The laughter is louder than ever – Melbourne International Comedy Festival is celebrating a milestone 40 years in 2026, with almost 800 shows.
In 2026, Melbourne International Comedy Festival cements its reputation as the largest dedicated comedy festival in the world. . . From humble beginnings in 1987 to a city-wide cultural phenomenon, thousands of performers now take over stages, bars, theatres and laneways each year. This year’s programme is both a celebration of the past, and a bold look toward comedy’s future.
’The Big FOUR-Oh!’ leads the birthday festivities. Hosted by Nath Valvo and Geraldine Hickey, it’s a once-in-a-decade gala event bringing comedy superstars past, present and future together on the stage of the iconic Regent Theatre.
There’ll be plenty of shows shining a light on four decades of laughs. . . Including ‘How It Started’, bringing audiences four surprise pop-up shows at Melbourne Town Hall and putting big names in small spaces.
Things kick off with the Comedy Allstars Supershow, featuring some of the festival’s biggest homegrown and international names, including Celia Pacquola, David O’Doherty (Ireland), Dilruk Jayasinha, He Huang, Jenny Tian, Josie Long, Lou Wall, Nazeem Hussain, Phil Wang (UK/Malaysia), Reuben Kaye, Tom Cashman, Sam Jay (USA) and more, joined by hosts Brett Blake and Bron Lewis.
Beloved festival traditions like ‘The 36th Annual Great Debate’ return, featuring six comedy superstars and one fearless moderator. This year’s topic? ‘It Was Better In The Olden Days’. Plus, there’s ‘Upfront’ hosted by Michelle Brasier and featuring some of the funniest women and non-binary comedians from Australia and across the world, like Abby Howells (NZ), Cassie Workman, Danielle Walker, Felicity Ward, