performer at top comedy clubs worldwide, Jess has opened for international acts including Fortune Feimster, Gianmarco Soresi and Morgan Jay. Her quick wit and charisma make every show feel like a late-night debrief around the kitchen table with your most honest friend. 'Finding a new comic that hits every note is a rare treat. Fuchs is so relatable and clever.' ★★★★★ Theatre Thoughts (Sex Jokes For Women) 'An uproarious and raunchy show that had the audience continuously laughing.' ★★★★ Sydney Arts Guide (Sex Jokes For Women)
Bard's Apothecary
For 20 years, Jess McGuire’s career has been politely labelled “chaotic”. Writer. Radio presenter. Wedding DJ. Trivia host. Late-in-life removalist. And plenty of other things to pay the rent in between. Join Jess as she picks through the wreckage and shares the hilarious stories gathered over two decades of regrettable choices, odd detours, questionable gigs, terrible timing and back-breaking labour… all of which led her to one unsettling truth: comedians keep taking the jobs she actually wants. So it’s time to wander into their industry and see how they like it. Is this debut stand-up show an act of revenge or a mid-career reinvention? Either way… it’s come to this.
Speakeasy HQ
Since their 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut Functional Bottom, artiste, journalist and hot f#%king mess, Jessi Ryan has had one hell of a year. Now colostomy bag free and “shitting like a real girl (and douching like a real boy)” they have returned to hospitality only to find the industry more cooked than that one recent night, when guts deep in the middle of service Ryan mistook ketamine for cocaine. Ryan is a proud, self proclaimed " hot f#%king mess:" but critics also have described them as "beautifully chaotic”, “a firebrand” (The Age) and “mesmerising to watch” (Keith Gow), like a car crash in slow motion or more like watching Ryan K Hole behind the bar as they make you a cocktail and totally ignore their RSA. Ryan is one to watch, literally. As fans of Functional Bottom can testify to – whether you like it dry, dirty, shaken or stirred – Ryan's not here to yuck your yum... No longer mourning the loss of their beloved sugar daddy, they instead keep themselves busy pimped out on the weekend to hospo venues by a new man in Ryan's life. A man who just so happens to share the same name as the patron saint of hot messes – Ryan ‘s beloved 'housemate' of the past decade. Handed rolls of cash at the end of each shift, Ryan has spent much time recently reflecting on their other career in sex work – how is it both industries are fun but share a panache for the occasional bad taste left in one's mouth? Ryan is ok with their non-existent love life – because working hospo for them has been much like dating anyway. Ryan may be on call for a regular rotation of venues, but not one venue wants to 'go steady' leaving Ryan to reflect on life's 'big' questions… "Am I serving F#%kboy energy? Did I just misgender myself?” Ryan traces all this chaos back to their recent tour of Functional Bottom to their home town of Brisbane. Pinpointing the exact moment things unravelled, Ryan knew then they were f#%ked because they were drinkling XXXX beer. By choice. If Ryan can wrangle their ADHD for long enough and (after a recent return to mainstream journalism via The Age) not get doxed by the NSN (again) All Guts, No Glory! promises to be a side splitting look at a year in a life lived in the fast lane, with zero f#%ks left to give.
Club Voltaire
Show Me Your Myki! Make sure you've touched on to experience this brand-new hour of comedy by Jett Bond. Touched On explores the complex inner world of a Myki ticket inspector, alright? Enter into the immersive experience of public transportation ticket inspecting, but fr make sure you've brought your Myki cause i will be check it. Fare evaders will be shot I'm not kidding.ILL BE SHOT Nah just jokes, but will be a fun silly hour of clowning.
Bard's Apothecary
Internationally-touring comedian Jez Watts returns with a brand-new hour! Hot off the heels of his first full-length special (available now) this is all new dirty jokes, bits and stories. Tour support for Sam Tallent, James Donald Forbes McCann, Duncan Trussell, He Huang and loads more – he's been seen on stages across seven countries and 55+ festivals. Expect jokes from his time as a soldier, husband, international traveller and drug enthusiast. ‘The blend of dark, satirical and proper naughty comedy does wonders to bolster his drug-fuelled and sexual encounter stories fittingly, leaving you on the edge of your seat as more outrageous details spill out.’ ★★★★½ Fringefeed ★★★★½ Perth Happenings ‘Watts is a standout.’ ★★★★ The Music 'Hilarious.' ★★★★ Whats On In Adelaide
Central Club Hotel
Jo Gowda’s new show, Don’t Deport the Fun, is a cheeky and heartfelt comedy hour about surviving immigration, marriage and motherhood – sometimes all in one day. Jo adds her unique perspective to the chaos of being an immigrant in Australia, raising a child who calls her “mate” and turning every cultural clash into comedy. She reminds everyone that laughter needs no permanent residency. Jo is an Indian-born, Australia-based comedian who has mastered the art of turning cultural confusion into comedy gold. With a sharp tongue and unfiltered perspective, she digs into everything from nosy relatives to marriage disasters, immigration realities and the joy of being misunderstood in two countries at once.
Coopers Inn
Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer 2024BBC New Comedy Award Winner 2023 Here he is! Yorkshire’s biggest bastard is in Melbourne for the very first time! Join owner and MC of The Misty Moon (a pub that is a portal to hell) for a slap-up feast of laughs, tricks and dirty larger. Can Frankie save showbiz? Can he protect his pub from demonic ruin?? Can you touch his special trowel??? (NO WAY!). 'A one-man old-time variety show... Triumphant" ★★★★★ BeyondTheJoke.co.uk 'devilishly funny' ★★★★★ The Telegraph
The Greek
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Coopers Inn
I’m looking for a new BFFL! Could it be you? Don’t worry, I’m an excellent hugger. A stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met! I would know. At weddings, in online gaming, in the bedroom, in a camping tent, during a seizure, I’ve found and fumbled friendships everywhere. Maybe I’ll even find one in the audience. 60% confessional, 25% experimental and 33% quest for companionship, this show untangles the heart of a funny little gay guy in search for [enter venue capacity here] new besties. Bring a friend. Or become one. --- A two-time RAW Comedy State Finalist, John is a Sydney-based stand-up and improv comic who has toured Australia with his solo shows John Glover Must Die and Microsoft Orifice. He’s featured in Osher Günsberg’s satirical news show NTNNNNN and performed in Breaking The Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe. As The Age put it: “Razor sharp one-liners are aplenty and timing is spot on. This is a budding comic to watch”.
Storyville Melbourne
It's a solo show. A mockery and celebration of performance. Absurd. Simple. Outrageous. Stupid. Fun. It's terrible. An important waste of your time. It's great. Please strongly consider all of this information before coming. John Norris is a man whose absurd comedy is singular and oozes mountains of stupidity and silliness. Based out of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, John brings his word-of-mouth cult hit, sold-out, five-star, award-nominated debut show to Melbourne. Also, in 2009, he ate and digested an entire Kia Forte.
The Greek
Mind the gap. The generation train is departing.Gen X in the quiet carriage.Boomers own the train. Millennials and Gen Z can't afford a ticket, an avo or a house. Mind The Generation Gap examines the different generations and the stereotypes that make it impossible to understand any other generation than your own.. John Peacock is a Gen X comic from Byron Bay. It's a town where the Boomers own all the houses and the Millennials are waiting for their inheritance whilst living in a sub tropical climate with good coffee. Lots of influencers. Lots of influenza as well, but that's a vaccination thing. Plenty of baristas, yoga instructors and massage therapists. John doesn't care for them but he's trying to find a way to close The Generation Gap.
Grace Darling Hotel
Multiple award-winning comedian Matt Harvey returns with this sharp and ridiculous new hour. Upon attempting to enter America Matt suddenly found his travel plans come to a screeching halt and found himself in a secret back room with angry border agents. Matt has lived the kind of travel stories you hope never happen to you and has turned them into comedy you definitely want to hear. Come on a journey with Matt – only safer, cheaper and without the risk of losing your luggage.Looking for laughs and great stories? Look no further than Matt Harvey! As an award-winning comedian and storyteller and writer for satirical outlets like The Shovel and The Shot, Matt knows how to entertain audiences of all kinds. With a touring history that spans Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK, and EU.Matt's shows have earned rave reviews from both critics and audiences alike. Whether you're in the mood for a good chuckle or an engaging narrative, Matt Harvey is the performer for you! Pick of the Fringe 2023 San Diego International FringeSpirit of the Fringe 2025 Reykjavik Fringe Praise for Matt Harvey:'An amazing hour.' ★★★★ Winning at Failing'If only Netflix could stumble into one of his performances, Harvey would get the recognition he deserves.' ★★★★ Theatre Matters'An intelligent and witty comic, Matt Harvey's show is an onstage revolution.' ★★★★ Fourth Wall Media'Unfailingly funny.' ★★★★ ArtsHub'Harvey is a self-aware, revolution-driven comic who isn't afraid to tell his sins under the guise of a comedy set.' ★★★★ Fringefeed'Harvey has such a charming, self-deprecating and socially observant style of writing that I just adored the show and laughed throughout.' KPBS'Consistently entertaining… Harvey’s a charming raconteur and the show will end before you are ready to say goodbye.' San Diego Union-Tribune'It's pure storytelling - told with warmth and sincerity.' Squirrel Comedy
Trainscendence
Jordan is unbulliable. This show is about the people who have tried. Jordan Barr is the triple j weekend breakfast host who has previously opened for Hannah Gadsby and Catherine Cohen. She's back with another stand-up show. Yewwwww! Expect embarrassing stories, dark humour and a weird chick demanding your attention (that's her). 'It’ll turn gears in your head, and you’ll leave bemused, confused, and in awe.' ★★★★ Time Out 'You know that friend who always knows how to turn any situation into something hilariously memorable? That’s Jordan.' The Scoop
The Westin
A new show about extinct, gigantic, charismatic, megafauna from three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, and very good comedian Josie Long. In these troubled times, in this wicked world, it can feel like apocalypse is everywhere, but did you know 11,000 years ago there were some really big armadillos? Josie is back with a new show about discovery, wonder, extinction and how to walk through a landscape of monstrous disaster. There is also a good tip about silt, guaranteed. Josie Long is a three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and the creator of multiple acclaimed stand-up shows and BBC Radio 4 series. She has appeared on Live at the Apollo (ABC), 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4) and Have I Got News for You’ (BBC). Following sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe and across the UK, she brings this celebrated new show to Australian audiences. 'If stand-up shows can be known to punch down, then [Josie] buoys us all up.' ★★★★★ The Skinny (UK) 'Wild-firing imagination.' ★★★★ The Guardian (UK) 'One of her best shows to date.' ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) ★★★★ Chortle (UK)
Chinese Museum
Join Honourable Justice Emma Holland as she forces her friends to perform stand-up comedy in her courtroom and then makes them defend their jokes afterwards. Come join for laughs, gavels and a horsehair wig! Bought illegally!
Melbourne Town Hall
A slide show presented by much-loved cartoonist and children's illustrator Judy Horacek, about public transport, climate catastrophe, a sheep of a certain colour and getting older for real. Older than probably 98% of Festival performers, this is Judy Horacek's very first Melbourne International Comedy Festival show. A fun-filled 50 minutes of cartoons featuring her feisty pointy nosed characters and stories about her life as a cartoonist and children's book creator, bumping through the world as best she can. Feminism, social justice and a deep dive into green concerns with our worries and fears about the way we are destroying the planet – all prime material for humour! Plus, lots about the other type of green that’s been important in her life, one that is ovine rather than environmental, from the children’s classic she created with Mem Fox, Where is the Green Sheep?' Judy has been trying to solve the problems of the world for decades. She acknowledges that it hasn’t worked. Come along to laugh at the crises of the world – it's better than staying at home crying. 'Judy can be funny about almost anything.' John Clarke 'One of Australia’s best cartoonists and should be a worldwide phenomenon. She brightens the day with wit and intelligence.' The Sunday Age 'Her cartoons about the joys and disappointment of being human… strike the deepest chord.' The Age
The Westin
Maps! It's a comedy show. About maps. Maps! This show shares the hilarious true stories of maps and mapping mistakes. This includes how the Victorian-South Australian border was accidentally put in the wrong place and almost led to an invasion (by cartographers). Learn about humanity's (and NASA's) attempts to send maps to aliens, and how we got it wrong. Come and explore Julian's map obsessions – Null Island (a non-existent island that is found on hundreds of maps); Eucla (a petrol station with its own time zone) and Boundary Islet (an actual land border between Victoria and Tasmania). If you love historic charts or modern metro maps this is the show for you. If you're a flat earther, come and learn something. This is the funniest map-themed show at the Festival. Bringing the people what they want – cartographic comedy. Julian O'Shea is a popular online creator with millions of views across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. You might have seen him on your For You Page standing in front of a strange piece of urban infrastructure. Julian has performed at Melbourne Fringe and various comedy storytelling events including SciFight Comedy Debate, and has been a comedy writer for Mad Magazine. 'Witty, informative and very funny… if you’re looking for something a little different: nerdy, nostalgic and genuinely feel-good, it’s worth your time.' The Scoop 'Creator of delightfully nerdy online content that would be right up the street of any QI fan – and his love of arcane knowledge and quirky challenges is palpable.' Chortle (UK) ★★★★★ Theatre Matters ★★★★★ Offstage
Crowne Plaza
A heartfelt storytelling comedy about ravens, the woman who loves them, a flock of existential crises... and a plush raven who thinks he rules the Universe. Award-winning comedic storyteller Juliet Sironi brings her debut solo show CRAZY BIRD LADY to Melbourne International Comedy Festival! Fresh from runs at Melbourne Fringe and Midsumma, join Juliet as she weaves comedy and storytelling together to tell her tales of real wild ravens, and the woman who loves them. Nice, right? Except... there's this omniscient omnipresent mystical (plush) raven. And he thinks he is the ruler of the Universe. And he wants Juliet to tell her story. Her real story. And if Juliet doesn't, she will be struck by lightning. And the raven will possibly peck her eyes out. CRAZY BIRD LADY is a story of darkness and light, depression and redemption, happiness and... beakfuls of spaghetti shoes? What? And finding friendship in the most unlikely of places. Nice things audiences have said about CRAZY BIRD LADY: 'Very authentic storytelling at its best!' It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think.' 'I loved every second.' 'So authentic, so Juliet – I'm blown away.' Juliet has been seen performing comedy, theatre and cabaret at Rad Cactus (2025 Melbourne Fringe 2025 and 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival), MOJO Festival (2022 – 2025), and I Survived the Psych Ward (2022 Melbourne Fringe). She is winner of The Moth storytelling competition twice in 2024 and grand finalist in 2025. Juliet has been mentored by comedians including Nelly Thomas, Wes Snelling and Jack Brady. Juliet worked on this show at a writers' retreat with comedian Alice Fraser. 'A brave new voice in comedy with a perspective that’s both fresh and challenging.' Nelly Thomas, comedian and host of the Dear Nelly podcast. 'Juliet is fast becoming a stalwart in the comedy community. She is the most passionate person about comedy that I have ever met.' Wes Snelling, comedian and drag diva Tina Del Twist alter ego. ★★★★★ 'Five beaks up!' Ravens everywhere.
Grouse
Multiple-award-nominated comedian Justin Porter debuts his first solo sketch show: a hilarious look at growing up and discovering yourself. It’s 2001, in Texas. Justin’s dad is a retired Air Force pilot, his mother going to church again, and boy are they divorced. Oh, and he’s allergic to cats, and starting to realise he’s really *quite* gay. After directing the hugely successful and Golden Gibbo-nominated show The Wedding, and starring as one half of cult favourite and critically acclaimed improv show Gays of our Lives, Justin Porter is stepping out on his own. So pass the antihistamines and hold on to your butts, it's going to be a wild ride. 'Completely blown away.' Lilithia Reviews 'Unstoppable.' Australian Arts Review 'Fantastic.' The Melbourne Observer 'Brilliant.' Theatre Matters
Theory Bar
Hi I’m Kai, Geordie lad living up here in Scotland, travelling the world being funny. Look at all these other suckers talking about themselves in the third person, we all write these ourselves. This show is my latest concoction of hilarious observations, entertaining stories and uplifting outlooks. I’ll make you laugh and leave with a big fat smile on your face. Deal? See. That was simple. 'Sunny, friendliness and impossible likeability.' Three Weeks (UK) 'Side-splittingly funny!' Fest Mag 'A festival highlight.' ★★★★★ The Australia Times
The Greek
What do you do when your life explodes? A show that'll slap, tickle, shock and bend you over with laughter. 1/3 play, 1/3 standup, 1/3 rave. Kate Dehnert's life recently blew up. We're talking: relationship; career; income; opportunities; visa; losing almost all of her possessions; what country she lived in; she almost died; and for some incredibly annoying reason she now has a way-too-overactive gag reflex. Like, she could stand in front of you and if you told her to vomit, she could. What the hell? And all of this only happened because the grey areas were so strong they may as well have been technicolour. Go out to dinner, drink some cocktails and meet Kate in the club – it's going to get raw. A brave, honest and vital exploration of an explosion and reconstruction of self. Directed by Matt Jenner Lighting Design by Caitlyn Staples 'Bizarre, brave, daring, probably dangerous, but most of all smart and very funny. The dawning of a psychedelicomic superstar.' ★★★★½ Herald Sun 'Dehnert slips seamlessly between mundanity and fantasy, and innocence and mayhem. Anything is possible. There’s no time for conventional punch lines here. This is a true work of unique brilliance.' Squirrel Comedy You may know Kate from Radio 4, BBC Audio, ABC, Channel 10, SBS, Loner podcast, Long Head, The Last Year of Television, The Project, Get Krack!n, Gamey Gamey Game, The Improv Conspiracy.
Theory Bar
Katrina Mathers (The Wedge, Flipside, Footy Chicks) returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her first show in 23 years: Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues. A series of excellent monologues about midlife mayhem. Expect a chaotic Dyson love-hate saga, menopause meltdowns, cold-water triumphs and a hot-pink suit. Older. Hotter. Funnier. Bring a fan. Perfect for women who’ve lived a little, sweated a lot, just discovered the #WDNC Club and are looking for cheap cocktails and a desperately-needed night out with the gals. The show is on at 6pm, so you can be home in bed by 9pm. (I know, right? I got your back ladies! Actually, no, I'm lying - the 6pm show time is so I can be in bed by 9.) +++++ 'Mathers is terrific.' Herald Sun 'The excellent Katrina Mathers brings so much presence, she haunts the space after she leaves.' ArtsHub 'You’re not actually funny, mum.' Anonymous, 15yrs +++++ Written and performed by Katrina Mathers Featuring other excellent writers, to be announced. Directed by Roz Hammond Production design by Isla Shaw Photos by Brent Lukey Poster design by Lliam Amor Publicity: Eleanor Howlett, Sassy Red PR Production support: Cherry Hands Media ++++ Follow the Anything But The Dyson Facebook page for updates, deals and discounts.
Trainscendence
Kev is a one-man comedy whirlwind that will find you uncontrollably laughing from every fibre of your being. Kev shares the tales and absurd challenges of life as an Aboriginal Australian family man. He has experienced failures and successes, but the funny always comes first! A national treasure and one of Australia’s premier First Nations comedy stars, Kev is high-energy, sharp, likeable, silly and measured. This one hour of comedy power provides guaranteed laughs! 'The funniest comedian I’ve seen. His use of facial expressions and body language alone are worth the price of the ticket.' In Daily 'It is impossible not to chuckle and feel embraced by his mischievous, joyous storytelling.' ★★★★★ Ed Fest Mag 'The man is plain funny and doesn’t hold back.' ★★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser
Melbourne Town Hall
Dickhead Dad Daffodil Death! The tragic tale of… well, not quite… Dickhead Dad mistook a daffodil bulb for an onion. This is one harrowing, hilarious, hallucinogenic near-death experience anecdote that you simply should not miss. How bad was it? Well, doctors initially thought that the famous death cap mushroom killer did exactly the same thing! Comedy veteran and critically acclaimed satirist. Kieran Butler (★★★★ The Scotsman) returns for one show only with more stand-up, stories, songs and mayhem about his life as Dickhead Dad. 'Very funny.' Herald Sun 'Wild laughs.' The Age 'Damn good.' ★★★★ Edinburgh Evening News
Wolfhound on Brunswick
Kieran is a veteran of the Sydney Comedy scene, gaining a cult following that he is hoping to turn into a reglious following for tax benefits.
Grace Darling Hotel
Korinna’s hilarious new show spills the tea on her cult-like upbringing, retired-hot-girl past, toxic exes and the unfiltered pursuit of freedom. Raised under bizarre, hyper-controlling rules where socialising was forbidden and chanting “Ricky Martin” was compulsory, Korinna unpacks what happens when you’ve been trained to be obedient, terrified and a little too enthusiastic about Latin pop. With wit and raw honesty, she explores being the weird kid, messy relationships, a queer awakening and the pursuit of being average. Sorry, My Mum Won’t Let Me is a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt judged, othered or controlled, and fought to define themselves anyway. It’s a celebration of the mess we’re taught to hide, how sharing it connects us and how owning it might just set us free. A rising force in Australia’s comedy scene, Korinna’s stand-up blends absurd storytelling, electric energy and bold honesty. Part confession. Part chaos. All comedy… Just don’t tell her mum. 'Unique, hilarious and thought-provoking.' The Greek Herald 'I feel like Korinna and I could be besties.' Sydney Theatre Reviews
Grace Darling Hotel
Nominee Best Comedy 2016 Perth FRINGEWORLD "If everyone goes to your show, who’s gonna feed the dog?" – Jenhan’s dad His dad said it in 2009, and it still stings. Malaysia’s Kuah Jenhan, now terminally adult, fires back with a complete reimagining of LIKE THIS, LIKE DAD (still). A nostalgia-ridden, daddy-issues-laden, trauma-driven one-man comedy show. Expect sharp laughs, deep introspection and emotions no man should be this comfortable sharing live on stage. 'Be prepared to LOL with abandon.' ★★★★½ The Music 'You don’t have to be Asian to understand and appreciate Jenhan’s comedy. You just need to love the art of storytelling.' ★★★★★ Lilithia Reviews 2024 'Cracker of a show.' ★★★★ Herald Sun Kuah Jenhan is a festival favourite from Malaysia, part of the inaugural Comedy Zone Asia in 2015 and a comedian who regularly sells out shows in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and beautiful Australia. This year he made his London debut to great acclaim. He has written shows with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and is a regular on the hit Malaysian podcast You Might Wanna Sit Down For This.
The Victoria Hotel
Have you been to school? Then this show is for you.Kyle Wisniewski is the son of a teacher, was once a student and he spent a period of his life as a child, so he knows a thing or two about school. In his debut solo show, the Tasmanian comic tells hilarious tales and sings silly songs about how crushes, canteen food and school formals still haunt you in your adulthood.
Speakeasy HQ
Have you been to school? Then this show is for you. Kyle Wisniewski is the son of a teacher, was once a student and he spent a period of his life as a child, so he knows a thing or two about school. In his debut solo show, the Tasmanian comic tells hilarious tales and sings silly songs about how crushes, canteen food and school formals still haunt you in your adulthood.
Wolfhound on Brunswick
Winner Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024You know when stuff happens to you and then you act in a certain way (read: cry) and you figure out how you feel cause of how you reacted? A man was mean to me in a museum in March (classic) and I’ve gotten a lot out of it (hell yeah). My stupidest and smartest show yet (alright!). Inkling is a show about how confusing it is to be alive and how wonderful that might be (ok?). Can’t wait to do it for you in Australia (i am serious). Lara Ricote returns to Australia with an hour of exceedingly surreal oddball musings! Must close 12 April so get in quickly! As seen on Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Gala (ABC), Live At The Apollo (BBC), Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping (Channel 4) and QI (BBC). ‘Dark-leaning, exceedingly surreal and occasionally confronting humour.’ ★★★★ Time Out Melbourne ‘Hilarious and uniquely inspired.’ The Times (UK) ‘Endearingly offbeat comedy of self-exploration.’ The Guardian (UK)
ACMI
Chaos, colour, catchy tunes and comedy collide in this laugh-out-loud, interactive puppet show for kids and families! Join big blue monster Troggg, his adorable little sister Marina and their hilarious puppet friends for a high-energy stage show packed with silly skits, catchy original songs and playful mayhem! Don’t miss the award-winning Larrikin Puppets in their Melbourne debut and join the biggest, zaniest puppet party the city has ever seen! For kids aged 9 and under and their families! Book now! OSHC and school holiday care programs welcome.
Kindred Studios
In a bullet train of thought experiments, cult comedy favourite Laura Davis delivers a show about the kinds of things that can happen to us, just in the nick of time. SWAG is a rapid-fire, uproarious expedition from wherever it was we expected to be, to the very heart of everything else. Well, practically. 'Laura Davis is without a doubt one of the best comedians at Comedy Festival year after year. Back-to-back nominations for Most Outstanding Show in 2022 and 2023 were clearly well earned.' Scenestr 'A hundred colourful, delicate mind ribbons are unspooled and then somehow tied together in a finale that beggars belief. Warms the soul also. I can't imagine a comedy show that ends on a more hopeful, life affirming note. What Davis achieves, year in year out, goes beyond stand-up. It is artful, philosophical, self-aware, rational and exuberant.' British Comedy Guide 'Impossible not to laugh.' Herald Sun 'A highlight of any comedy festival.' Chortle (UK) 'Comedy at it's finest.' Playbill
The Greek
Winner Best Show 2024 Women In Comedy Festival Manchester Nominee Best International Debut Auckland & Best International Debut Wellington 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival Nominee Best Show ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 Join multi-award-winning stand-up star and viral sensation Laura Lexx (UK) with her highly anticipated Australian debut – Slinky. Firmly established as one of the most sought-after headliners on the UK and international comedy circuits, this show is effortlessly heartwarming, hilarious about motherhood and fearless with the front row. As seen on: Mock The Week, Live at The Apollo (BBC), Hypothetical (DAVE), Pointless Celebrities (BBC), Roast Battle (Comedy Central), The Comedy Club (BBC Radio 4 Extra), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4), The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4), Mo Gilligan’s Spotlight (Audible) Winner: Best MC (Comics Comic Award), Comedians Choice Awards (2018 & 2019) & Best Compere (Chortle Awards), Best Show (Amused Moose Awards) 'Similar to the likes of Jen Brister and Romesh Ranganathan.. A deep sage, but above all wickedly funny.. delivered with an assuredly light touch that skilfully belies the heavy import of everything she is talking about.' ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ The Guardian (UK) ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) ★★★★ Ed Fest Mag ★★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) Presented in association with UTC Live
QT Melbourne
Lauren has landed a role in a Hollywood TV show and had a pilot commissioned. Everything is going really well for her and nothing bad is going to happen. It’s been a big few years for Lauren. She flew to Argentina for three months to shoot a guest star role on Disney / Freeform series While You Were Breeding, and when she got back, she was granted funding for a TV pilot with her friend and comedian Danielle Walker. They jumped straight in with their producer at The Junkyard. Everything went well, and everything is ok now! Don’t worry about googling the shows, they are all good. Lauren Bonner is a stand-up comedian who has been winding and grinding for years now. She co-hosts podcast Big Natural Talents with Concetta Caristo, is a regular on triple j and has worked on stuff for places including Adult Swim, ABC and SBS with people like Becky Lucas, Cat Cohen and Aaron Chen. 'So so funny. I jadore.' Cat Cohen
Coopers Inn
Fun Sad Aunty [noun] A childfree adult who is both revered and feared; usually by their immediate family. Will pick you up when you’re drunk; won’t tell your parents you spewed in the garden. Will lament the fall of society; won’t get up at 6am for Saturday sport. Are you actively contributing to the declining birth rate? Or maybe you’re a parent who is just sick and tired of talking about your kids? Well, look no further – like a So Fresh compliation CD from 2001, Fun Sad Aunties is made for you. Hosted by actual Fun Sad Aunties Lauren Edwards and Sarah Bartolo, this lineup show features some of Australia's most well-loved (and mostly childfree) comedians… sharing their stories of a life away from school drop off, peeing with the door open and approval from their parents or society. Disclaimer: A fun sad Aunty is gender neutral. You don't have to be an aunty to be one. Being a fun sad Aunty is a state of mind. Lauren Edwards and Sarah Bartolo are Melbourne-based comedians and social commentators who bring together an impressive skill set in writing, acting, comedy and music. Both women have had sold out seasons of their solo shows around Australia (including Lauren's show Chihuahua in 2025 and Sarah's show Daddy Issues 2024). They collaborated on the critically-acclaimed sketch show Business Women's Luncheon: Your Ticket to Financial Freedom! in 2023 and share a love for political comedy and satire. Neither of them has children.
Storyville Melbourne
“You’re going to love Laurence” used to be the office guarantee. The cheerful promise colleagues gave before introducing him. He was the reliable spark, the one who could brighten a meeting, fix a mood or smooth over tension with a joke. For years, being the fun one felt like enough. But now he’s hit 40, and the once-automatic enthusiasm has faded, the tolerance for small talk has evaporated and the role of office morale booster has become… optional. For the first time, Laurence is questioning whether charm is a sustainable career strategy. And in that reflection comes the unsettling realisation: he never learned any real, tangible skills beyond buying the milk and who could sense psychically when the communal fridge required urgent intervention. This show follows his reluctant journey out of the personality-hire trap – funny, honest and painfully relatable to anyone who’s ever woken up and thought, Wait… what exactly is my job?
Speakeasy HQ
Nominee Best Comedy Award 2019 Melbourne Fringe Lena Moon has lived a life but doesn’t want to toot her own horn (mostly because that sounds like a sex thing). Celebrity encounters, VIP passes and a night out that earned her the nickname ‘Lena Moon-Boot’.A show about bragging from a person who hates doing it. Directed by Celia Pacquola 'A freight train of comedy that barrels full speed at its audience with no intention of slowing down.' ★★★★ The Music If you don't know Lena from her Twitch streams or improv shows, you might have see her as part of comedy duo Annie and Lena, heard her on TGIF with Charlie Pickering, or even caught her being silly on screen (The Emu War, The Organist, Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe, Most Upsetting Guessing Game).
Melbourne Town Hall
It's not every day you meet someone who has a brother for a horse. Not, like, as a metaphor – like, a literal horse. Like, biologically. But what does this have to do with why patience is a virtue that I've never had? And by God, who cares if I'm a baritone? Leo Amadeus is an actor, writer and musician who will take many secrets to the grave. But if they were told at this show, they wouldn’t be secrets, would they? Horse Brother has been toured to both Sydney and Canberra, and now comes to Melbourne International Comedy Festival. A collection of comedy songs and characters: Dr. Henry Blueman and his inability to rid himself of the colour blue; Ringo Bingo's edgy slam poetry and poor relationship with their mother; and why Leo themself can't perform classical music. And, of course, Brad – whose brother is a horse. And many more. Quotes about the show: 'I cannot quite get over how talented this human being is. Extraordinary, truly very funny and very amusing. A little bit mind-blowing. I just bloody loved it all.' Martelle Hammer, Sydney Fringe Festival judge. 'I've seen fourteen fringe shows so far, and this is one of the best. The most talented musical theatre pianist and singer.' Dominic Serov, Sydney Fringe performer. 'It’s like stepping into a fever dream – in the best possible way. Leo is insanely talented as both a singer and musician, and their fast-paced, witty comedy will have you cracking up.' A Sydney Fringe Festival audience member. 'My life has been changed immensely after watching Horse Brother.' A Sydney Fringe Festival audience member. 'Horse Brother is the most amazing mix of insane comedy, the best puns and really genuine moments. And then right back to the craziness.' Lucy Yang-Tobler, Leo Amadeus's partner. 'Leo is the next Tim Minchin.' A Sydney Fringe Festival audience member. 'I just couldn't stop f#%king laughing!' A Canberra preview audience member.
Grace Darling Hotel
Leo is a Parisian who left home for Australia after meeting his girlfriend in Darwin. After all Australia is the real capital of love and light – at least now that he has arrived from Paris to share his humour. In the end we all share the same struggles in life. Except when you’re French, it’s twice as hard but c’est la vie. Leo will be sure to complain about it Whether you’re French, Australian or any other nationality, come share a laugh you’ll never forget. After the show, he’s always happy to share a piece of camembert and a glass of wine to discuss the meaning of life.
Trainscendence
Winner Deadly Funny 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026 Moosehead Recipient In times of uncertainty – when the quiet part’s being said out loud and division is everywhere – we need voices for unity. We need to laugh. We need to feel less alone. Holding Space is comedy with heart – Leon Filewood making sense of the madness, one joke at a time. Leon Filewood is a Torres Strait Islander comedian with Cape York Peninsula connections who has taken a unique path to the stage. His journey, rooted in a desire to protect and empower his community, has led him from the courtroom to the comedy club, blending social commentary with sharp wit. Driven by a passion for his community, he initially pursued a career in law. "I was worried about my community," Leon explains, "I thought, well, if you know the laws, you can protect your people." Along side his legal career Leon has toured the country with his comedy career, and thanks to Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Deadly Funny program. 'A playful take on blackfella stereotypes.' Chortle (UK) Directed by Tom Ballard
The Westin
Thirteen years ago, in an eighth grade English class, a teenage boy was given a simple assignment: write an unconventional fairy tale. Little did he know he was crafting the greatest story ever written. That boy's name was Taruna Jayawardhana, and that story was A Classic Tale. Now, years later, a classmate has recovered this fantastical saga of swords, dragons, love, betrayal, adventure and prescription medication, to finally share it with the world. Following a successful run in Brisbane, up-and-coming stand-up comedian Liam Hartley is ready to bring his debut solo show to Melbourne. Here are some of the audience responses to Taruna Jayawardhana's 'A Classic Tale': "Holy moly, my jaw aches for real. Liam Hartley is a comic phenomenon. If you want a great night out with minute for minute laughs, a twisting narrative and a heartfelt message at its core you have to see this!" "Saw one of the best theatre shows I've seen in my life today. This guy is going to be something great." "Truly one of the best theatre experiences I've had. Hilarious but surprisingly beautiful." "I laughed so hard I cried!" "Silly and funny and sweet." "The best kind of art is art that puts its themes into practice. This show does exactly that." "The best piece of comedy cabaret I saw this year." "An absolute riot that suddenly turns into a striking meditation on art and growing up!"
Trainscendence
What happens when a working class magician tries to survive the absurd world of corporate red tape? Liam "LJ" Jumpertz returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with MagicSafe: Conjuror VS Corporate, a high-chaos, high-laugh magic seminar where workplace safety meets wand safety… and neither survive intact. Fresh off winning the Magician’s Choice Award two years running (2024 & 2025), LJ steps back into the role of your overworked, under-supported MagicSafe trainer. Tasked with enforcing the government’s brand-new WorkSafe x MagicSafe “Performing: The MagicSafe Way”. Think hi-vis vests for doves, PPE for rabbits, a Safe Work Method Statement for every spell and a daily wand inspection no one asked for. But LJ’s biggest hazard isn’t pyrotechnics or unstable magical props. It’s Todd from Corporate. Todd is your classic clipboard-wielding, credit-stealing workplace villain – he's been sent from head office to “monitor the seminar”, but really he’s just there to make LJ’s life miserable. With constant interruptions, contradictory rules and surprise “policy updates”, Todd is determined to sabotage LJ’s session and prove that magic should be left to “qualified corporate professionals”. As LJ desperately tries to keep the seminar on track, the magic spirals into chaos: – New MagicSafe protocols twist LJ’s tricks into absurd new forms – Audience participation becomes an unpredictable workplace hazard – Todd’s interference pushes every illusion toward comedic catastrophe – Safety demonstrations go wildly off-script (and occasionally on fire) And behind every clipboard lurks a new rule designed to ruin LJ’s day This show blends sharp corporate satire, award-winning magic, quick-fire improv and workplace-induced trauma into one hilarious hour. Whether you’ve worked in retail, hospitality, an office, or survived a “quick meeting” that lasted two hours, you’ll recognise the bureaucracy, the frustration and the joy of watching someone else deal with it. MagicSafe: Conjuror VS Corporate is the evolution of LJ’s cult hit MagicSafe seminars, with bigger tricks, bigger laughs and even more ridiculous regulations. It’s The Office meets Utopia meets a magic show! Perfect for comedy fans, magic lovers, stressed-out employees, HR escapees and anyone who’s ever shouted “this could’ve been an email”. Praise for LJ: 'Baffling! I loved it.' Teller (Penn & Teller) 'Liam delivers a show that is as clever as it is unhinged.' The Theatre 'Mind-blowing magic and actual stitches from laughter.' ★★★★★ 'A brilliant send-up of OH&S with genuinely impressive magic.' ★★★★★ 'Todd is the funniest villain since Dwight Schrute.' ★★★★★ 'Smart, sharp, chaotic – one of the festival’s hidden gems.' ★★★★ So clock in, buckle up and prepare for a workplace safety seminar that fails every safety standard imaginable. Will LJ outsmart bureaucracy? Will Todd finally get the recognition he thinks he deserves? And will the MagicSafe seminar end in triumph… or paperwork? There’s only one place to find out. Book now and join the chaos at The Speakeasy Theatre.
Speakeasy HQ
Says Hoo? is a brand-new hour of stand-up comedy from your fave comedian Lizzy Hoo (now with short hair, yep she's in her bob era). Are there moments in your life where you're like "how did we get here?" Well Lizzy is. There are a few things she really just can't get her head around. Her dog has a step mum – yep she shares custody of her rescue greyhound and now he (Owen best boy in the world) has a step mum – what a lucky dog! Lizzy is now obsessed with golf. She calls it prepping for retirement. And somehow she is getting paid to eat and travel. Oh and she broke up with someone at a cake shop – petit fours anyone? And she just updated her dating profile to say "big second wife energy". It’s been a busy 12 months appearing on Have You Been Paying Attention? and Crime Night (to name a few) and jet-setting across Asia as the voice and face of an airline – someone has to do it. Lizzy is also creator and host of podcast The Lizzy Hoo Show. 'Lizzy is a riot.' ★★★★ Time Out
Melbourne Town Hall
In 2026 Lloyd will have been a professional stand-up comedian for 20 years. And it doesn't get any easier. Not the comedy but writing these little blurbs. A brand-new stand-up comedy show from a man that sounds like a YouTube video played at half speed. Come along and hear about Lloyd's problems with every other single person on earth. May contain jokes about giraffes, clouds and salt. As seen on Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You're Here, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, The Hundred With Andy Lee. 'A collection of absolutely top-class standalone jokes.' The Guardian 'Brilliant, charming, understated.' The Independent (UK)
The Victoria Hotel
Winner Billy T Award 2025 NZ International Comedy FestivalWinner Breakthrough Comedian 2023 NZ Comedy Guild AwardsWinner 2022 NZ Raw Comedy Quest You shall not pass... up this opportunity to see some great Kiwi comedy!The last Lord of the Rings movie came out in 2003 and these NZ comedians are still riding that wave.They don’t have a single joke about Hobbits, dragons or really any opinions on the works of Peter Jackson – they’re just using this as a marketing ploy.Although, they are travelling all the way to Melbourne so, in a way, their journey is a lot like Frodo and Sam taking the ring to Mordor (we assume. We haven’t actually seen the movies).'These are some essential people to know about.' Theatreview (NZ)
The Charles Dickens Tavern
"Hey Google, play comedy." From Ada Lovelace to TikTok and beyond, welcome to the love letter to everyone’s favourite source of misinformation. Get ready to experience a bit of music, a bit of video, a few new friends and a whole lot of chaos as we traverse the wide web in search of what it really means to have all the information in the world at your fingertips. After finding fame (a family recognised her in Grill'd once) with comedy trio 3 Percent Battery, Lou Howard has now teamed with award-winning animator Nathan Robinson to bring her first solo show to life. Let’s hope the network connection remains stable.
Grace Darling Hotel
9 Year Drought is a stand-up comedy show that celebrates being single. The stand-up set is delivered as a severe weather briefing, filled with hilarious stories, observations and commentary. Join Louisa for a hilarious and joyful hour of comedy. Louisa is a comedian, writer and improviser based in Brisbane who has written and performed in the Anywhere Festival, Brisbane Fringe Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. She spent two months in the United States in 2023, training at iO Theatre and Second City as well as performing stand-up comedy in Chicago and New York. Louisa appears regularly on the Big Fork Theatre stage and Brisbane stand-up scene. Previous shows include Square Pegs with Georgie Row and Attempt Adjacent with Matt Nunn. Louisa is currently touring her debut solo show, 9 Year Drought.
Grace Darling Hotel
Most people have an unbelievable, fantastical story from their life – the kind that makes others question if that really, truly, happened. Thanks to an unconventional life, Lucy Best has collected more than most. In her latest intimate one-woman storytelling show, Lucy unpacks a treasure trove of real-life tales that are often hard to believe. Do you know anyone else who 'rescues' hankies? Or was expelled from boarding school? Did you know bisexuals are actually real? Lucy will share deeply personal true stories about these things and more. Life is messy and unpredictable, and despite the uniqueness of the stories they are wonderfully relatable, because it's not what happened that connects us, it's how it made us feel. Expect clowning, impressions and plenty of laughs. 'Resolutely unapologetic or regretful... consistently funny.' Jim Schembri 'Tastefully outrageous.' ★★★★ ArtsHub
Central Club Hotel
Critically acclaimed comedy maverick Luke McQueen makes his Australian debut with a mischievously funny show. After years of being overlooked by The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast, Luke has stopped waiting for the invitation – using artificial intelligence, he’s recording the episode himself. Live. Part stand-up show, part psychological breakdown, Comedian’s Comedian is an exploration of ambition, artificial intelligence and if we can still find honesty in the digital age. Join Luke as he sits down for an in-depth, no-holds-barred conversation about his journey through the world of comedy. The highs. The even highers. The moments he won’t let you forget. This is the definitive interview – the one he’s been mentally rehearsing for the last decade – and you’re invited to witness it in real time. Except… something’s off. The interviewer isn’t quite who he seems. The questions are cutting deeper than expected. And suddenly, this isn’t just a career retrospective – it’s a reckoning. 'The show of his career.' ★★★★½ Chortle (UK) 'Relentless fun from the master of ambiguity.' ★★★★ The Guardian 'McQueen is a disruptor in the best possible way.' ★★★★ The Scotsman 'What is certain is that this is a brilliantly inspired show.' ★★★★ Beyond the Joke
ACMI
Following the New Zealand International Science Festival, Luke is returning to Melbourne International Comedy Festival with more goofing and education about introverts and extroverts. PSY24IGE: The role of introverts in society has been diminishing in recent years with their historical positions increasingly taken by those with extrovert tendencies. How can introverts survive and what do they need to do to adapt? This lecture explores the history of introverts in society, their current status and potential future. It is a core lesson within PSY24 and may be attended by others for course credit. Update, tutor Matt Boring (Luke Morris) will be taking this lecture and there are to be no questions about Dr. Lachmann's escaped lab monkeys. It's all totally fine. Do not worry about the escaped monkeys. Bundoora University has that all under control.
City Library
Spineless adjective 1) Without spine or backbone; invertebrate. 2) Lacking strength of character; coward. It'll take fast, physical and oppressively sweaty sketch comedy for Luke Rocca (The Cheap Seats, The Reserve Drivers Podcast) to discover which of the above describes him best. He sold-out his debut run at the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and now Luke's back with a brand-new hour of going full send! 'Rocca is an exciting one to watch, even if he might be a Doormat.' Squirrel Comedy
Club Voltaire
Get ready for a fast-paced 45-minute stand-up show with the incredibly charismatic Mading Jock. He takes you on a trip through his life, bouncing between different times and places. One minute he's a kid from South Sudan trying to fit in in rural Gippsland, the next he's back in his home village, chasing cows with his childhood friends. With four years of comedy experience, Jock is your guide on a funny and heartfelt journey through cultural confusion, figuring out who you are and the common desire to find your place in the world. Get ready for a comedy set that is just as meaningful and thought-provoking as it is packed with big, laugh-out-loud moments.
Trainscendence
What happens when a single mum can’t find a babysitter… but still has a show to run? She brings the kid – and the jokes. Mae Da explores the messy, joyful and heartbreaking realities of new motherhood while reflecting on the loss of her own mum and family secrets. With honesty, warmth and a wicked sense of humour, she milks every moment for laughter, combining storytelling and sharp comedy. Adults get a secret card to decode the R-rated jokes, while kids experience a G-rated engaging silly show. Everyone laughs – just for different reasons. If Mae Da can hide her tears and midnight breakdowns from her little one, she can hide the filthy punchlines too. This is a show about breaking generational trauma with one hand while rocking a baby with the other. A sharp, cheeky and original new comedy that proves you can still be inappropriate –responsibly.
Central Club Hotel
The Mafia have taken over our town! No one is safe. Civilians are dying every night and we're running out of time. Six comedians have been recruited to uncover the cold-blooded killers and bring them to justice. However, we've just been informed that the Mafia have infiltrated the investigation – there are moles among the six, silencing our comic detectives one by one. It's kill or be killed as the Fringe cult hit makes its Comedy Festival debut in a strictly limited season. Pitting a rotating cast of the Festival's funniest against each other, they must bullshit their way to survival and uncover the traitor among them. Come watch the hit role-playing game come to life in an hilarious live show filled with as many laughs as there are lives! Who will survive? Only one way to find out! Six shows only. Lineups announced soon. 'One of the most enjoyable things about Fringe.' The Age 'Terrific, hilarious and cunning way to bring the game to life... an offer you can't refuse.' Chuck Moore Reviews
Melbourne Town Hall
Winner Global Women of Influence Award 2024 Fifty, frisky and family roadtrippin'. A midlife crisis, a round-the-world tour and a glimpse of marital life. Laughs, luggage and a little lack of lingerie. Ooh la la! Following 10 sold out shows at Hong Kong's oldest and best comedy club, the matriarch of Hong Kong comedy makes her long-awaited Australian debut.
Ballers Clubhouse
Extra Ordinary is a comedy show about a man who’s ordinary in every way except for his ideas. One of India’s biggest comedy stars, but he’ll never sell as many tickets as his father – a bus conductor. A first-generation graduate, he hilariously stumbles through language, wokeness, post-colonial confusion and life’s biggest inconsequential debates. With clueless confidence, he takes on questions nobody asked – like whether 'Unstoppable' by Sia is just Indian motivational wisdom or which language truly came first. His thoughts are sometimes revolutionary, sometimes reductive. Come watch a man catch up to modernity, badly.
Trades Hall
Grab your tartan and clutch your pearls – Australia’s favourite kilted queer is back, serving up a scandalously heart-warming comedy hour where death, dysregulation and dodgy dating choices collide in spectacularly neurodivergent fashion. Fresh from the palliative care wards and armed with nothing but a stethoscope, a sporran and clinical levels of sass, our Highland Homo unpacks the wild, tender and occasionally unhinged realities of caring for the dying while trying to keep their own mental health from doing the Highland Fling off a cliff. Expect dark humour with a soft Scottish underbelly, stories that dance precariously between profound and profoundly inappropriate, and a cheeky peek into the absurdity of grief, love, burnout and being the only person in the room who can pronounce someone dead more easily than can pronounce purple burglar alarm. It’s camp. It’s cathartic. It’s clinically questionable. And it’s the only comedy show where you’ll laugh, nearly cry and possibly leave with an advance care plan!
Wheat, Wine & Whisky
Maren loves sending songs she likes to her friends and lovers, but she is starting to think that maybe they don't always listen to them? So she wrote a show about that. This show is a love letter to music through a neurodivergent lens. But you can view it through any kind of glasses, or none at all, it will still be enjoyable. If you ever listened to the same song on repeat for hours on end, and didn't even exaggerate when you say 'hours on end', this is for you. 'A sharp eye for the absurd.' Australian Arts Review ★★★★ Hugging Comedians 'A crack up... even in her more serious stories, there is a delightful slice of silliness.' ★★★★ Fringefeed 'A delightful night of laugh-out-loud jokes.' ★★★★ What’s The Show
Storyville Melbourne
It was in 2006 that the then clean-shaven, even skinnier Mark Watson stepped nervously onstage for the first time at what would become his favourite festival. Twenty years later, his Melbourne shows have taken in sin, death, fatherhood, divorce, identity theft, alcoholism, a massive passport problem, life expectancy, Google and many more things, in amongst an unusual amount of ad-libbing and waving his arms about. Here, Mark attempts to piece together the best routines from his notable Melbourne International Comedy Festival career – while reviving some bits that might not work at all anymore. Either way, it's the last chance to see pretty much all this material! As seen on: This Can’t Be It (Amazon Prime) and Taskmaster UK (Channel 4). ‘Watson’s energy is infectious… this is a genius-level comic doing what he does best.’ ★★★★★ Time Out ‘Seldom do impromptu jokes come wittier, warmer, or more perfectly judged.’ ★★★★★ The Telegraph (UK)
Melbourne Town Hall
Get ready to have a HRT girl summer! It's the joyous, feel-good show you've been searching for. At 42 years of age, lost and lonely, a chance photo opportunity transitions into an eye opening journey of gender rediscovery. Suddenly Marnie Mills is born and there's no going back. She was living deep inside her shell, but that egg has cracked, and now she's out and ready to explore the world through brand-new eyes – and with brand-new lashes! If only she knew the first thing about being a woman. Marnie may be in her 40s but she's experiencing the world for the first time. There's so many unanswered questions. What make up brush is she supposed to use? How is she supposed to put on a dress? Can she find a doctor that will listen to her about hormone treatment? And scariest of all – does she have the courage to wade back into the dating pool? There's only one way to find out. It's an origin story 42 years in the making. 'A celebration of authenticity, resilience, and the journey of becoming. I loved every moment.' Mel 'HRT Girl Summer is hilarious, sweet and wonderfully honest.' Allie 'So educational and yet so much fun!' Stevie HRT Girl Summer is everything you wanted to know about gender transition – and a few things you probably didn't!
Wheat, Wine & Whisky
Looking for love? In a relationship and wanting to laugh at the plight of your single friends? A fun interactive crowd-work show where comedians get to know the audience before playing match-maker and creating perfect pairings. At the end of the show everyone will decide which couple will get Married at (Comedy) Fest Sight!
Trainscendence
Award-winning Kiwi comedian Marshall Lorenzo (Canada’s Drag Race) is back with a brand-new sketch comedy extravaganza, Serving Can't. Fresh off of winning the 2025 NZ Fringe International Exchange Award, Serving Can't is the follow-up to his eight-time NZ Fringe Award-nominated sketch comedy trilogy. Now fully committed to living a lifestyle outside of his means, Serving Can't is a brand-new show about fraud, excess and stupidity. Let's just say we're a gun law away from finally eating the rich, and Marshall Lorenzo is ready to pull the trigger. This show is about finding loopholes in the capitalist snake oil, to fight for bargains and blow off steam around the cost of living. Featuring various unforgettable characters and biting commentary on the dilapidated state of it all! Come see the sequel to the comedy show Theatreview critics called "freakin hilarious", and "on another level". ★★★★★ Now Magazine 'Roars of laughter.' Theatreview (NZ) 'Devastatingly funny.' andrewwhiteside.com
Grace Darling Hotel
Hi, my name is Mathew Hespe, and this is my first solo festival show. I’m Asian (white-passing) and neurodivergent (mild), so like Hannah Montana, you could say I get the best of both worlds. What not to expect: - Further references to Hannah Montana - Crowd work where I ask what you do then make fun of you – who am I to judge? Unless you’re in real estate - Impressive feats of strength (physical) What to expect: - A good time - Impressive feats of strength (comedic) RAW Comedy National Finalist 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. As seen on SBS. 'After a couple more years of experience he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.' The Funny Tonne (a couple of years ago) 'Hilarious.' SYNFM 'Quality laughs.' Hugging Comedians
Pulp
Matt Stewart featuring Suren Jayemanne…or Suren Jayemanne featuring Matt Stewart? Either way it’s an hour of fresh, dry, witty comedy. Matt is an award-winning Melbourne-based comedian. In 2013 he won Australia’s largest open mic stand-up comedy competition, RAW Comedy, and is the co-host of one of Australia’s most popular comedy Podcasts Do Go On and its spin off Who Knew It with Matt Stewart. Suren is a comedian, writer and actor who has appeared on ABC (Question Everything, The Weekly, Comedy Next Gen, Comedy Up Late) and SBS (Celebrity Letters and Numbers, The Cook Up with Adam Liaw).
Coopers Inn
Did you know they add more than 24 hours of content to Netflix each day? You can never catch up. That's why it is imperitive to take stock of your remaining years before committing to six seasons of mediocrity. Is it time to give up on playing cricket for Australia? Will I be the kind of guy who gets really into wine? Give Max Zadnik your time (and money) and he will give you laughter in the face of new fatherhood, waning hobbies and the creeping panic of upcoming middle age.
Grace Darling Hotel
Maybelline is popping her Melbourne Internartional Comedy Festival Cherry! After a sold out 2025 Adelaide Fringe premiere and hot off the heels of her Hollywood debut, it's her comeback tour (pun intended)- Now with more sex jokes! In the 132 days, f#%ked 23 men, ate three Plan B’s, got heartbroken by a J-named man and kissed a girl. Deducting menstruation days and counting the 96 'active', for lack of a better word, 'f#%kable' days where she could sleep with someone (per data collected by period tracking app Flo). Then every day there was a 51% chance of sex, with a 47.9% chance of sleeping with someone new. Statistically Maybelline is a slut. And this is a raunchy comedy cabaret about those 'f#%kable' days. 'Charming.' Hollywood Reporter 'Too much.' Her Ex 'Whip-smart observations on modern Australian dating, wrapped in a hot-pink bow of pop-culture references.' Playwave Creative 'A story about girlhood and how women can do “anything”; meaning the good, the bad and even the ugly.' ATYP Directed by Millicent Sarre Mentored by Michelle Brasier
Storyville Melbourne
Runner up RAW Comedy 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Nominee Best Newcomer 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Lately I’ve been thinking about how hard it is to demonstrate my beautiful mind when everyone is so distracted by my beautiful body. And about all the times I’ve misunderstood the compliments I thought I was receiving. I can't predict what you'll think of this show but I’m sure you'll leave and wonder where I get my Botox injections. I’ll will save you the embarrassment of asking and tell you right now it's a woman named Rachael who is incredible at what she does. 'She’s got something in her delivery that you can’t quite fathom – like watching a close-up magic trick, you know there’s a method, but you’re too blown away to see it.”' ★★★★★ The Funny Tonne 'Jäger subscribes to the Larry David school of comedy: she’s uninterested in clichés and social niceties, especially when they’re standing in the way of her saying something funny.' The Saturday Paper
Trades Hall
Winner Best Comedy Award 2024 Adelaide Fringe WinnerHollywood Fringe Tour Ready Award 2024 Adelaide Fringe Winner Best Comedy Weekly Award 2025 Perth FRINGE WORLD Nominee Best Comedy Melbourne Fringe 2025 Nominee Best Tech ISH Comedy Awards Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Nominee Golden Gibbo Award 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival This is Mel. Mel is normal. But for some reason her comedy shows always end up weird? This time will be different though. This time, she's letting her audience choose what happens. Come along for a one-of-a-kind collaborative clown experience plumbing the depths of normaldom, as decided by you. Let's have a normal one folks! Mel McGlensey is NORMAL is co-created by game designer and academic Douglas Wilson, who has worked on award-winning videogames like Sportsfriends and Mutazione. To manage the audio and visual elements of the show, we're using a custom application programmed by Douglas, who will also be operating it live during each show. We needed something more custom than a standard solution like QLab in order to manage the dynamically branching structure of the show. Using the game engine Unity, Douglas has programmed a system that measures the loudness of real time audience applause in order to dictate what the audience chooses for each category. The software queues up all the show visuals and audio cues, and dynamically populates later choices based on what Melissa has already performed, what previous choices were popular and so on. At the end of the show, we also display some overall trends about audience choices over the course of the run. It’s very impressive stuff! Also, Douglas just happens to be Mel’s husband. Combining both Mel and Douglas’ expertise, the show injects ideas from videogame narrative design into clown and live performance and begs the question, “What is normal?”. The show is a choose-your-own-adventure style experience that uses custom built gaming software to assist the audience in navigating their adventure, creating a different show every night. 'A glorious feat of clowning.' ★★★★ The Age (Motorboat) 'Delightfully bizarre... a fresh and fearless brand of physical comedy.' ★★★★ The List (UK) (Motorboat)Performed by Mel McGlensey Co-created by Douglas Wilson Directed by Sharnema Nougar
Chinese Museum
A brand-new hour of jokes and stories from a man who has spent a lot of his life having to convince people he's not a robot. He's also a new father, but as you'd expect, that barely gets a mention. As heard on triple j and Double J and seen on Channel Ten's The Project (which he wants to be very clear he left before it was cancelled). Also, by the time this show happens Hing should have had laser surgery on his eyes, so if you come and he's wearing glasses things have not gone to plan. 'Endlessly funny.' ★★★★½ The Sydney Morning Herald
QT Melbourne
Irish rising star Mike Rice makes his Australian debut with a rapid-fire hour of darkly twisted storytelling. The Kilkenny native talks about trying psychedelics with his brother, an entanglement with a Spanish sausage dog named Nino, and many other such rotten adventures. Following a sold-out run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, appearances on Channel 4’s A Comedy Thing and as heard on his Guide To Parenting podcast with Vittorio Angelone, Mike Rice is set to win the hearts of audiences across Australia with a distinctive comedic voice that’s equal parts unfiltered, loose and dangerously charming. ‘A phenomenal wordsmith, and world class raconteur.’ ★★★★½ Chortle (UK) ‘Darkly twisted… sharply layered gags and frantic energy.’ ★★★★★ Edinburgh Reviews
Melbourne Town Hall
Milo Edwards has been a professional comedian for ten years. Ten years, four international tours, hundreds of motorway service stations. This show is an hour of Milo’s best material from an entire decade, an anthem for a misspent youth. Expect life, death, Russia, politics, 9-11 and space. Milo is the host of the hit podcasts Trashfuture, Masters of Our Domain and Glue Factory. He has written for Mock The Week (BBC2), The News Quiz (Radio 4), and Breaking The News (BBC Scotland) and has been seen and heard on Radio 4 and Channel 5. He has twice been nominated for Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival (2023 & 2024) and was most recently nominated for Best Show at the Newcastle Fringe Festival in 2025. 'Edwards has quietly become one of the UK’s smartest, most vital stand-ups.' Chortle (UK)'Near perfect.' ★★★★★ The Wee Review (UK)'He must surely go onwards and upwards.' ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK)'A formidable stand-up force.' British Comedy Guide
Chinese Museum
Remember the good old days? When you were hotter/braver/brasher/more fun? Well, let's go back there, shall we? If only for 50 minutes or so... Join award-nominated comedian Mish Wittrup on a walk down memory lane as you both try and figure out where we all went wrong. Mish Wittrup is fresh off her sold out 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival season with a brand-new hour of comedy. You've seen her work with Aunty Donna, Michelle Brasier and on shows like Fisk (ABC/Netflix), Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe (ABC) and Sam Pang Tonight, but you've never seen her like this before! 'She’s one of the most incredible members of Australia’s comedy crowd.' ★★★★½ Glam Adelaide 'Her expertise has the audience continuously laughing.' ★★★★½ Sydney Arts Guide 'An hour in Mish Wittrup's delightful and cheerful company is an absolute joy.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Wittrup deserves to be seen for everything she is and everything she can do.' ★★★★ Theatre Matters
The Greek
An oversharer with a splash of OCD, multi-award-winning comedian Mo Munn was once called “unhinged” by a reviewer – and now she’s made it her whole personality! In her first solo hour, Mo squishes stand-up, experimental and improvised comedy together for a rapid-fire whiplash of a show! Think one-woman comedy buffet, packed with chaotic jokes, outlandish stories and a touch of spectacle. Fresh from debuting at the NZ International Comedy Fest and taking home two comedy awards, Is it off? will keep audiences on their toes, delivering a comedy experience more hectic than a high school rave. 'Her show goes off in a very good way. It deserves to travel far and wide, as long as the oven is up for that.' Theatreview (NZ) 'Jabs and slices at her audience and draws laughs instead of blood.... Thematically it's perfect.' WellyOTT 'Munn is a beautiful singer... I will be coming again for Munn’s warm personality, dedicated preparation and performance, talented singing and acting and her wicked sense of humour.' Theatreview (NZ)
Grace Darling Hotel
An epic magic show that’s funny, heartfelt and brings the whole family together! Deep in the magical forest of Happyvale, the annual Totally Awesome Magic Show is underway – until disaster strikes! It’s up to Mojo the Magical Monkey and Jimmy the Tomato to save the day, in a high-energy adventure packed with dazzling illusions, mischievous jokes and jaw-dropping surprises. This is more than just a magic show – it’s a story-driven, laugh-out-loud experience the whole family can enjoy together. Expect giggles, gasps and even a few teary-eyed smiles as Mojo & Jimmy take you on a wild ride through enchanted forests, cheeky mishaps and truly magical moments. Created by a Broadway magician and The World Champion of Magic. The kids will love it… and you will too.
Melbourne Town Hall
Melbourne Town Hall
Winner Best Performance 2023 Newcastle Fringe Winner Best Children's Podcast 2022 Australian Podcast Awards Clean but chaotic physical comedy for all ages 8+! Harmless but hectic! Innocent but edgy! A PG rated "multi-generational comedy for all' (★★★★, Glam Adelaide) from a master of family entertainment. Acclaimed all-ages performer Mr Snotbottom/Mark Trenwith, brings an accessible and irreverent show that's safe enough to take your granny and twisted enough to take your teenager.Expect an unhinged but inclusive hour of physical character comedy for a broad but savvy audience wanting something fun and frantic.A brand new Mr Snotbottom show that’s less about the ‘pee’ and more about the ‘gee’! 'Guaranteed to leave you smiling ear to ear.' ★★★★½ Hifi Way
ACMI
It’s Agatha Christie, improvised! After sell-out runs in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, the award-winning festival favourite Murder Village returns to Arts Centre Melbourne for the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Immerse yourself in the cozy world of a 1950's Agatha Christie-style novel as Melbourne’s funniest improvisers craft eccentric characters and perplexing mysteries from your suggestions. Any of the village’s suspicious denizens could be dispatched at any moment, and any of them could be the murderer. It’s your secret ballot votes that determine who lives, who dies and who will be unmasked as the culprit. In Murder Village, the local police inspector may be incompetent but thankfully there is always an amateur sleuth on hand to sort the red herrings from the tell-tale clues. See if you can solve the crime first… whether you see one show or all of them, no two chapters of this critically-acclaimed show are the same! 'A masterclass in improvisation.' ★★★★★ Fringe Feed 'Completely enthralling.' ★★★★★ Theatre People 'Keeps you on the edge of your seat.' ★★★★★ On the House! 'Hilarious improv.' ★★★★★ Hub 'Midsomer Murders meets Thank God You’re Here.' ★★★★½ The Ponder Room 'Seamless, smart, and side-splittingly funny – this is improv at its finest.' ★★★★½ The Perth Diary 'Absolutely hilarious.' ★★★★½ Glam Adelaide 'This would easily be the most polished improv I have ever seen.' Judge's Pick comment, 2023 Melbourne Fringe 'A classic English murder mystery that’s fully improvised and loaded with humour.' The Age 'You can bet your life that seeing Murder Village will be the perfect show to end your evening during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.' My Melbourne Arts
Arts Centre Melbourne
I know you thought she was dead. Maybe it was when she fell out of a helicopter in Dubai or off a luxury superyacht in the Bahamas and was bitten by a bull shark. Or who could forget the three gunshots to the leg at her daughter Lisa's wedding? Or the lethal dose of ketamine and the bad salmon in Cincinnati. But you better believe it takes a little more than that to kill Pussy Willow. She's like a cat with nine lives, a soup du jour – they may change the flavour, but they can never take her off the menu. Against all odds, Pussy Willow has survived another year and is now attempting something truly reckless – running a restaurant. Award-winning comedian and Triple R Breakfaster Nat Harris returns, along with her "low-key iconic character, Pussy Willow" (The Age), with another freewheeling hour of comedy. Come experience the absurd, experimental and unhinged comedy combinations being served up in Amuse-Bouche. Expect characters, stories, recipes and meltdowns as big as a chef coming down in a commercial kitchen. She's got all four burners on high and she's flying by the seat of her pants. What could go wrong? Bon appétit, and we really hope to see you there. Kisses,Nat, Pussy Willow and friends xx 'Nat Harris immediately captured the audience's attention with a tonal shift and clever use of left-field humour. She brought laughs from creative ideas.' Hugging Comedians 'Deadpan, perfectly-paced delivery and dry, ballsy demeanour that is a joy.' Chortle (UK) Praise for Pét-Nat + Han ah Chocolat: Winner Golden Gibbo 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 'The most enjoyable hour of the festival.' ★★★★★ The Age 'The next Gina Riley and Jane Turner.' The Age
The Victoria Hotel
Nath's been out of the house... the drama of it all! Jokes, gossip and high-kicks at a sensible hour. Don't miss one of the country’s best comedians in his element. 'Gags that will leave you gasping!' ★★★★★ Herald Sun 'High maintenance, petulant, difficult, antisocial and hard to please. Nath Valvo just gets better and better.' ★★★★ The Scotsman 'A perfectly honed one-hour set... it’s tight, funny and fast.' ★★★★ The Age
The Victoria Hotel
Australia's fastest-rising comedian, Nathan Chin, brings his first-ever hour of sharp, edgy, racial and politically risky comedy to Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Victoria Hotel
If it's the person's dying wish, is cannibalising their corpse ethical? Everyone in the Audience gets a Button is an experimental and interactive comedy show that delivers on its name, putting the power of answering questions and impacting the show directly into the hands of every single audience member. Find out exactly how many people in the room have been pegged, or how many consider themself mentally well, or how many would sooner eat a landlord than make love to one. Questions are framed by the recently lobotomised host Ned Mcvicar as "press the button if ____", and together we get to find out exactly how many pressed it, thanks to a motorised game show wheel that looks like it could self combust at any second. This is all still only the tip of the iceberg, as the show devolves further into contraption-fueled lunacy, utilising an electrified mannequin, button-controlled muscle stimulators and putting the impact of real world consequences behind the push of a button.
Trainscendence
Bringing you the best of his 15 years in comedy! From stories of a sheltered childhood growing up on a farm in Tasmania, to discovering the world through stand-up, Ned Townsend's sharp yet silly style has something everyone will enjoy. A little bit sweet, a little bit dark. For lovers of classic stand-up.
Wolfhound on Brunswick
Want to see three of the UK’s hottest young comedians in one massive show? NEW ORDER brings you the best of the UK comedy scene, live in Melbourne! We’ve done a deep dive to find out who’s lighting up stages across the UK. From fan favourites at Edinburgh Fringe, to stand-outs from Soho Theatre London, we’ve curated a lineup that UK comedy fans can’t stop talking about. Don’t miss your opportunity to see the NEW ORDER of comedy – hot from the UK! Christopher Macarthur-BoydWinner Best Breakthrough Act 2019 Scottish Comedy Awards Nominee Scottish Comedian of the Year Direct from a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run, Glasgow’s foremost purveyor of sad, clever stand-up makes his highly anticipated Melbourne debut. Best known for his hit podcast Here Comes The Guillotine with Frankie Boyle and Susie McCabe, Christopher is a unique storyteller and world-class observational comedian. In addition to his live stand-up specials Oh No (2024) and Scary Times (2025), he’s hosted the BBC New Comedy Award, starred in Comedy Central: Live and presented BBC Scotland’s flagship comedy programme Up For It. ‘A natural showman at the top of his game.’ Rolling Stone ‘Every single gag leads to a great big hearty laugh, and even his sob stories are hilarious.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman Sharon Wanjohi Nominee Chortle Best Newcomer Award 2025 Nominee Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award 2025 After a stand-out Edinburgh Fringe debut, the fast-rising British Kenyan queer comedian is set to make waves in Melbourne with her take on Gen-Z homeownership and cartoon inspired sexual awakenings. A prolific writer/performer, Sharon has written for Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC), Late Night Lycett (Channel 4) and appeared on Comedy Central: Live. ‘Wanjohi’s energy never falters and the laughs come thick and fast.’ Fest Mag ‘Spot on impressions… a candid and hilarious hour.’ ★★★★ The List (UK) Thor Stenhaug Nominee Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award 2025 Nominee NextUp Biggest Award in Comedy 2025 Following sold-out shows at Edinburgh Fringe, a double-run at London’s Soho Theatre and headline performances across Europe, the London-based, Norwegian comedy juggernaut is set for an exciting Melbourne debut. A natural storyteller with an infectious positivity, Thor has toured alongside Angelone Vittorio, Fern Brady and Jack Dee. ‘Stenhaug’s observational storytelling is effortlessly compelling... material is razor-sharp; he could very well be destined for real arenas in the future.’ ★★★★ The Telegraph (UK)‘Norwegian comedy god of thunder has a storming debut.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman
Melbourne Town Hall
Stand-up comedy is a lot like under-12s football – a great way to disappoint your parents and only good when it's dry. Nick Schuller's latest show takes this mantra to its logical extreme for an hour of paint-peeling comedy that's drier than a sub-Saharan Weet Bix. BYO Sorbolene. Nick was handpicked by Melbourne International Comedy Festival to be part of the prestigious Comedy Zone in 2022 and has toured nationally with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow. He writes for The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and has performed around the country and the world. 'Nick Schuller’s snail-paced drawl was perfectly timed.' ★★★★½ The Age 'One of the most promising acts to come out of Australia in a long time.' ★★★★★ The Scotsman
Trades Hall
Two 2025 RAW Comedy National Finalists come together to share their bad ideas. Come see these two rising stars of Australian comedy before they do something really stupid! Reviews: Koko the gorilla – “Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you."
Grace Darling Hotel
Nick White craves validation from audiences. This year he is upping the ante by seeking validation through six additional personas that live through him. But really, he just wants to have a fun, silly and interactive night with the characters his fans love most. Join Nick, Carli, Jerrie, Jean, Sharni, Bobbi and Leaf to find out who will walk away with the top prize. 'Hilarious and lightning quick.' Theatre Travels
Arts Centre Melbourne
Unladylike is a delicous banquet of wild, wicked,and wanton comedy. Melbourne’s very own unoffical comedy dame Nicky Barry is bringing her riotous, risqué and unapologetically feminist show Unladylike to Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Every evening, she'll be aided and abetted by some of the very best femmes of the Fest. They've probably all flunked finishing school, but they’ve graduated with honours in hilarity, sass and scandal. Unladylike is a celebration of wild women, feminist fire and deliciously naughty misbehaviour. Expect an early evening of cheeky commentary and laughter that’s strictly adults-only. If you’re a prude, consider this your warning – if you’re not, this is your invitation! Nicky Barry is a multi-award-nominated comedian born and raised in Melbourne who regularly performs right across Australia and occasionally beyond. Most recently, Nicky starred in Tom Ballard’s critically acclaimed play Jks: A Comedy(?) at Melbourne Fringe. This show has been developed by The Comedy Women's Association to showcase and support the many talented women performing at the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Ballers Clubhouse
Spark is an inclusive, interactive theatre experience with live music, storytelling and tactile magic (plus marshmallows!). A wonderful introduction to live theatre for kids aged 3 and upwards (and their parents), Spark is a sensory-driven show created to break traditional boundaries. Together we embark on a poignant and hopeful journey toexplore the universal question, "How can we hold onto our spark, and can we hold on to it forever?" Join clown character Étincelle on a magical journey through the sea, caves, forest and space as she searches for her spark. Along the way, Étincelle explores different places – first chasing her dream of becoming a marshmallow maker and later discovering the beauty of simpler pleasures like nature and everyday moments. Facing challenges and obstacles, she frequently encounters PC Percy, a cautious policeman who just wants to keep everyone safe by not allowing them to cross. This sensory-filled adventure immerses audiences in a world where you can feel water, taste marshmallows and smell the flowers. With catchy original music and heartwarming moments, Spark is accessible and interactive theatre.
Library at the Dock
Nikki Britton has made being a silly bitch an artform. She has somehow avoided marriage and babies just so she can live an outrageous life and report back to you. With her incomparable storytelling and infectious energy, this will be an hour of rapturous joy from an award winning comedian at the top of her game. If you’re not double fisting champagne with the girlies in the front row of a Nikki Britton show, what are you doing? Seen on Have You Been Paying Attention, Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee and soon, Amazon's Deadloch. 'Incredible force-of-nature delivery... makes the gig feel like a party, but she has the material to back the phenomenal presence.' Chortle (UK) 'Nikki Britton is one of a kind.' Theatre Matters 'Few comics reduce their audience to the constant waves of laughter for the full hour like Britton does... breathlessly energetic performance that sweeps up all in her path.' Chortle (UK)
QT Melbourne
After working for three years as a bottle shop manager and growing up with a dad who brews beer, Noah Holland knows a lot about alcohol. But, when they quit drinking in 2024, all of that knowledge became useless, until now! 2025 RAW Comedy State Finalist Noah Holland hopes to delight audiences with a new comedy show that's two shots of traditional stand-up, one shot of flamboyant flare, topped off with a hint of that sweet, sweet Holland charm. In this show that's (loosely) about booze, Noah also hopes to showcase their performing chops. Are they up to the challenge? Have they poured out more than they can swallow? There's only one way to find out. Come watch what could be greatest show on earth. All Noah asks of you is to hold their beer.
Trainscendence
Nominee 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show Olga Koch has one good story. Only it’s not really her story. Do you wanna hear it? In Fat Tom Cruise, see the Melbourne and Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated star comb through recent history in an immersive and genre-defying new show. Directed by Jet Vevers. ★★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Observer
Melbourne Town Hall
As heard on Dylan Alcott’s ListenAble podcast. Host of Access That, a podcast about travelling with a disability. Presented by Tourism and Events Queensland Having a disability isn’t all parking permits and skipping the queue. Sometimes it’s just trying to get through the day without screaming. In this brutally honest and brutally funny new show, comedy favourite Oliver Hunter unloads about everything that pisses him off about navigating the world in a wheelchair. He’s sick of reassuring everyone that “It’s all good!” – and he’s ready to vent about it all: raising a toddler he can’t run after, worrying about an airline losing his chair, constantly having to deal with able-bodied people’s silly assumptions about what he can and can’t do – and much more. If you’ve ever felt like the world isn’t built for you – or you just want to hear someone say all the stuff you’re not allowed to – don’t miss It’s All Good. It’s sure to make you laugh, squirm, think… and then laugh again. Directed by Tom Ballard. 'Charming, witty and offering a perspective that doesn’t get much airtime... very, very funny.' Scenestr
Trainscendence
An inspiring and educational comedy show about how one man (Om Tom) learnt Indonesian by accident through the different episodes of his life. Delivered bilingually, Learning Indonesian with Om Tom is not only a comedy show but an effort to build bridges between Indonesian and English-speaking communities. Om Tom was born in Papua New Guinea, grew up in Australia, studied in Indonesia and has worked in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and East Timor. He's tried every language learning strategy, and turned all of them into jokes. In this show about how 'not' to learn a language, Om Tom shares his hilarious language learning journey, and provides the crowd with real language tools for their next trip to Bali. *Indonesian knowledge not required, this is an intro class after all! 2026 Adelaide Fringe Foundation Recipient
Trainscendence
Join comedians Jess Fuchs (girl) and Nick White (gay) for another raucous and ridiculous showcase of some of the sexiest, silliest and sauciest female and LGBTQIA+ stand-up comedians this Festival has to offer. Jess and Nick are the co-creators of One For The Girls & The Gays, the live comedy phenomenon that's been making crowds gag since 2023. Born from a desire to showcase the best queer and female comedians in Australia, the show quickly outgrew its humble beginnings, selling out major venues including The Comedy Store. In 2025, Jess and Nick sold out four nights at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and now, in 2026, they're back for a big, one-night-only spectacular! Nick White is an internationally recognised comedian and content creator, beloved for his dynamic stand-up, playful crowd work and iconic characters. Jess Fuchs is known for her razor-sharp crowd work and high-energy storytelling. She's opened for international acts including Fortune Feimster, Gianmarco Soresi, Morgan Jay and more. Past One For The Girls & The Gays lineups have featured comedy superstars including Becky Lucas, Chris Parker, Danielle Walker and more! And at the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the lineup promises to be just as raucous, ridiculous and irresistibly fun, showcasing the sexisest, silliest and sauciest comics coming to Melbourne!
Coopers Inn
The National Theatre's deliriously funny hit!It's 1963 in Brighton, England. Francis Henshall, down on his luck, socially naive ex-musician, becomes separately employed by two men – Roscoe Crabbe, a local gangster and Stanley Stubbers, an upper-class criminal. Along the way Francis also gets tangled up in the affairs of a retired gang leader, a Latin-speaking solicitor, an over-the-top actor and his clueless fiancée, a flirtacious bookeeper and a Jamaican bartender... what happens next will surely have you in stitches!Written by Richard BeanDirected by Johno WhitePresented by J&L Entertainment
Piano on Swan
We all make mistakes, but rarely do they change the course of history. 5 Mistakes That Changed History is a hilarious historical storytelling show performed by historian and comedian, Paul Coulter, about five people and how their mistakes (big and small!) changed the world. Blending history, storytelling and comedy, the show has been a smash-hit, sell-out success on the comedy festival circuit, selling out both Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Adelaide Fringe three years in a row in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The show was named by British Comedy Guide as one of the 'Best Reviewed Edinburgh Fringe Shows' and was chosen as one of the 'Picks of the Fringe'. Paul is the author of the bestselling book 10 Mistakes That Changed History, which was published by Penguin Random House in 2025. Paul has appeared on air talking about history's greatest mistakes on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5, BBC Radio London and Times Radio. If you love history, don’t let your mistake be missing out on this show! Scottish Herald '20 Best Shows to see at the Edinburgh Fringe' British Comedy Guide ‘Best Reviewed Shows at Edinburgh 2024’ 'So engaging and entertaining that I forgot I was there to review it.' ★★★★★ Theatre Weekly 'Brilliantly entertaining…earns its place as one of the best reviewed shows in recent years.' ★★★★★ Broadway World 'Entertaining and informative.' ★★★★★ Edinburgh Reporter 'Highly enjoyable and educational, it really leaves you wanting more.' ★★★★★The Recs 'The perfect balance between entertaining and educating.' ★★★★★ Corr Blimey 'Funny, informative and entertaining, this show will delight you if you’re a history buff and turn you into one if you’re not.' ★★★★½ Glam Adelaide
Trades Hall
People You Know is a character study of those people in life that we all know. Through individual sketches, this show will celebrate and highlight the small details in life and in people that make us laugh but we are not sure why. Those characters that we can all recognise, because at some stage we have probably met them, observed them, dated them, lived with them, worked with them, watched them on TV, been served by them, nearly been knocked over by them on a bike path or simply stood next to them on the tram and tried to ignore them. Emily, Christie and Jess have the sort of friendship chemistry you hope for in adult life. On stage these hilarious woman are a perfectly complementary trio of a dips! Something for everyone. So get your group chat to come along to a sexy little late-night sketch show, drink a large wine and have a laugh.
The Westin
Aussie comedy icon Pete Rowsthorn is pairing up with his daughter, triple j’s Frankie Rowsthorn in Smooth and Wrinkly. A night of stand-up comedy, stories of home and their time together on The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition and the Kath & Kim Quiz Volume 2. Pete is best known as long-suffering husband and pants-man Brett Dean-Craig on Kath & Kim and from numerous Thank God You’re Here appearances. Last year Pete stepped back onto the comedy stage, selling out festival shows across Australia. Frankie has performed at major festivals nationwide, and has supported Joel Creasey, Rhys Nicolson, Becky Lucas and Maria Bamford.
Melbourne Town Hall
What happens when a well-meaning comedian makes a cheeky joke about ISIS… during a live interview with Tim Cahill… on national TV… right before a World Cup qualifier against Honduras? A full-blown international incident, apparently. In this hilariously outrageous true story, Pete Helliar finds himself at the centre of a media firestorm after a throwaway line on The Project goes global. It’s a wild, hilarious deep dive into intent, outrage and the terrifying power of a one well-timed punchline. Was Pete off side – or just ahead of the game? 'This is pro-comedy.' ★★★★★ The AU Review 'Peter Helliar makes the difficult business of being funny look dead easy.' Adelaide Advertiser Directed by Zoë Coombs Marr
ACMI
Parasomniac Phil De Bondi goes from waking nightmare to living the dream in a heartfelt comedy of no sleep, much trauma and one man's quest to protect his beloved children from those pesky albatrosses. After finally being diagnosed, the sleep-overactive, overachieving and over-thinking De Bondi starts questioning everything: - Why did his mum freeze three months of sandwiches at a time? - Why didn't his wife drive him to Emergency when he had that heart attack? - And where are those submarines going? Can De Bondi get to the bottom of his dreams... and that mountain of sandwiches? One thing's for certain, in this voyage through childhood trauma, sexsomnia and probable dementia – reality gets funny when your captain's asleep at the wheel but his body isn't. Directed by Marcel Blanche-de Wilt.
Central Club Hotel
World famous clown-duo known only in Estonia State awarded, loved by kids and adults, Piip and Tuut are heartwarming characters that you do not want to miss! In the show two clowns go to a concert hall for a fun-filled night of slapstick, songs and acrobatic mischief. Piip and Tuut are two janitors who tidy the concert hall before and after each performance. One day, they are surprised to realise that they’ve left their supplies on the stage – but the concert is about to start! This world-class clown-duo appears in the lights and puts up a show unlike anything you've ever seen. A physical comedy full of unique clown tricks, songs and improvisation. And the laughter is contagious! 'Unique talents fitting every stage in the world' ★★★★★ Kennedy Center, USA 'Dario-Fo-kind of experience and unpredictably warm-hearted clowning.' ★★★★★ Tampere Theatre Festival, Finland For ages 3 – 103. Warning! It's not a concert, it's a clown show. Language: simple English Actors Haide Männamäe and Toomas Tross have graduated from Theatre School in Tallinn, Estonia based on Stanislavski's method, and The Commedia School in Copenhagen, Denmark based on Lecoq's method. Awards: The Order of the White Star decorated by the President of Estonian Republic (2022) Theatre Prize of the Year in Estonia (2014) as the best company playing for the young audiences. Nominated for the same prize in 2018 and 2021. Bio: Piip and Tuut Theatre was formed by two actors Haide Männamäe and Toomas Tross and named by their clown characters Piip and Tuut. They have been performing together since 1998 and established the authentic Piip and Tuut Playhouse in Tallinn, Estonia in 2010. There are more than a dozen different stage productions in the repertoire of Piip and Tuut Theatre, including four TV series and their own web-channel (piipjatuut.tv). In September 2025 a new documentary movie My Family and Other Clowns about Haide Männamäe and Toomas Tross was released. Piip and Tuut Theatre have been touring around the world for 20 years in Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia. This is their first time in Australia.
ACMI
Australia's finest up-and-coming young comedians bring their creative visions to the stage and debut their solo shows. Pilot is back and better than ever, with six exciting young comics headlining shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the very first time! Come and see the heavy hitters of tomorrow’s comedy scene and say you saw them before they were big. 'The future of comedy is in safe hands.' Radio Monash
The Greek
Playhouse Pantomimes is proud to present… absolutely anything you want! Our hilarious team of improvisers will make up a brand-new musical pantomime on the spot. But we need your help! Bring along a head full of ideas and we’ll create a fairytale based on suggestions that you, the audience, give us! There’ll be plenty of music and plenty of laughs. There could be puppets, there might be dancing – we don’t know, we haven’t written it yet!Playhouse Pantomimes been creating theatre for children since 2017, with musical adaptations of classics such as Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood and The Wind in the Willows. Following two successful Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs of adapted works in 2022 and 2023, we presented Story Soup in 2024, and it was an enormous success. Together with our young audiences, we made up musicals about everything from a witch who wants to zap all the colour from the world, to a horse who does stand-up comedy. We had stories set under the sea, in a 7/11, on the Titanic, in a robot kingdom, in a fairy garden – endless possibility! It now returns in 2026 for more stories.Our cast includes members of Impromptunes, The Big HOO-HAA!, Improv Theatre Sydney and The Improv Conspiracy.
ACMI
Indian stand-up star Prashasti Singh makes her Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut with Divine Feminine, her acclaimed hour of sharply observed stand-up. Prashasti always wanted to live the life of a man. Inching towards 40, but pretending to be 30, she can finally mark this dream complete. But instead of happiness, she finds herself pondering if it’s worth the price? In her brand-new stand-up show, Prashasti questions all her life choices and meticulously assigns blame to the women and men who shaped her into this being. Compelling, relatable and quietly rebellious, Divine Feminine balances thoughtful social observation with warmth and precision, delivering an hour that is as insightful as it is entertaining. Prashasti Singh has appeared on Netflix’s Ladies Up and Comedy Premium League, Amazon Prime Video’s Comicstaan, and released her stand-up special Door Khadi Sharmaaye on YouTube. Following a successful English-language run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, she now brings this acclaimed show to Australian audiences, performing shows in both English and Hindi. ‘An arresting hour of silly-smart stand up.’ The Guardian (UK) ‘Perfectly enjoyable, compelling and undeniably relatable.’ Fest Mag Hindi performance on Thu 2 April – buy tickets here
The Westin
Indian stand-up star Prashasti Singh makes her Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut with Divine Feminine, her acclaimed hour of sharply observed stand-up. Prashasti always wanted to live the life of a man. Inching towards 40, but pretending to be 30, she can finally mark this dream complete. But instead of happiness, she finds herself pondering if it’s worth the price? In her brand-new stand-up show, Prashasti questions all her life choices and meticulously assigns blame to the women and men who shaped her into this being. Compelling, relatable and quietly rebellious, Divine Feminine balances thoughtful social observation with warmth and precision, delivering an hour that is as insightful as it is entertaining. Prashasti Singh has appeared on Netflix’s Ladies Up and Comedy Premium League, Amazon Prime Video’s Comicstaan, and released her stand-up special Door Khadi Sharmaaye on YouTube. Following a successful English-language run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, she now brings this acclaimed show to Australian audiences, performing shows in both English and Hindi. ‘An arresting hour of silly-smart stand up.’ The Guardian (UK) ‘Perfectly enjoyable, compelling and undeniably relatable.’ Fest Mag Please note this performance is in Hindi. For English language shows please click here.
The Westin
Pushan Bose—Australian entertainer of Indian origin and the mind behind a viral dual-persona phenomenon (100M+ global views)—brings his wildly unpredictable stage show to MICF. Tunes & Tumbles is an oblique collision of music, comedy, movement, and controlled chaos. It’s a show about bold life choices, questionable outcomes, and the sounds that shape us—performed live, loud, and just a little off the rails. Expect: Spotlight – bold life decisions and questionable outcomes, powered by original music Music through time – the songs that rewired the artist’s brain Post-show hang – mingle, connect, and recharge Smart. Silly. Slightly dangerous.Results may vary.
Kindred Studios
Now in its sixth year, Naarm/Melbourne's favourite all-Queer comedy showcase is back! Queerly Beloved features the best LGBTQIA+ acts from Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with past lineups including Rosie Jones, Chloe Petts, Reuben Kaye, Lou Wall and many more!With a diverse rotating cast of comedians representing the entire spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities, each show has something for absolutely everyone. 'Cult sensation.' The Age★★★★★ The Funny Tonne️️️★★★★ The Age
The Westin
The grand finale of Australia’s biggest open mic competition! Celebrating 30 years of unearthing emerging Australian comedy superstars, the RAW Comedy National Grand Final is where we present the best of the best. For three months we’ve scoured the nation for the sharpest material, bravest jokes, most unexpected punchlines and pure unfiltered comic genius. See our national finalists take to the Melbourne Town Hall stage to battle it out, laugh after laugh, for the ultimate bragging rights and the chance to be crowned Australia’s next comedy sensation. There’s no better place to see the future of Australian comedy, so grab your tickets now! RAW Comedy – where comedy legends are born. Previous RAW Comedy alumni include: Anne Edmonds, Hannah Gadsby, Ronny Chieng, Matt Okine, Becky Lucas, Aaron Chen, Sarah Kendall, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor, Rhys Nicholson, Tom Ballard, Bron Lewis, Sam Campbell, Georgie Carroll, David Woodhead, Cassie Workman, Luke Heggie, Danielle Walker and more. RAW Comedy is proudly supported by Collarts
Melbourne Town Hall
Rachael Hornbuckle, 2023 RAW Comedy State Finalist and 2025 Comedy Zoner, makes her solo debut by ripping the bandage off our obsession with hiding imperfections. A registered nurse who’s worked inside the industry, she digs into the beauty world from within, sheds light on it and uncovers the delusions we buy into. Skin Deep and Meaningful explores self-worth, vanity, beauty, chaos and comebacks. A show about smoothing out the flaws we can’t hide. 'An undeniable stand-out from last year’s Comedy Zone, Hornbuckle couples an absorbing stage presence with politically charged quips to lustrous effect. Her final joke might just be the best one-liner at this year’s festival.' Funny Toone Not to be missed.
Chinese Museum
After successful runs of shows, Hello Players and Killa from Manila, Randy hits Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the third year in a row with his latest offering I Got Rizz, It's Multiplying! Featuring his trademark joyful and upbeat shenanigans with a mischievous undertone, Randy performs stand-up, character comedy and musical comedy. With some characters from his recent Fringe show, Broken Man, joining some new characters, bits and comedy rap songs. Come join Randy in a comedy show that answers the question, "What is rizz? And can you have too much of it?" With Tiana Hogben (Thank God You're Here) returning to direct, expect a show that flows smoothly and doesn't take a break once it hits full speed. Non-stop zany characters with heart and likely all different voices, costumes and accents await. Come see I Got Rizz, It's Multiplying now!
Storyville Melbourne
Nominee Best Newcomer 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Runner Up RAW Comedy 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023 Special encore return show! I went through Tom Gleeson’s trash for a year to get an insight into the nation’s greatest artistic product since Blue Heelers. What I found will delight and disgust you. It will change the way you see the world and understand the human condition. This show was nominated for an award – and I am no longer allowed within 2km of any of Tom Gleeson’s homes. Do you know a good lawyer?
Trades Hall
Three comedians deliver stand-up sets on their favourite period and place in history and why, or do stand-up as their favourite character from history. So want to see stand-up comedy from Gandhi, Kylie Minogue or Osama Bin Laden? Well now's your chance! A great way to laugh, learn and discover which comics you want to see at the Festival. Hosted by multi-award winning comedian & history buff – Raul Kohli 'Funny, moving, powerful.' Mike Reiss (Writer/Producer The Simpsons) 'The Bobby Thompson of our times.' (Dan Jackson, historian & regular on The Rest Is History) ★★★★★ The Guardian
Captain Melville
Three comedians deliver stand-up sets on their favourite period and place in history and why, or do stand-up as their favourite character from history. So want to see stand-up comedy from Gandhi, Kylie Minogue or Osama Bin Laden? Well now's your chance! A great way to laugh, learn and discover which comics you want to see at the Festival. Hosted by multi-award winning comedian & history buff – Raul Kohli 'Funny, moving, powerful.' Mike Reiss (Writer/Producer The Simpsons) 'The Bobby Thompson of our times.' (Dan Jackson, historian & regular on The Rest Is History) ★★★★★ The Guardian
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
Three comedians try to make you laiugh, if they fail they take a shot! They first do 10 minute sets. For every joke that bombs, they have to do a shot. The audience then vote for their two favourites to go head to head in a game of Never Have I Ever where, if the comic drinks, they have to explain the story! And if the story isn't funny, another shot! Will the comics still be standing by the end? Come find out! Sell out show 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. ★★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★★ Fest Mag
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
When Ray O’Leary (Taskmaster NZ, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show Nominee) was born, winter changed to spring, a new star appeared in the heavens and a double rainbow spontaneously appeared. With this auspicious start, it is no wonder he became leader of North Korea in 1994 until his untimely death in 2011. Despite this minor setback, he found time to bring you a whole new show. ‘A very strong comic indeed.’ ★★★★ Chortle (UK)‘A jokesmith of the highest order.’ ★★★★The Skinny (UK)‘He twitches and moves nervously.’ ★★★★★ Starburst Magazine (UK)
Melbourne Town Hall
Lie back and think of... Rheinberger & Wilson. A unique musical comedy duo, bringing their own off-the-wall musical couples therapy they promise to thoroughly entertain and tackle modern life’s challenges head-on. Combining razor-sharp songs about modern life and love with brooding accordion, gutsy guitar and sweet harmonies, they go where other couples fear to tread. You’ll hear funky songs about Shakesperean dick pics, the challenges of being named Karen and shopping at Aldi, as well as other First World problems. Fresh from their sold-out tour of Gladys: A Musical Affair, Nick Rheinberger, ABC presenter and singer-songwriter teams up once again with comedy songstress Tia Wilson, to deliver laugh-out-loud cabaret across Australia.
Bar Open
Hilarious walking tour through St Kilda’s dark criminal past – where comedy meets true crime. If you love true crime but can’t handle another dry, textbook-style tour, this is the show you’ve been waiting for. Comedians Shayne Hunter (creator of True Crime Comedy Tours across Australia) and Ro Campbell (Scottish Comedian of the Year) team up to turn St Kilda’s chaotic criminal history into 90 minutes of sharp, unforgettable entertainment. Drawing on meticulously researched stories from 70–100 years ago, Shayne and Ro bring to life Australia’s shortest gangster, fierce women of the underworld, teenage street wars and the wild secrets hiding beneath St Kilda’s seaside charm. No boring dates. No monotone guides. Just gripping history delivered by two seasoned comedians who know how to make even the darkest tales hilarious. This walking show is the most entertaining way to explore Melbourne’s past. Join the hundreds who’ve already discovered comedy’s answer to true crime.
Meeting Point: Outside Northern Soul
Romantic Comedy is your chance to fall in love with this award-winning couple! Chris Nguyen and Robyn Reynolds are very much in love.But, they spend every night making other people laugh! So, they’ve invited the audience along. You’re invited to a comedy date with Chris and Robyn. Enjoy hilarious stories about falling in love at open mic nights.For those brave enough, there'll be an audience game... If you're looking for a fun lighthearted, love-filled night of comedy – look no further! 'A smooth and engaging show that allows audiences to simply sit back and enjoy.' Theatre Travels 'Not only does Reynolds have a great voice, but she can also craft a catchy tune.' ★★★★★ Time Out 'Chris absolutely slayed. Smart, sharp writing. A name to remember.' ★★★★ One4Review ★★★★★ Broadway World ★★★★★ Theatre Matters ★★★★ Chortle (UK) [Robyn Reynolds was nominated for Best Newcomer at 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival]
Trades Hall
Risible, adjective: provoking laughter through being ludicrous. Comedian and RAW Comedy 2025 Victorian State Finalist, Rory Harman, delivers an hour of wry observations, ranging from everyday mundanities to the human condition. Expect reflections on travel, family, his favourite things, pettiness, relationships, the thing growing on his neck, the arts, the mortal coil. Whether you're after a quick one-liner or a long tangent, Risible has got you covered.
Grace Darling Hotel
What happens when you’ve almost reached the top of a mountain you’ve been climbing for years and you realise that maybe you should have been concentrating your efforts on another mountain entirely? The winner of the 2025 Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award, Rosco McClelland makes his debut at Melbourne International Comedy Festival with one of the best-reviewed shows at Edinburgh Fringe (British Comedy Guide). Twice nominated for Best Newcomer at the Scottish Comedy Awards and winner of Best International Act at New Zealand Comedy Festival 2025, Rosco is rapidly becoming one of comedy's brightest stars. ★★★★★ Broadway World (UK) ★★★★★ One4review (UK) ★★★★★ The Skinny (UK) ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ The List (UK) ★★★★ Chortle (UK)
Trades Hall
Step into the wild, shocking and utterly hilarious world of a nurse with over two decades of battle scars and unbelievable stories. From night-shift chaos to patients who say (and do!) the darndest things, this show delivers laugh out loud moments only a seasoned healthcare warrior could survive – let alone joke about! Smart, cheeky and brutally honest, it's the perfect prescription for anyone that loves comedy with a dose of real life.
Limerick Arms
Ross Daniels & Geoff Paine present a low-tech seminar for both old and annoyingly young on what to expect with an ageing population: romance scams, techno-flubs, dodgy memory and... oh, it’ll come to us. Geoff and Ross will alarm/educate the audience on what to do when you lose your hair (but not your marbles). Special guest: The Grim Reaper.
Bard's Apothecary
Nominee Golden Gibbo 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Nominee Best in Comedy 2022 Sydney Fringe Ross Purdy launches an attack on the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his brand of weapons grade comedy in this irrerevent, surrealist stand-up/sketch show, Ross Purdy puts the "destruction" in "deconstructionist alt comedy stand-up comedian". He is award nominated and criticialy reviewed! 'Any fans of the American anti-humour comedian Andy Kaufman will be satiated by the great Ross Purdy.' Eezy Sleez Art 'Crude, aggressive, somewhat confronting anti-capitalist anti-consumerist anti-fascist rhetoric propaganda and it was really really fun.' Praise Dionysus 'If you like zany comedy, like Eric Andre, Tim & Eric, that's Ross' vibe on stage.' The Tuesday Review
Bard's Apothecary
Rove McManus has had over 25 years of talk show hosting under his belt. That's a lot of talking... as well as chatting, conversing, interviewing, chin wagging and general banging-on – so why stop now? Only this time, it's you the audience who get to ask the questions. Favourite guest? Worst disaster? What's Elmo really like? Come spend a night of stand-up and stories as Rove spills the tea reliving his days behind the desk. 'Now this is how you perform stand-up.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Polished, well co-ordinated and funny.' The West Australian 'Simply brilliant stuff!' Australian Stage
Arts Centre Melbourne
This story starts on Friday 13 December 2024 at 5:37pm. Rowan knows this precisely, because that’s what the police report says. While playing catch with his wife in a local park, comedian Rowan Thambar witnesses a moderate crime. This show documents everything that led up to that fateful incident and the events that transpired afterwards. Rowan is one of Australia’s most exciting voices on the comedy scene. He’s written for Channel 10’s The Project (Rest in Peace), been nominated for Best Comedy at Melbourne Fringe, toured nationally with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow and chances are you've heard him on triple j, NOVA or ABC National Radio. This year he returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time in years, with a show all about a local true crime, doing the right thing in a divided world and 2000's hitmaker Fatman Scoop. Come spend an hour with this “excellent" storyteller (The Age) as he explores culture, faith and the psychological profile of cretins who don't reply to text messages. 'His tales of working behind the scenes at The Project are engrossing, as are his quips about modern-day friendship, immigration and tales of visiting Sri Lanka.' The Age 'Very good.' Time Out 'Certainly is one to watch.' Herald Sun
Chinese Museum
When sharp-tongued Sydney-sider Ruby Teys escapes to a small town in Sardinia for some sun and a strong espresso, a flirtatious cappuccino with a brooding local barista turns into the date from hell! With no exit in sight and everything spiralling out of control, she blurts out a lie so outrageous that it stops him cold... and pulls her in deeper. Instead of sipping limoncello and ghosting gracefully, Ruby is suddenly stuck playing the role of a lifetime in a sleepy Sardinian village where everyone’s a suspect, secrets don't stay buried and Stefano's cousin just happens to be connecting all the dots. Tangled in a web of pasta, passion and preposterous pretending, will Ruby fake it 'til she makes it out... alive? 'Teys delivers a character performance that simply must be inducted into the Australian consciousness.' ★★★★★ Time Out 'A force in Aussie comedy.' ★★★★ The Age
The Greek
Debuting to a sold out season at Adelaide Fringe in 2024 and winning the One to Watch Award, Ryan Mason's first solo show makes its Melbourne premiere in what can only be described as a misguided attempt to impress his Dad. The story of a young man and his tumultuous relationship with his father, this is a show about family, identity and why it’s a terrible idea to pursue a career in the arts to make your family proud.
Speakeasy HQ
The café I’m sitting in wouldn’t let me pay before I ordered, so now I’m waiting for the same worker to come take the same order and put it into the same machine. I’m starting to fossilise. The staff have forgotten I exist, time has stopped and I think I’m now technically a display item. But you haven’t forgotten me, have you Australia? You’ve seen me on The Cheap Seats, working on The Hundred with Andy Lee and Adelaide Advertiser (not a family member) said I’ve got “natural charisma, good hair, mad rap skills… the whole package.” (If not a little under-caffeinated.) I’ve been here so long I’ve used my captivity to write a brand0new hour of stand-up and songs. I’m starting to think they’ll never- Oh, hi! I’ll have a large audience, extra-hot and locally-sauced. Oh, you just need the table? That’s fine. I’ll go. Come see me alive, ¾ strength and On Ice.'Hilarious.' Radio Today 'One of the best.' Beat Magazine 'High energy, witty, a little dark, and very talented.' The Funny Tonne★★★★ Glam Adelaide ★★★★ Rip It Up
QT Melbourne
It has been a year since Sam Hargreaves presented Confessions of a Railway Enthusiast at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In the time since, he has had even more experiences with the entitled, the argumentative and the know-nothing know-it-alls in the rail enthusiast community. These characters will be familiar to anyone who has ever worked in customer service or belonged to a hobbyist group. This is Sam's second time performing at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. His work has also been seen at Melbourne Fringe, Castlemaine Fringe Festival, Bendigo Comedy Festival and Geelong Comedy Festival. He has been a cast member of the theatre-dinner show, Murder on the Puffing Billy Express, since 2018. His experiences as a volunteer at the Mornington and Victorian Goldfields Railways, and as a character performer in Days Out with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Puffing Billy Railway, give him plenty to talk about in Frustrations of a Railway Enthusiast.
Trainscendence
Nominee Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 In her Australian solo debut, Sam Jay explores how a black woman who never truly felt a part of her country might grapple with its certain demise. An Emmy-nominated writer (Saturday Night Live), producer and star of HBO series Pause with Sam Jay, with two critically acclaimed specials – 3 In The Morning (Netflix) and Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me (HBO) on her resumé, Sam is “one of the most exciting provocateurs in comedy right now” (The New York Times). Alongside her Best Show nomination at the the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Sam won the Uprise Award that recognises shows that challenge dominant narratives, offer fresh perspectives and spark conversation. 'Makes big concepts provocatively funny... a cool diagnosis of America’s ills.' ★★★★½ The Guardian (UK)
Melbourne Town Hall
Winner Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 Following a breakout run at Edinburgh Fringe which scooped the Best Show award, delusional queer icon Sam Nicoresti brings a glistening diamond hour of stand-up about love, insanity and the hunt for the perfect skirt suit. From a sartorial emergency to the standing stones of Cornwall, through the seas of change, clothes and cats, Sam Nicoresti asks the vital question: does the perfect skirt suit even exist? ‘One of the sharpest, funniest, most exciting hours of comedy at the Fringe.’ ★★★★★ The Telegraph (UK) ‘An ebullient hour with a sky-high joke count.' ★★★★ The Guardian (UK) ‘Uproariously funny, life-affirming, angry, dumb, insightful and political all at once.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK)
The Westin
I grew up at 34 Shoalhaven St, Nowra, NSW. The house wasn’t super flash, the place was basically held together with pop-rivots and a seemingly religious use of WD-40. It was one of those post-war knockabout fibro-shells you still see on quarter-acre blocks all over Australia’s poorer suburbs. Last year, my Dad annoyingly sold up and moved away. Oh! And also, the nightly TV show I hosted called The Project ended (but that’s not really part of the tale...). This 60-minute story is filled with a lifetime of suburban misadventures, small-town characters and the strange nostalgia of losing the place that made you. I’ve been telling people this show is about the house I grew up in, but it’s really about everything that happened inside. 'On an express elevator to stardom.' Herald Sun 'Tells us stories about some of the worst moments of his life… that ultimately lead to serendipitous comedy gold.' The Age 'He’s terrific and excellent at what he does... a breath of fresh air.' The Scotsman
QT Melbourne
Hailing from Lutruwita/Tasmania, genuine sideshow freak Samora Squid brings their surreal, dark, physical comedy and deadpan cynicism to Melbourne's legendary alternative music venue, The Tote. A one-hour ride of absurdity, awe and occasional brutality, witness Squid's unique, hyper-mobile body perform unbelievable contortion, as well as sword swallowing, live body piercing and a variety of other ridiculous feats that only a punk rock clown could survive. After 25 years touring the globe with various circus-sideshow troupes (Le Freak, League of Sideshow Superstars, Kamikaze Freakshow, Circus of Horrors) and as a vocalist in the occasional grindcore band (Nowyourefucked, Onanizer), this is Squid's first full-length solo stage work. It showcases their highly skilled contemporary clowning and unique full-scale slapstick. Squid's last Melbourne International Comedy Festival performance was in the double act Circus Horrificus, who's 2013 show It's a Western made the Herald Sun's top ten shows of the fest. This is your chance to see high level, modern physical comedy in an iconic venue and laugh at the absurdity of society, fear and pain! 'The clowning is passionate and hilarious and the whole thing is done in a really fun way.' Herald Sun 'Ew! Ew!' triple j 'Hell yeah!' ABC 'Samora Squid puts on a great show.' The Guardian 'Takes your breath away.' Southern Cross News (Channel 7)
The Tote
Samuel Roberts returns to his roots in FAAG: Footballers Are A Godsend. This one hour comedy cabaret is an absolute screamer with original songs and stories of a young queer man's life in country football. After a couple of years on the pine, there has never been a better time to see this blinder of a show. Sam, a young man established in the world of country football, desires to be the first openly queer footballer in the AFL. As he relives his biggest moments in football, he starts to wonder, is the culture of football an inclusive space for queer men? The star forward, Samuel Roberts, is a comedian, songwriter and performer in Naarm/Melbourne. He has spent the last three years performing his shows in various festivals across Australia. He also hosts and performs in Super Troupers Live – The Abba Party. The coach of the season is Wes Snelling – award winning writer, director, performance-maker and titan of the industry. “I’ll keep sharing my story, on a stage or off. In the hope that no one has to go through life feeling alone." – Samuel Roberts in a Qnews article responding to Mitch Brown being the first queer footballer
Grouse
Samwise Hemmings can't be trusted to tell his own story straight. It turns out this habit may be hereditary. My Dad's New Dad is an hour of comedy about family, secrets and idiocy. Attendance may result in new and confronting beliefs. About Samwise Hemmings: With a skillful yet casual blend of musical comedy and his own personal surrealism, Samwise Hemmings has quickly radicalised a following of concerned citizens in comedy venues throughout the country. 'A hidden gem.' Fringefeed 'A good kind of weird.' ABC
Askal
Sandra Pace is a Brit/Kiwi full time comedian and actor. She has a sold out breakthrough show Yeah Nah Pavlova under her belt which debuted at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2024 and was seen at Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2025. Her first self written, produced and performed stand-up show You’re Not Pretty... But I Love You premieres at Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year, following sold out launches in Auckland and the Waikato, NZ. You're Not Pretty... But I Love You centres mostly around Sandra's relationship with her mum growing up and the complexities faced living through different cultures – with hilarious situational examples. This is a comedy with heart, taking audiences with her on her story of self discovery and the consequent strengthening of bond with her mum through understanding and acceptance of her journey. The show is a love letter to all, to enjoy and embrace who we are, as we are. It is a feel-good, reflective and side-splittingly funny show that anyone who has been raised in different cultures can relate and laugh to. The Show: Laugh or cringe as you are introduced to Sandra's life growing up in London with a Portuguese mother and a family with their own blend of crazy. You're Not Pretty... But I Love You is a show about the hilarious situations that come with surviving two cultures, navigating relationships and embracing your true self, even a Mediterranean mother with no filter. The title of the show is a true quote from Sandra’s mum. If you have a messy family and you think My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a documentary, you are her people and this is your show. Come and see why fans are saying... "Hands down the funniest comedy I've ever been to." "Haven't laughed that hard in a long time with tears dripping down my face." "Side-splittingly funny show." Sandra Pace is becoming a fast rising star in comedy... even if her mum tells her otherwise.
Central Club Hotel
"This world is f*@ked :). I need as much Sarahtonin as I can get." Sarah has no idea what she is doing, but she is having fun figuring it out. PSA: This is not a self help cabaret A beginners guide in... appreciating the simple moments, toxic positivity, 'touching grass' and how to truly find Sarahtonin in our lives. It follows Sarah's tales of making friends wherever she goes, whether pashing randoms on planes, or French men in coffee shops. Maybe we could all use a bit more Sarahtonin?
Queen Victoria Women's Centre
A living work of connection – where laughter, truth and presence meet. Have you ever spoken to a dead person? Luna will take you through true stories of spiritual anomalies... haunting and beautiful... And when 'true love' arrives... looking Luna dead in the eyes... the soul's of the living and dead collide... Is it a curse? A calling? Or just... completely psycho? You decide. 'Her physicality is excellent, creating in a flash both character and laughter.' Theatre Red An original clown show with storytelling, dance, characters and a big dose of comedy! Can Luna embrace these mystical powers before they swallow her whole? Or does 'true love' really conquer all? 'She’s so good! And so much fun! It’s impossible not to get swept up.' Chuck Moore Reviews Are you ready to come to the brink of madness?
Club Voltaire
These shows will be filmed. Purchase of a ticket implies consent to the use of footage captured in the final production. Melbourne International Comedy Festival Most Outstanding Show Winner 2024 Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show Nominee 2024 Keys is back in Australia, but with something a bit different. Spend an hour with award-winning UK comedian Sarah Keyworth as they joke, and gently meander their way through an evening of playful crowd work. Expect to chat. Expect to be surprised. Every hour is completely funny and completely different! As seen on: Live at the Apollo (BBC), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4) and Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Gala (ABC). ‘It’s hard to believe there’s a warmer, funnier, more delectable hour to be found in all Edinburgh… this is a distinctive voice, surely bound for stardom’ ★★★★★ The Telegraph‘No trauma, no drama, just joy… Keyworth has the audience eating out of their hand’★★★★★ The Skinny‘Wry, hilarious, touching and informative… a comedian in total command of themselves’ ★★★★★ Fest Mag‘Larky level-headedness mixing the quirky and calm’ ★★★★ The Times
Melbourne Town Hall
Winner 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show Nominee Best Comedy Show Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 Keys is back in Australia, but with something a bit different. Spend an hour with award-winning UK comedian Sarah Keyworth as they joke and gently meander their way through an evening of playful crowd work. Expect to chat. Expect to be surprised. Every hour is completely funny and completely different! As seen on Live at the Apollo (BBC), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4) and Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Gala (ABC). This performance is being filmed and has a high level of audience participation. By purchasing a ticket, you consent to the use of captured footage being used in the final production. Please ensure you allow ample time to arrive and find your seat before the show starts! ‘It’s hard to believe there’s a warmer, funnier, more delectable hour to be found in all Edinburgh… this is a distinctive voice, surely bound for stardom.’ ★★★★★ The Telegraph (UK)‘No trauma, no drama, just joy… Keyworth has the audience eating out of their hand.’ ★★★★★ The Skinny (UK)‘Wry, hilarious, touching and informative… a comedian in total command of themselves.’ ★★★★★ Fest Mag ‘Larky level-headedness mixing the quirky and calm.’ ★★★★ The Times (UK)
Melbourne Town Hall
Sashi’s surname – Perera – means pear tree in Portuguese. You won’t believe how mad Portugal gets if you mention why it’s a super common name in Sri Lanka hehe. Pear Tree is a stand-up comedy show about pear shaped events between Sri Lanka and Australia. It’s about family, love, homes, knives, kids and cats – spliced with a bit of geopolitics and singing. As with her last show Boundaries (now on YouTube) Sashi’s signature observations remain dedicated to taking absolutely nothing too seriously. Sashi is a Sri Lankan Australian comedian, writer and recovering lawyer. After working with refugee organisations around the globe, she moved to Melbourne to do her masters and fell arse backwards into comedy. She’s now one of Australia’s fastest rising comedians, known for her sharp wit, unique international tales and bizarre insights. In 2023, she was nominated for Best Newcomer at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Since then, she’s sold out shows in six countries, opened for Hannah Gadsby and made a slew of television appearances including Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention? and ABC’s Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee. Her memoir Standstill was published by Penguin Random House in August 2025.
ACMI
Schalk Bezuidenhout is back with a brand-new show. His first and (hopefully, for the love of all things good) only show post divorce. Schalk hasn’t checked in with you all in sometime and he wants to talk to you. Actually… he needs to talk to you! Why? Because it’s cheaper than therapy. That’s why! As seen on Netflix and Comedy Central. Arena tour support for Trevor Noah. ‘Rapid-fire gags and manic energy. Highly recommended.’ ★★★★ The Age ★★★★★ Ed Fringe Review ★★★★ Mervyn Stutter ★★★★ Broadway Baby (UK) ‘Fast-rising talent.’ The Guardian
The Greek
The mental health system is under review! This radical lineup of comedians with lived experience unpacks the system and every other corner of life. Some of it's rad, and some of it's cactus! Schizy Inc performing arts collective is one of the most established disability-led arts organisations making space in the arts for people with diverse complex mental health. Rad Cactus is the Schizy Inc comedy collective. Last year sold out – we are back for more! 'I wanted to send a note to say how thankful I am to the Schizy team and all the performers – I laughed, I cried and I felt the warm hug of humanity by being in a room of people fully expressing all their mad pride truth! What you and the performers do is a real gift to the world.' Honor Eastly (artist, podcaster and professional feeler of feelings). Saturday 28 March 5pm: Lived Experience and Neurodivergent Open Mic Night Sunday 12 April 5pm: RAD CACTUS Showcase Sunday 19 April 5pm: RAD CACTUS Showcase
Grouse
Winner Pinder Prize 2025 Melbourne International Comedy FestivalNominee 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding ShowWinner Best of Comedy Weekly Award 2025 Adelaide FringeWinner Judges' Pick 2024 Melbourne Fringe After getting stranded in regional Victoria without medication for the first time in 12 years, Scout Boxall has to pull out all the psychological stops to survive one of the worst nights of their life. God’s Favourite is an exquisite, darkly funny retelling of a mental marathon through manic withdrawal. In the process, Scout imagines life in the middle ages, trawls the strange crevices of the Internet, makes peace with their own mediocrity and (briefly) surrenders to God. It’s part storytelling, part stand-up, all raw and unflinchingly real.As seen on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala and ABC's Austin, Scout is one of the most exciting new talents in Australian comedy. Their work swings between pithy observational stand-up and manic, chaotic powerpoint comedy with a sharp political awareness. Sold Out 2025 Adelaide Fringe & 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival 'A sinfully good hour of comedy.' ★★★★★ Time Out 'Meticulously crafted.' ★★★★ The Age 'An evocative piece of magical realism.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK)
Trades Hall
Winner Best Newcomer Award (Auckland) 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival Winner Comedy Out West Competition 2024 & 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival After his award-winning debut show Write-off, notorious Kiwi comedian Sean Collier brings his fresh new hour to Melbourne for the very first time! Known for his comedic blend of absurdity, silliness and brutal existentialism, this Kiwi lawyer-turned-comedian is here to skewer the ridiculousness of the modern world. Come dance on the rotting corpse of Western civilisation, with NZ's most diabolical export. 'Irreverent and brazen, but highly entertaining.' My Melbourne Arts 'Sean is into delinquency, orgies and shoplifting.' Wellington Theatre Review
Pulp
What's it about? Inspired by that bonkers film where Bob's off-grid life goes sideways, our show riffs on what happens after the chaos dies down. Spoiler alert: life's still ridiculous. The real deal: I'm here cracking jokes about speaking English as my second language – honestly, you lot invented the weirdest rules, yeah? I'll roast daily absurdities nobody talks about, the strange little things we all pretend make sense. My wife thinks I'm mental half the time anyway, so might as well lean into it. Family dynamics, relationships, that awkward moment when your kid calls you out. Fair dinkum observations about how bonkers normal life actually is when you're paying attention. Come laugh at the stuff you've been too polite to mention. 'His observations of the irregularities and paradoxes in human nature are funny and endearing.' WeekendNotes 'Blending simplicity and a dash of racism with humour.' ★★★★ Lilithia Reviews
Trades Hall
An hour of music, comedy and questionable life choices. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. Five foot nothing and armed with a guitar and a mic, Sez invites her audience into the trenches to explore the world around her. Through stand-up and songs, she has struck a chord with millions on social media and comedy crowds at shows around Australia. 'If you only see one dyslexic, bisexual musical comedian this festival, make it Sez.' ★★★★ The Age
The Victoria Hotel
Plato's The Allegory of the Cave meets a man so self aware it hurts. He meditates so much he finds it hard to connect with humanity anymore. His mental health is so good yet he still has daddy issues? He puts the moron in oxymoron. Sharam Namdarian is a man with Daddy Issues and a Phone Addict. He speaks on family issues, he speaks on politics (without knowing much about them). He speaks. You laugh. Seriously though, it's a great show. It's a best of show from midly famous Sharam Namdarian. Seen in passing on Channel 7, Channel 9, other cool things like the On it Off it Podcast. Don't let his lack-of-fame proceed him. See him for yourself. You've seen the best, now see this guy.
Caz Reitop's Dirty Secrets
This is a best-of edition combining material from two previous hit tours – a concept created solely by Shayne Hunter, the only genuine professional stand-up comedian on the national club circuit to originate this style of comedic true-crime walking tour. Since pioneering it, Shayne has sparked a swarm of imitators trying to cash in… but they can steal his horse – can they ride it? Join Shayne for a fast, funny, sharp-witted journey into Australia’s darker stories, with a special focus on the wild, chaotic origins of Melbourne. Blending gripping historical storytelling with high-impact stand-up, Shayne dives into robberies, psychological breakdowns, revenge-driven behaviours and the grim, bizarre human impulses that shaped the city. With over a decade of touring across Australia and Asia, Shayne turns bleak history and twisted psychology into big laughs without sacrificing accuracy. Part comedy show, part historical deep-dive, this is your chance to experience the original mind behind the genre – serving up the best, strangest, most confronting tales others are too afraid (or too unfunny) to tell.
Meeting Point: Cnr of La Trobe & Russell Sts
There’s chaos in the kitchen when Signor Baffo’s left in charge! The restaurant is about to open, nothing is going to plan – and he needs your help! Get ready for a whirlwind of silly games, outrageous misunderstandings and a menu full of surprises. Can you help Signor Baffo complete his list before disaster strikes? Expect plenty of giggles, unexpected twists and even a rock and roll concert in this supremely silly, interactive adventure. A laugh-out-loud treat for children 3+ and their families – served with a generous helping of fun and mischief! 'A chaotic hour of family fun.' ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide 'His clever comedy will have you genuinely smiling from start to finish.' ★★★★★ Play&Go 'A delight from start to finish.' ★★★★★ Broadway World 'Pure comedy gold!' ★★★★★ Edinburgh with Kids
ACMI
In 2019, Simon Bower gave up performing stand-up comedy due to panic attacks and other mental health issues. After a period full of study, growth, a diagnosis or two, losing friends, finding love and learning to dress himself, he returns over six years later to explain why he's incredibly proud to be a quitter with Sometimes Give Up. Simon Bower's cheeky, self-deprecating style of comedy has delighted audiences in sold-out shows at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne Internatonal Comedy Festival and Canberra Comedy Festival. Now, in his long-awaited solo show debut, Simon pokes fun at the hypocrisy of the hyper persistent, taking aim at steadfast stalwarts like Winston Churchill and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and pointing out how they were big ol' quitters too. Delivering personal stories and observational comedy with disarming honesty and a sly grin, Sometimes Give Up is a hilarious, heartfelt, maybe even inspiring hour of stand-up about how losers never quit, and quitters never lose.'Nailed the self-deprecation angle with aplomb.' Herald Sun'Has a great sense of what's funny.' Squirrel Comedy
Trainscendence
Sofie won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival in 2015 and she thinks you all stopped talking about it too soon. Remember TV? Yeah, she did that too. You may know her from that, but it's more likely you know her from the internet, where she's been both funny and angry at times. Sofie is from Denmark, but learned English at the age of four, just so she could go to Australia in 2026 and do stand-up. Despite her excellent foresight, she never saw it coming that the fascists would be taking over. (Otherwise, she would have learned Russian, am I right?) Sofie has always tried to do the right thing, but now she has to ask herself: Did she do the right thing? And what will she say, with her last remaining freedom of speech? It better be good. She better be good.
The Greek
The most adorable Taskmaster Champion since records began finally blesses Melbourne with her award-winning comedy. Whether you’re a nerd, a jock, a princess, a basketcase or a criminal, you simply can’t resist this heterosexual-skeptical cutie patootie! As seen licking things on Taskmaster, being swindled by former elf Orlando Bloom in the movie Deep Cover and ripping the piss out of privilege on all your favourite panel shows and podcasts. 'An obscenely good raconteur with charisma to burn.' Rolling Stone Magazine 'An incomparable stand-up voice of our time.' Voice Magazine 'Laugh-out loud funny.' The Telegraph (UK) 'Extremely funny.' The Scotsman 'She rips through sex and race with relish.' The Sunday Times (UK) 'Not scared to push the boundaries, she has perfected a cool-girl persona that has us clinging to her every word.' Fest 'A sparkling comedian and voice… Truly one of the best comedians around.' Diva Magazine
The Greek
Bring on the sunshine and bring on the rain, because Corgi returns to the stage to bend the social fabric of society into a neat little knick-knack, then tears it to shreds with the best (and the rest) of special guests from the Fest in an aptly convenient talk show format! Do you miss how TV used to be? We do too. The Doghouse was a shining beacon in the heyday of Australian children’s television, bringing joy, wonder and a weird amount of fun colours to generations. It was a time when the future still felt like a warm, hopeful dream… ... and now it's spirit is back. As a talk-show. So join Corgi as he explores the rest of the Fest through the very best of what's left of the Australian comedy landscape! Songs, games, memory lanes, improv and lots... and lots of talking about what's going on this Fest. 'In the land of opportunity... wait no that doesn't work. In a land of no oppourtunity, he'd be opportunity!' David P. Tieck Jr. 'Aren’t talk shows a little outdated?' Someone who's wrong actually, they're just being done really really boringly until how Corgi's been doing it. 'Corgi. I’m not joining your nostalgia-bait vanity project. Leave me alone.' Panda (yet to be booked, but anything could happen!) Producer: Corgi Director: David P. Tieck Jr
Trainscendence
Nominee Best Newcomer 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Comedy Shortlist 2019 Sydney Fringe Festival RAW National Finalist Comedy 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Breaking: The Musical is the real story of a completely fictional breakdancer's journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics, told through comedy, music and 'dance', written by Australian comedian and musician Steph Broadbridge. Steph leads an exceptional ensemble cast as they tell the inspiring story of ‘Spraygun’ through comedy, music and 'dance'. The show created an international media storm when a trial run was shut down in December 2024 by Rachael Gunn’s lawyers. Despite the legal setbacks the show continues to thrive. After rave reviews and sold out shows around Australia and a hugely successful run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Breaking: The Musical returns to Melbourne for a final encore season. ★★★★★ The Funny Tonne 'Huge laughs throughout.' ★★★★½ Hugging Comedians
Trades Hall
FAT: Unapologetically unpacking the F-word that's always on everyone's mind. This isn't just a comedy show about weight; it's a hilarious, honest and sometimes uncomfortable exploration of the absurdities surrounding body image, health and the complexities of living in a society that profits from our insecurities. FAT is a show about finding your true self, even if that self is a little curvier than society says it should be. Expect laughs, gasps and maybe even a few moments of self-reflection.
The Victoria Hotel
Succulent Comedy Showcase features Australia's funniest up-and-coming Asian-Australian comedians. Don’t miss out on a deliciously hilarious time! A combination special of comedians, MSG guaranteed. Succulent Comedy Showcase has toured their sold out show at festivals all around Australia including Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival.Past featured acts include:Jenny Tian (Taskmaster Australia, ABC, SBS, TikTok)He Huang (Thank God You're Here, Australia's Got Talent, RAW Comedy National Finalist)Takashi Wakasugi (Taskmaster Australia, Thank God You're Here, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala)Sath Nadesan (Yeah Mad)Alan Fang (The OG Crew)Harry Jun (ABC, SBS, Comedy Up Late, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow)Kevin Jin (RAW Comedy Finalist 2018, SBS, ABC)Chris Nguyen (Very Big Very Asian Comedy Festival 2023)Chris Zheng (RAW Comedy State Finalist)Pat Golamco (RAW Comedy Finalist 2021)
Storyville Melbourne
WE ALL KNOW THE SEQUEL WAS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL! SWAMPLESQUE finally returns to Melbourne after touring Far Far Away (or as we call it, the UK) with a BRAND NEW burlesque, drag & circus parody! We've heard you've been holding out for a hero and he's ogre-due for a comeback! What happens when our big green man meets a godmother, a prince and a cat wearing suspiciously large boots? Mayhem! There’s magic potions, a sparkly horse and a villain who belts like they’re auditioning for Eurovision. Fresh from sell-out seasons in London's West End and Edinburgh Fringe, we’re giving MELBOURNE the VICTORIAN PREMIERE of SWAMPLESQUE 2. Trust us, it’s been worth the wait. It’s the fairytale sequel that proves once upon a time was never this much fun! Happily ever after meets happily unhinged!
Melbourne Town Hall
The sold-out show from the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival returns! A show about your mind. The thing that woke you up at 3am to remind you of that thing you said in 2011... Discover fascinating truths about how the human mind operates, all hilariously illustrated with startlingly honest stories from Sweeney's own adventurous life. Audience feedback for INTRUSIVE thoughts: “So funny and just what I needed.” “Funny, insightful, honest and relatable… A natural.” “We were still laughing in the car in the way home ” “Amazing... full of heart and humanity.” “Outstanding, unique show. Hilarious throughout.” “Natural story teller, informative, interesting, and laugh out loud comic magic.” “Made me laugh at things that use to make me cry. Loved it!” “Clever and intricate.” “Created a safe feeling of connection.” “Hilarious.” “Unexpected laughs that crept up on me.” “Blew me away.” “Makes me want to be a better person.” “Such a good show.” “We all loved it.” “So so good, super witty, funny and so relaxed in delivery – really loved it.” “Intelligent, funny, and brilliant.” “Loved it.” “Never seen anyone do comedy like that.“ “Excellent.” *Initial run sold out, so extra shows were added. Attending this show does not form a therapeutic relationship with Sweeney and does not replace personal psychological or medical advice.
Limerick Arms
The sold-out show from the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival returns! A show about your mind. The thing that woke you up at 3am to remind you of that thing you said in 2011... Discover fascinating truths about how the human mind operates, all hilariously illustrated with startlingly honest stories from Sweeney's own adventurous life. Audience feedback for INTRUSIVE thoughts: “So funny and just what I needed.” “Funny, insightful, honest and relatable… A natural.” “We were still laughing in the car in the way home ” “Amazing... full of heart and humanity.” “Outstanding, unique show. Hilarious throughout.” “Natural story teller, informative, interesting, and laugh out loud comic magic.” “Made me laugh at things that use to make me cry. Loved it!” “Clever and intricate.” “Created a safe feeling of connection.” “Hilarious.” “Unexpected laughs that crept up on me.” “Blew me away.” “Makes me want to be a better person.” “Such a good show.” “We all loved it.” “So so good, super witty, funny and so relaxed in delivery – really loved it.” “Intelligent, funny, and brilliant.” “Loved it.” “Never seen anyone do comedy like that.“ “Excellent.” *Initial run sold out, so extra shows were added. Attending this show does not form a therapeutic relationship with Sweeney and does not replace personal psychological or medical advice.
Central Club Hotel
Winner Director's Choice Award 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Nominee Most Outstanding Show 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival The new show by award-winning Japanese comedian and your favourite 'Waka'. Wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) is a Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. Waka believes the concept of Wabi-sabi is the great way to make people happy. And he also thinks it might connect and adapt to his comedy. In this show you will find laughs and happiness with his Wabi-Sabi Comedy. Arigato! Big bow. As seen on The Gala, Thank God You're Here, Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee and Taskmaster Australia. 'Exquisite stand-up.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK) 'Abundant pleasure... It's a genuine joy to be insulted by him.' ★★★★ The Scotsman
The Westin
A wide-eyed tourist’s first trip to Europe takes a hilarious turn when they befriend their quick-witted tour guide. Together they sing, stumble and sketch their way across the continent. From confusing customs to coin-operated toilets in a musical comedy about culture shock, friendship and finding joy in the chaos. And some great poo stories, of course.
Trainscendence
Celebrating 20 years of TAPE FACE – the show returns to Australia for the first time in over 10 years! Mime with noise, stand-up with no talking, drama with no acting. Las Vegas headliner TAPE FACE has become a global sensation. See the critically award-winning show that started it all. Physical comedy and silent stand-up collide in an unforgettable performance that will leave you laughing, gasping and lost for words. TAPE FACE has to be seen to be believed. 'Sublime physical lunacy... fight for a ticket.' ★★★★★ Time Out 'A delight from start to finish.' ★★★★★ The Scotsman 'A one-man carnival.' The Telegraph (UK)
fortyfivedownstairs
Tarang Hardikar is a stand-up comedian popular for his unique observational style of comedy. Tarang brings to you his new comedy hour full of anecdotes about his bizarre childhood and his peculiar habit of questioning every minute aspect of life. Why has no one ever seen a growing coconut tree? Why is the biggest prize in sports a cup? Why didn't you keep the paneer in the fridge?
The Victoria Hotel
Cherub is the debut solo stand-up show from Palawa comedian Tarsh Jago. Inspired by a tweet that read, “You don’t look Aboriginal, you look like the cherub from the Pears soap”, this hour blends razor-sharp comedy with heartfelt storytelling about race, queerness and identity. Tarsh takes audiences on a hilarious and confronting journey through the contradictions of being Blak and queer, with punchlines that sparkle and stories that linger. Bold, cheeky and deeply personal.
Melbourne Town Hall
Terry North is a seasoned comedian with over 26 years of experience, and also a musician who has played guitar and sung since he was 17 years old. He invites you to his brand-new show, promising lots of laughter and captivating, often hilarious stories from his life. Each is enhanced by unforgettable songs that have guided him through life's challenges. With songs from Neil Young, Coldplay and more. A comment from an audience member: "WOW! We were both surprised and fascinated by the love in your heart, projected by the humour and the songs that you performed." Don't miss this opportunity to experience this unique blend of humour and music.
Elephant and Wheelbarrow
Here at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, we like to ask the important questions. Like, what happens when you put together two teams of over-confident, unqualified comedians, and pit them against each other, all for the entertainment of the audience and an all-powerful moderator? The answer is the comedy throwdown of the year – it's the 36th Annual Great Debate! The gloves are off and the jokes are on, as six comedy superstars and one fearless moderator take to the stage with dubious facts, baseless allegations, and whip-smart humour. The Great Debate - where critical thinking and comic timing collide!
Melbourne Town Hall
Since 2018, the Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School has been producing The Best of Hard Knock Knocks at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This showcase highlights the funniest alumni from the comedy school’s 100 plus stand-up comedy courses. The standout performers from the Hard Knock Knocks’ Australia-wide comedy courses are paid to perform, demonstrating the school’s commitment to creating professional opportunities for new and emerging comedians. Adding to the excitement, some of the Hard Knock Knocks guest celebrity comedians will be dropping in to surprise audiences with their sets. Regular guest coaches at the Hard Knock Knocks have included comedy legends like Jeff Green, Lehmo and Bev Killick, so audiences can expect an evening filled with laughter and star power. The Hard Knock Knocks’ reputation for producing top-tier comedic talent is further solidified by its success in RAW Comedy, Australia’s biggest open mic competition. To date, the Hard Knock Knocks have had six graduates beat thousands to make it into the National RAW Comedy National Final. It’s highly likely that at least one graduate will be represented in this year's final, continuing the school’s strong track record in nurturing festival-ready talent.
Crowne Plaza
2025 Moosehead Recipient Nominee Best Comedy 2023 & 2024 Melbourne Fringe Lights! Camera! Action! The Burton Brothers are headed to Hollywood! Grab your popcorn and settle in for a brand-new, original sketch comedy show from brothers, Josh and Tom, as they take on the silver screen and perform an entire Hollywood blockbuster in one hour! From the red carpet to the cutting room floor, stars are born, egos are bruised and everybody lives happily ever after – this is Tinseltown! Written and performed by The Burton Brothers. ★★★★½ Chortle (UK) ★★★★½ The List (UK) ★★★★★ Lilithia Reviews 'The siblings are comic powerhouses.' Chortle (UK) 'Our next Lano and Woodley.' The Age 'If you don’t enjoy this show you’re either dead or dead to me.' David Collins, The Umbilical Brothers
Trades Hall
One of the most talked-about shows at last year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Dark Comedy Special, is back. A response to the ‘you can’t say anything in comedy anymore’ myth, The Dark Comedy Special’s popularity has soared over the years, and due to overwhelming demand, this year’s Festival will feature an expanded run of four shows. Audiences can expect bold, boundary-pushing content from some of Australia’s darkest comedians that tackles taboo topics with razor-sharp wit and fearless honesty. This show is perfect for those who enjoy comedy that dares to explore life’s darker corners while still delivering gut-busting laughter.
Crowne Plaza
Lachlan and Jaxon Fairbairn are bringing an hour of sketch comedy live to the stage for the very first time. Join for a huge night of never-before-seen sketches, as the Fairbairn brothers search to answer the question "what if the most insane scenario possible happened right in front of you". From drunk pilots and medieval blacksmiths to jazz bands and illegitimate doctors, come with as the boys travel to places and times they have never before, all with their unique dry wit and country style. Packed with huge laughs and fun surprises, The Fairbairns’ first-ever live sketch show is sure to be a night to remember. Reviews: ‘I wrote this so I think it’s good.’ Lachlan Fairbairn ‘I haven’t learned the scripts yet but I’ve got plenty of time.’ Jaxon Fairbairn
ACMI
Ever had a really bad date that you couldn’t wait to tell everyone about? Are you tired of the weirdos you find in the online dating pool? Do you want to see someone else bring all your dating nightmares to life so you can heal? If you answered yes to any of these, this show is for you and cheaper than therapy! If you answered no to all of these questions, this show is also for you to laugh at others’ misfortune! Get ready to share your best or worst stories as The Improv Pit presents Best Worst Dates. Taking place at Trainscendence, Collingwood's new trendy artistic hub, this one-of-a-kind comedy event brings together the spontaneity of improvisation with the storytelling of the best worst dates of Melbourne. The worst dates make the best stories, and Best Worst Dates is a comedy show where real people – both singles and partnered – share their most cringe-worthy, bizarre or downright disastrous date stories. These stories become the heart of the show as our ensemble cast of Melbourne’s best improvisers bringing your dating stories to life in ways which you’d never imagine. Best Worst Dates is a feel-good, side-splitting comedy dating show that reminds viewers that sometimes, the worst dates are the ones that give you the best stories – or even the best matches.
Trainscendence
Get ready for a night of laughter and creativity as The Improv Pit proudly presents Hollywouldn’t: The Improvised Movie. Taking place at the trendy new arts hub Trainscendence in Collingwood, this one-of-a-kind comedy event brings together the spontaneity of improvisation with the magic of filmmaking to create a brand-new movie right before your eyes. With each performance being completely unique, audiences can expect a fresh and unforgettable experience every time they attend. Led by a talented ensemble cast of Australia’s most experienced improvisers Hollywouldn’t begins with a simple suggestion from the audience, setting the stage for the creation of an entirely improvised movie. From genre to plot twists, character motivations to dramatic moments, camera angles and director’s commentary, everything unfolds in real-time, fuelled by the quick wit and comedic timing of the performers. This show is a rollercoaster of hilarity as you watch a movie being made right in front of your eyes – except there's no script and anything can happen! Whether you're a fan of comedy, cinema or just looking for a night of non-stop laughter, Hollywouldn’t makes the movies Hollywood would never have the guts to, no matter how weird and wonderful! The show promises to deliver an entertainment experience like no other. With each scene building upon the last, audiences will find themselves swept away in a whirlwind of hilarity, suspense and unexpected twists.
Trainscendence
If you ever wondered how that weird kid from school turned out, come to this show. A show that's weird because Lane and Zach are weird. The first time Zach met Lane he tried saying hello and Lane just walked past him like he didn't exist. Not because Lane is rude but because Lane is deaf in one ear so he just didn't hear him. The second time they crossed paths Lane overheard Zach from his good ear talking about ribs and Lane said “I like ribs” and a friendship was formed. Bonding over their love of twisting the most meaningless mundane subjects into something so stupid that you're laughing and don't even know why, they’re bringing this to the stage because they want to share what they’ve been thinking about lately.
Grace Darling Hotel
Winner Best of Variety Weekly Award 2025 Adelaide Fringe This cult classic returns to Melbourne International Comedy Festival after sell-out seasons at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the UK’s iconic Latitude Festival and Adelaide Fringe. With six comedians performing six different PowerPoints, it’s a lineup show like no other. Hosted by the agents of Microsoft Office chaos, Sweeney Preston & Ethan Cavanagh, this wild showcase is easy to follow and begging for technical difficulties. A picture says a thousand words, and with more slides than Wet’n’Wild, The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase offers more words per dollar than any other show in the Festival. Grab your family, friends and anyone else who has endured boring work presentations or tedious uni slides as we heal together. An essential part of any Festival bucket list! 'Outstanding… Breathes new life into variety comedy.' ★★★★½ Fringe Feed 'Slide after slide, this show is guaranteed to produce laugh after laugh.' ★★★★ The List (UK) 'Bring all your friends and have a smashing time.' ★★★★ Squirrel Comedy 'Like those chaotic PowerPoint nights on TikTok, but way funnier.' Pedestrian.TV
The Westin
Festival favourites The Listies are back by poop-ular demand. They're gratuitous, ridiculous, joyous and always hilarious. Family comedy doesn’t get better.
Melbourne Museum
Experience the chaos and creativity that erupts when live comedy meets live music.Join Alex Lowes and a rotating lineup of guest comedians as they deliver stand-up, musical comedy and more, all backed by a live four-piece band.With music from acclaimed jazz-fusion outfit Trubug, this genre-blending show turns every punchline into a jam. The Lowes Lounge returns to Melbourne for 2026 with Lowes Yourself, a collection of all-new comedy material for audiences old and new. Grab a ticket to this strictly limited season for a riotous cocktail of comedy and jazz.Lineups to be announced soon! 'A standout this festival.' The Funny Tonne '(Lowes) had the audience whipped in a frenzy.' Squirrel Comedy
The Victoria Hotel
Powerhouse performers Carol and Tayla are taking centre stage – and taking on typecasting – in a riotous new music theatre cabaret debuting at the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Tayla, forever cast as the sweet ingénue romantic lead with soaring vocals but paper-thin roles, squares off against Carol, the seasoned scene-stealer with juicy character parts but no romance – and sometimes, no song! Together they unpack the absurdities of casting clichés through powerhouse solos, cheeky duets and laugh-out-loud banter. As they compete for who has it worse, the friendly rivalry escalates until, in a delicious twist, they decide to swap roles entirely. Packed with wit, warmth and show-stopping music theatre bangers, this cabaret flips the script on musical theatre stereotypes and celebrates the joy of stepping outside your type to claim the spotlight. Carol and Tayla are no strangers to the stage. Carol Whitfield is a highly accomplished performer with a background in classical voice and piano. Nowadays a specialist comedy character performer, Carol has played numerous iconic Matron roles in Melbourne musical theatre, such as Madame Thenardier (Les Misérables), Rosie (Mamma Mia), Frau Blücher (Young Frankenstein) and Princess Puffer (The Mystery of Edwin Drood). Since 2018 she has starred in her self-written and produced one-woman cabaret, Beyond The Beehive: Amy Winehouse’s Musical Mastery debuting to critical acclaim in 2018 and next showing at Kingston Arts Centre in 2026. Tayla Thomas made her professional debut as Rapunzel & Elsa in Mickey and the Wondrous Book at Hong Kong Disneyland between 2015 and 2018, so it's no surprise she is filling the role of the Maiden in our duo. Since returning to Australia she received a four chair turn and made it to the finals on The Voice, is an established audiobook narrator across various genres for Australian authors, performs regularly as a vocalist at corporate events, writes and records music both as a topline artist and with her husband as part of duo Echo & Bloom and is active on the community and commercial theatre scene, featuring most recently in Three Little Pigs the Musical (AG Theatre), The Sound of Music (Theatrical) and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Lightbox Theatre Company).
Club Voltaire
A Singaporean twist on a stand-up comedy staple – Gong shows. In The Pong Show, audiences are given ping pong balls to throw at the comedians as they perform their sets. Balls give the comedian more or less stage time when they hit! Part stand-up comedy, part audience interaction bonanza and all around chaos. Come throw your balls at some comedians!
Captain Melville
Brand-new show. Sold out run 2022–2025 * You will come out feeling a lot less racist than when you went in! – Chinese proverb * Go see the show! – Kenyan slur * This show deserves an award! – Indian yoga chant Immigrants and racist? Whaaat!? An epic hour of no-holds-barred, unabashed comedy that will leave you crying with laughter and questioning everything you know about immigrants! Food, culture, taxis, boats, nude beaches, bat soup, Indian d*cks – nothing is off limits! Note: Usually two comics perform every night. But sometimes three. We might just bring in five. Expect the unexpected, these immigrants are out of control! We have some big names dropping in casually a lot of times so it might just be your lucky night. As featured on SBS. ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide ★★★★★ ArtsHub
Roxy's Bar/Food - South Melb
Brand-new show. Sold out run 2022–2025 * You will come out feeling a lot less racist than when you went in! – Chinese proverb * Go see the show! – Kenyan slur * This show deserves an award! – Indian yoga chant Immigrants and racist? Whaaat!? An epic hour of no-holds-barred, unabashed comedy that will leave you crying with laughter and questioning everything you know about immigrants! Food, culture, taxis, boats, nude beaches, bat soup, Indian d*cks – nothing is off limits! Note: Usually two comics perform every night. But sometimes three. We might just bring in five. Expect the unexpected, these immigrants are out of control! We have some big names dropping in casually a lot of times so it might just be your lucky night. As featured on SBS. ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide ★★★★★ ArtsHub
Collins St Comedy Hub
Brand-new show. Sold out run 2022–2025 * You will come out feeling a lot less racist than when you went in! – Chinese proverb * Go see the show! – Kenyan slur * This show deserves an award! – Indian yoga chant Immigrants and racist? Whaaat!? An epic hour of no-holds-barred, unabashed comedy that will leave you crying with laughter and questioning everything you know about immigrants! Food, culture, taxis, boats, nude beaches, bat soup, Indian d*cks – nothing is off limits! Note: Usually two comics perform every night. But sometimes three. We might just bring in five. Expect the unexpected, these immigrants are out of control! We have some big names dropping in casually a lot of times so it might just be your lucky night. As featured on SBS. ★★★★★ Glam Adelaide ★★★★★ ArtsHub
Captain Melville
100% Giggle Guarantee.Tricky Nick has planned the most amazing magic in the world. But, when it comes to this manic magician, things don’t always go to plan.Strap in for an unpredictable rollercoaster ride through the weird mind of Tricky Nick.'Tricky Nick is a simply awesome children’s entertainer. This is top quality entertainment that packs a huge laugh!' City News'There’s more to this performer than meets the eye (or often doesn’t when the sleight-of-hand gets out of hand).' Canberra Times'Undeniable wit and humour.' ★★★★★ The Plus Ones'Hilarious!' ★★★★★ Herald Sun
ACMI
A late-night showcase of some of the world‘s greatest underground comedians performing wierd, off-beat stand-up! Cheap tickets but priceless laughs. Not to be missed!
Grouse
An hour show just about bumbling your way through life and working as a labourer.
Central Club Hotel
A series of AuDHD hyperfixation infodumps, this meta comedy about actors creating a show for the Comedy Festival goes off the rails.
Trainscendence
Get ready for an hilarious, high-energy comedy show for silly-minded kids (6–12) and their grown-ups! Join the wildly unqualified teachers of Mēlbøürné Edükátion Shkool für Edükáting Edükátablés on a rollercoaster of clowning, chaos, ukulele sing-a-longs and ridiculous 'lessons' about life – with silly songs, visual gags, surprise characters and zero actual education. This heart-filled show celebrates being proudly silly… plus learn how to make music with fart sounds whilst you laugh your buttholes off. A delightfully dumb, interactive treat where the audience is smarter than the teachers on stage. This is das StrüdelNoodél für de Spielé-Kind. Dänké! 'This is not a real school!' The Australian Education Dept. 'This show is soooo funny!' ChatGPT, aged 8. 'The tickets are cheaper than daycare!' Every Melbourne mum.
Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub
Everything you're about to hear is completely true. Because, well…Tilly Harrison Can’t Lie. Fresh off the stages of Edinburgh – where she first began stand-up – Tilly has returned to her hometown to premiere her debut comedy hour. This hour is a reworking of her “absolutely brilliantly wrote and performed” (audience review, edfringe.com) Edinburgh Fringe 2025 show, Tilly Can’t Lie. Built on, “a work on the brink of something exciting” (One4Rewview, UK), Tilly’s debut hour is a series of hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes from her life up until this very moment. Spanning from completely absurd to painfully relatable – coming out, coffin shopping, imaginary identical twins. In a world where honesty isn’t always the best policy, Tilly is beginning to question: should she be learning to lie?
Trainscendence
Tilly Oddy-Black brings her online world to the stage for the first time. Known for her mix of endearing and awful characters, Tilly’s debut live show is all about trying to put on a show. That’s what the people want after all… right? Best known for her wide array of popular characters and sketches, Tilly Oddy-Black is an accomplished comedy content creator, actress, writer and one of the biggest stars in the Australian comedy space.
Chinese Museum
Blood may be thicker than water, but not thicker than a full-coverage foundation. Fresh off their sold-out Sydney Fringe Festival 2025 debut, the brothers are back! Join real-life 'siblings' and viral sensations Tim Collins and Hannah Conda (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World S2) as they attempt the impossible – going on a national tour together without killing each other! iWith Brothers in Wigs, directed by Michelle Brasier, you can expect outrageous characters, over-the-top costumes and enough shade to block out the sun. It’s camp, it’s chaotic and it’s probably not sanctioned by a therapist. Family drama has never been this gay! 'These two are absolute stars! In a way that makes me want to commit violence against them and drink their blood to steal their talent.' Michelle Brasier
Trades Hall
Yes, the poster looks like Chinese propaganda, the title’s a Vietnamese pun and I’m Chinese. None of it makes sense – and that’s kind of the point. You Pho Real? is a bowl of contradictions left to simmer too long – a mix of 'good intentions' that, when combined, look suspiciously like a manifesto. It’s about juggling identities, expectations and experiences that don’t fit. Ever had a doctor call you out for having a fat neck? Or somehow lose weight because your dog’s on a diet? Exactly. Make it make sense. It’s confusion served hot, garnished with trauma and topped with a slice of "Is this for real?". It’s funny until it’s not – then it’s even funnier. A series of jokes that make as much sense as the poster. Welcome to the contradiction buffet we call life. ★★★★ The West Australian
Melbourne Town Hall
Never achieve your goals. Never reach your potential. Never don’t be annoying. Let me show you how. Born Annoying is a one person sketch show by Todd Pierce (Churn, Born Annoying). One by one, an array of annoying and disturbing characters fall from grace and stumble into their personal destinies. Annoyingly funny and sometimes poignant, with a bewildering array of hat changes. Also a gorilla suit, because it cost $160 so I have to use it in every show.
Storyville Melbourne
Nominee 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding ShowNominee Best Comedy 2025 Melbourne Fringe As seen on Fisk, Deadloch, Tonightly, Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee and Deal Or No Deal (for some reason). As heard on podcast Serious Danger. After a year away from touring, doing nothing but being very nice and uncontroversial, Australia’s Special Envoy For Comedy Tom Ballard returns in 2026 with a new show packed with heaps of jokes about all the stuff. You should definitely come along. After all, the world is extremely normal right now and everyone’s getting along really well, so why don’t we all just get together and have a nice laugh about it, you know? What’s the worst that could happen???? 'One of the slickest hours of stand-up I’ve ever seen and packing a proper comedy punch.' Adam Hills'Fierce and funny… Ballard is a dynamo – a whirling, toe-curling bundle of energy, who is as politically powerful as he is fantastically funny.' ★★★★½ ArtsHub 'A relentless whirl of opinion, silliness, and increasingly bad-taste jokes against those who most deserve it.' ★★★★½ Chortle (UK) 'Absolutely packed with elite gags.' ★★★★ The Scotsman (UK) 'To call Ballard a comedian is being kind... All Ballard has is a potty mouth, and being from the demographic their ABC loves.' hair stew, Daily Mail commenter
Trades Hall
Tom Cashman is back in Melbourne with a new hour of stand-up that promises to creep ever so close to proficiency. You may know Tom from Taskmaster or TikTok or from his show descriptions which usually end very abru ‘A fast-paced, sharp, hilarious hour… like a good fever dream.’ ★★★★★ The Age
Melbourne Town Hall
After a sell-out 2024 Australian tour (and several life wisedoms still not absorbed), comedy chameleon Tom Sainsbury is back with his brand-new live show Lessons Not Learnt. You’ll know Tom from TaskmasterNZ, Wellington Paranormal and his weirdly accurate social media sketches – the ones that make you go, “Oh no… that’s me.” Whether he’s being a nosy neighbour, an overbearing boss or one of his iconic '80s mums, Tom dives headfirst into the gloriously awkward bits of everyday life. Expect dodgy decisions, small-town scandals, misguided confidence and a few emotional breakthroughs (maybe). It’s part stand-up, part therapy session and part fever dream of all the things Tom should have learnt by now. So grab your mates, your mum or that friend who never learns from their mistakes, and prepare for a night of laughter, nostalgia and light self-loathing – in the best possible way. Hold onto your sides… Tom Sainsbury is rolling back into town, wiser in theory, but not in practice.
Trades Hall
From the frozen tundras of Canada to the bright lights of Melbourne, Tor Snyder has landed and she’s here with one mission – jokes. Armed with wild stories, bad impressions and her favourite weapon of all, crowd work, Tor is a high-energy comic force unlike any other. Don’t be fooled by the polite Canadian accent. Tor is a cyclone of sass and silliness, crassness and charm, equal parts loveable and unhinged. For over 12 years, she’s stormed stages across Australia, leaving audiences gasping for air and clutching their ribs. Now, for the very first time, she’s unleashing a full hour of power on Melbourne crowds. Tor de Force is a laugh-a-minute spectacle riot where no one is safe from her mischievous eye. It’s stories spun into absurdity, uncanny impressions and off-the-cuff crowd work that makes every show different, dangerous and deliciously fun. This is not polite, sit-and-nod comedy. This is a stand-up storm. Tor sweeps through with the kind of chaotic joy that’ll have you wondering if you’ve witnessed a show, survived a sugar-high goose stampede or met your new favourite cult leader. Whether you’re a seasoned comedy-goer or just wandered in for shelter, Tor de Force will leave you breathless, broken with laughter and asking the most important question of all: is Tor Snyder here to save comedy... or destroy it? ____________________________________________________________ When she’s not commanding a stage with her fast-talking chaos and crowd-slaying wit, Tor Snyder is quietly bringing old furniture back to life, one staple gun at a time. By night, she’s the unstoppable force behind Tor de Force, a whirlwind of impressions, stories and unfiltered Canadian charm. But by day? She’s the mind (and muscle) behind a small upholstery business, One Nightstand Furniture, where forgotten chairs and faded couches get a second act. Armed with fabric, foam and the same irreverent humour that fuels her stand-up, Tor transforms the worn-out into the wonderful, proof that creativity doesn’t just live under the spotlight. Sometimes, it’s hiding under a cushion. So, whether she’s fixing your armchair or fixing your mood, one thing’s for sure: Tor Snyder knows how to make an impression, and she’s not afraid to re-cover one too. ____________________________________________________________ Melbourne International Comedy Festival Comedy Zone 2021 Alumni Perth FRINGE WORLD 2021 West Autralian Neswpaper Award 'The future of comedy is in good hands.' ★★★★ The Age 'I was worried that at least one audience member was going to pop a rib from laughing too hard.' ★★★★ FringeFeed 'The room was full of endless laughter, with almost no room to breathe. Altogether, this is a comedy show that is effortlessly hilarious.' ★★★★★ Kryztoff Raw 'A whole lot of sass and a whole lot of crass.' ★★★★ Fourth Wall Media
Bard's Apothecary
Winner Best Kids show 2017 Melbourne Fringe Winner Best Children’s Event Weekly Award 2016 Adelaide Fringe Runner Up Children’s Choice Award 2016, Edinburgh FringeWinner Best Children's Presentation Award 2015 Adelaide Fringe Nominee Circus Award 2015 Perth FRINGE WORLDhighly commended Circus & Physical Theatre Award 2014 Adelaide Fringe It’s bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are back on duty! This slapstick circus comedy is “delightfully intelligent and highly entertaining” (★★★★★, Herald Sun). Overflowing with high-energy antics, wild imagination and bin-based brilliance, it’s “a circus and acrobatic show perfect for families” (★★★★★, Edinburgh Festival For Kids). “What kids and adults so readily enjoy is the adept, unadulterated mischief.” (★★★★★, The Times, UK).. Expect jaw-dropping acrobatics, hilarious juggling and the most action-packed wheelie bins you've ever seen. Winners of Best Children’s Presentation at Adelaide Fringe, and adored in 16 countries, the Dummies return for one final Melbourne International Comedy Festival season. Don’t miss your last chance to take the bins out with a bang!
Melbourne Town Hall
A dark, funny fairytale where princes cheat, quests fail and happily-ever-after is cancelled. One comedian fights for love with jokes as her only weapon. Welcome to the chaotic fairytale of turning 30… the version no one warned you about. In 30 IS THE NEW 69, comedian Trea Young dives headfirst into the romantic delusion, emotional addiction and unhinged optimism that have powered her through a decade of dating disasters and questionable life choices. This is not the fairytale your mother read to you. This is the fairytale where the princess is chronically online, the prince has commitment issues and the only thing magical is how many red flags you can ignore when you’re lonely. Part stand-up comedy, part emotional excavation, part “oh no, girl… don’t do that,” Trea unpacks: - hitting 30 and realising your life is more plot twist than plan - dating as an Asian woman in the West (and dealing with all the fetish energy that comes with it) - why her exes range from a lifeguard-turned-fireman to a man who made cheating his part-time job - fairytale fantasies colliding with real-life therapy bills - the emotional gymnastics required to pretend you’re fine when you’re absolutely not - and how sometimes you have to ruin your own life a little to figure out what you actually want. With a mix of sharp jokes, self-roasting vulnerability and just enough sexual chaos to make your therapist nervous, Trea turns heartbreak into punchlines and trauma into triumph. Her comedic voice blends cultural clash, millennial burnout and fearless honesty – proving that doing life 'wrong' can be hilariously right. 30 IS THE NEW 69 is for anyone who’s ever turned 30 and thought: Wait… this is adulthood? It’s for the delusional romantics, the slow learners, the girls who love too hard – and the ones who swear they’re done with toxic men every Sunday night only to text them again on Tuesday morning. It’s messy. It’s funny. It’s brutally real. And it’s the most fun you’ll have watching someone unravel onstage on purpose. Trea Young brings her wildfire storytelling, unfiltered charm and fearless perspective to Melbourne International Comedy Festival in a stand-up hour that’s equal parts confession, chaos and catharsis. Because turning 30 doesn’t mean growing up – it just means the plot gets thicker, the stakes get dumber and the mistakes get funnier. Welcome to 30 IS THE NEW 69. Bring your friends, bring your ex, bring someone you regret sleeping with – you’ll all feel seen.
Bar Open
Winner Best Comedy 2020 Melbourne Fringe Winner New Zealand Tour Ready Award 2024 Melbourne Fringe Naarm’s favourite queer femme comedian puts on a magic show. Join Tricksy on a journey through hilarious yet mind boggling stage illusions, quick-witted sketches, puppets and a shocking final act. This show is a side-splitting, eye opening look into the world of magic, from Tricksy’s unique perspective. All comedy, all magic, no cringe. All audience participation is completely optional. 'Tricksy Collins is a Polymath.' ★★★★★ The Age 'It’s a deeply moving, fiercely funny, smart and generous hour that dismantles all expectations of magic and gender.' We Are Locals, Darwin
Trades Hall
A buddy-cop themed split bill stand-up show. Lanky weirdo Jackson Stewart has spent the past few years terrorising the Sydney comedy scene with their 'jokes'. They are an enemy of sensible thinking and they also have a deathly fear of horses (fear of horses is never mentioned during any performances). Tristan Haze, wistfully: "When you see a little horse, that's not evolution. That's just a little horse, just scrappin' around". Haze is a 2023 RAW Comedy State Finalist and has performed in festivals around the country. He is also an artist, musician, philosopher and proud homemaker. ★★★★★ Time Out Sydney (Haze's 2024 solo show Absolute Drip Drop)
Grouse
Brothers, Sisters, Doubters and Dreamers This is the sign you've been looking for and it's also your invitation. Not to a show, but a Holy Service. A gathering. A holy convulsion of the heart, the hips and the soul. I, Reverend Tyrone Lovejacket, will be leading you through one sacred hour of divine healing, hard truths, and all with a soft touch. With the power of music and testimony. Souls will be saved. Is your soul dusty? Is your spirit cracked? Don't wait! I hope you're hungry for hope, but remember to savour the Saviour.
Grace Darling Hotel
Melbourne Town Hall
Urvi Majumdar is a teacher by day, comedian by night and hoping not to get recognised for the wrong one! From surviving six periods of PE to mishaps on Compass, a date that lasted 21 minutess and road rage, nothing’s off limits in this brand-new hour of raw and honest stand-up from one of Australia’s best.Urvi has performed to sold-out crowds around the country. You might recognise her from ABC’s critically-acclaimed hit shows Fisk, Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee and Spicks and Specks, Channel Ten’s Cheap Seats or SBS’s Celebrity Letters and Numbers and The Cook Up with Adam Liaw.Her debut solo comedy show Urvi Went to an All Girls School was adapted by Screen Australia and ABC into an AACTA and AWGIE nominated webseries and a half hour pilot which aired on ABC and ABCiview.
Melbourne Town Hall
Let the VIC Semi FInals begin! It is going to be a massive night of comedy from the next generation of Australian comedians a selection of the best compete on stage in hope to make it the next stage. The only thing that's guaranteed is plenty of laughs and a great night out. Now’s your chance for that ‘I saw them before they were famous’ moment, so grab tickets to your nearest RAW comedy heat today!
The Evelyn Hotel
For almost 30 years, RAW Comedy has been scouring the country for the next generation of Australian comedians, and now it is time for the VIC State Final! Come along for a massive night of unique, original comedy, and your chance at an ‘I saw them before they were famous’ moment. Expect hidden gems, WTF moments, and comedy legends in the making as the 2026 VIC State Finalists battle it out for a chance to compete at the National Grand Final here in Melbourne. There’s no better place to see the future of Australian comedy, so grab your tickets now!
Max Watt's
She's back and she is Fully Charged! After selling out shows and leaving audiences in stitches across the globe, Vanessa Larry Mitchell is back with Teardrops on My Dildo: Fully Charged. The unapologetic, high-voltage sequel to her breakout debut dives even deeper into the chaos of love, lust and all round loose-ness. Armed with a sharp tongue and thirsty mind, Vanessa brings her trademark mixture of sincerity to savagery to the stage. Expect confessions that will make your mum blush and leave your core sore. This isn't just stand-up, it's stand-up therapy for the emotionally overworked and sexually underwhelmed. 'Bold, cheeky and utterly unforgettable.' The Snee Review
The Toff in Town
Get ready for the WOGlympics, the ultimate comedy battle of the year! Local and international wog comedians go head-to-head to settle the score – which wogs are the funniest? This comedy lineup show is like no other, featuring four comics each night with rotating performers, bringing you fresh laughs at every show. The stakes are high, the laughs are nonstop and every joke comes with a side of family drama, questionable fashion choices and way too much olive oil. Whether you're a wog (or just wish you were), these comics are here to prove their culture has the best sense of humour. Expect fierce rivalry, cheeky banter and classic wog stereotypes in full force. From overbearing mothers to food-obsessed families – no topic is off-limits. These comics are bringing their A1-game to make you laugh, cringe and maybe relive your childhood trauma. So come for the laughs and stay to find out once and for all – who’s the funniest wog of them all? Don’t miss it!
Bar 1806
Watson Underground celebrates the return of the iconic, award-winning trio Watson to Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Featuring Liam Ryan (Head Writer The Project), Tegan Higginbotham (Have You Been Paying Attention?, Whose Line Is it Anyway?) and Adam McKenzie (no credits), Watson Underground is an hour of fast-paced explosive sketches, hilarious characters and out of control capering based on the team’s Best Comedy-nominated Melbourne Fringe show! Hold onto your butts... Watson is back! Previous Watson reviews: 'A rare level of theatrical brilliance.' ★★★★½ The Age 'It will leave you on the edge of your seat.' The Sydney Morning Herald 'Surely one of the most memorable experiences on offer this festival.' Chortle (UK) 'An action-packed combination of fun and laughter.' ★★★★★ ArtsHub 'I would recommend it in a heartbeat.' The Groggy Squirrel
Queen Victoria Women's Centre
Winner Piece of Wood Comic's Choice Award 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Wes grew up surrounded by a kaleidoscope of characters in a caravan park community. Every day after school he worked in the kiosk. Observing and serving the locals and holiday makers, Wes has an outlook on life that some say "is a little bit different". A wildly funny and heartwarming adventure into the life of a caravan park. With Wes' wicked sense of comic timing and elastic vocals, this one-hour holiday is not to be missed! 'This is cabaret of the kitsch, nostalgic and crass, telling small stories that together make up a funny and delightfully original show. Snelling inhabits his awkward teenage self and the charmless characters surrounding him to amusing, authentic and memorable effect. You can just about smell the disinfectant in the toilet block.' Australian Stage 'The flexibility and quality of his voice coupled with witty songs and engaging characters really make KIOSK a hit.' ArtsHub 'Snelling croons and rasps to create the atmosphere of a time-warped resort. His characterizations are inspired.' The Age Listed in Top 5 picks of Melbourne International Comedy Festival by The Sunday Age.
Grouse
There are too many goddamned comedians in this Festival. How is a sexy audience member like yourself supposed to work out who to pay money to go see? Have I got the solution for you... This show is a 30-minute sampler of four different comedians every day. It's fast! If you don't like the comedian, don't worry you only have to sit through them for five minutes. If you do like them, don't worry they'll be around afterwards to tell you about where you can see more of them this Festival!
Trainscendence
A fully improvised comedy inspired by the notorious hit series The White Lotus. Each night, a new cast of eccentric guests and unhinged hotel staff collide at a luxurious (and deeply dysfunctional) resort. Scandals erupt, secrets unravel and no one leaves unchanged – if they leave at all. There's no need to watch the series in order to love this salacious improvised romp (but um... what's stopping you?).No script, no safety, all drama.Presented and performed by The Improv Pit, whose sold-out festival shows include Hollywouldn't, The Improvised Superhero Movie and Best Worst Dates.Directed by David Tieck & Sharnema Nougar, otherwise known as Two Little D*ckheads (★★★★★ The List, ★★★★ Fest Mag).Sharnema Nougar is a twice Gibbo nominated director, a Green Room Award nominated director and has directed Best Comedy Award Winners at Perth FRINGE WORLD and Adelaide Fringe.David Tieck is an improv master who was a main stage player at iO West in LA (a big deal to Improv nerds!) and regularly contributes humour pieces to the Herald Sun (front page bitches!).'This delightful 60 minute show is unique.' What’s The Show (Improv Pit review).We trust you'll enjoy your stay at White Lotus! (The Improvised Season).Produced by Emily K Hopper (Collingwood's pre-eminent pet-sitter).
Trainscendence
Condfidence... it can be the deciding factor in what makes us succeed or fail. A little bit of condfidence can get you right where you need to be... but too much? That's another story. Comedian Will Gibb takes the audience through his battle with having too much condfidence and the situations he's ended up in because of it. Through hyperbolic storytelling and painfully niche impressions Will's ride is one that will either have you laughing or cringing. If you've read this far into the description of the show genuinely what are you doing? I'm judging it off the poster mainly not a few hundred words into a show description. I stand up there, I tell jokes and I'm silly with some audience interaction. I genuinely don't know what else you want from me. If you want an essay, go to a library or some shit.
Melbourne Town Hall
The Wacky Wizard is back with her magical mayhem for 4 – 400 year olds, smooshed with even more enchantment, calamities and laughs that make you fart. Having finally earned her ‘Real-Life Wizard Badge’, Winni must face her biggest challenge yet – running her family’s magic shop. But it’s proving trickier than expected… Join Winni on her winky wonky adventure as she must undo what she always does. This high energy, interactive whirlwind is packed with songs, dances and jokes funnier than your Dad’s. Perfect for the whole family, even your stinky goblin brother. After sell outs in Melbourne and Sydney, Winni returns 13.67% clumsier. 'Wonderful interactive and high energy entertainment from start to finish.' ★★★★½ Kids In Adelaide 'Her antics and mishaps will have everyone in stitches.' Kiddo Mag 'Kids were laughing within seconds.' Weekend Notes Written and performed by Lisa Gatenby. A comedian for all ages, Lisa has sold out festivals, guest hosted on Triple M radio and performed across Australia, NZ and the US. She’s opened for legends such as Dave Hughes, Dave O'Neil, Dave Thornton and more who aren’t named Dave. 'Her audience interaction is the definition of engagement.' Weekend Notes
ACMI
Work Hates is one of Australia's most beloved comedy podcasts, and it is coming to Melbourne International Comedy Festival for a live recording for two shows only!Presented by the hosts, Brett Blake (Spicks and Specks) and Bron Lewis (Have You Been Paying Attention?) and featuring two world-class comedians each show who will share their nightmare work stories. The podcast is a hoot, and the live shows are wild!
Coopers Inn
Get ready for a night of side-splitting laughter at Yeah The Gays Comedy! Focused on killer comedy (and inclusivity), our night will feature some of the funniest LGBTQ+ comics around!
Storyville Melbourne
Ever wanted to heckle but wished there were more rules about when and how you were allowed to? This is the show for you! No heckling until the green light. To heckle, you must raise your hand, the comedian will then decide whether or not they want your heckle. If you fail to comply with the heckling rules, you will have to sit in the naughty corner not facing the stage. Consent is sexy, heckling with consent is even sexier. From the mind of an ex-debating kid, this is a lineup comedy show with four different comedians each night.
Trainscendence
A crime has been commited in the small town of Tongue Swallow Hill, and all evidence points to the Big Bad Wolf's mild-mannered cousin Tobias. Inspired by wolf fables and dark fairy tales, and featuring an insane cast of characters, Once Upon a Crime is an absurd murder mystery sketch show that asks the question: What the hell kind of town is this? Written and performed by improv, sketch and character comedian Zac Anderson, who, thanks to his last name, was the first person in the world to graduate university with a Bachelor's degree in comedy. After a successful run at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his show Milk!, Zac is finally back with a shiny-new sketch show. It's true crime at it's most ficticious!
Grace Darling Hotel
I don't know if I'm ready to be a dad or even a step-dad, but I'm the perfect bloke to be your mum's new friend. I've had a few thoughts lately so I've put them all into a one hour comedy show for you to enjoy! Join me for an hour of laughs and merriment! 'Punchy, quick and fast on his feet.' Herald Sun 'The lanky Melburnian with the ‘80s mo impressed.' Herald Sun 'Wonderfully undermining silliness.' Chortle (UK)
Coopers Inn
Zain Seven is the immigrant your mum warned you about – charming, polite and spiritually unstable.Born in Pakistan, forged in Adelaide and now terrorising Australia one punchline at a time, Zain brings a comedy voice that is unmistakably his: brown-guy logic mixed with theological chaos, geopolitical delusion and the kind of confidence only a man raised on cricket disappointment can have. In Lovebomb, Zain pulls apart the emotional circus of modern identity – race, religion, sex, visas, parents, trauma, Tinder, God, Jesus, footy, Centrelink and the indescribable smell of Harris Park – then lovingly reassembles it as a comedy grenade and throws it at the audience. He talks about being Muslim but in love with Jesus, being Pakistani but mistaken for Indian, being cute but wishing he was funny and being an immigrant who somehow keeps ending up at every protest march purely for Uber surge pricing.He’ll explain why kangaroos are just donkeys on meth, why Pakistani cricket is a divine curse that no passport can fix, why Australian men measure status by high schools and why brown suburbs smell like tikka masala from space. Zain’s comedy is equal parts sharp, shameless and stupid. One minute he’s questioning God’s HR policies, the next he’s breaking down racism using Bunnings sausages, and somewhere in the middle he’ll convince you that Christian Rock is a war crime. It’s loud, irreverent, affectionate, self-roasting and occasionally educational in ways your parents would not approve of. If you like your comedians:– politically incorrect but oddly informed– brown but not the ABC-friendly kind– spiritual but only on sale– romantic but emotionally unavailable–chaotic but surprisingly sweet …then welcome.Zain Seven is here to lovebomb you. Just sit down, relax and let the red flags wash over you.You already feel special, don’t you?
Speakeasy HQ
As seen on Hijabs Off (Amazon Prime stand-up special) and UPLOAD (Amazon Prime). Following her hit stand-up special Hijabs Off (Amazon Prime), Zainab Johnson returns to Melbourne armed, dangerous and toxically optimistic. The New Yorker’s bold new hour explores being charitable on dates, owning a gun but refusing to kill and a surprising friendship with a wild animal. Zainab is a series regular on the Amazon Original hit series UPLOAD, and co-hosts Netflix’s 100 Humans. She has performed at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival first as a New Face of Comedy, then as one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch. ‘Laugh out-loud, thoughtful and honest’. The LA Times ‘Johnson is smart, charismatic and full of surprises.’ ★★★★ Evening Standard (UK) 'Charisma and charm personified.' ★★★★ Chortle (UK
Melbourne Town Hall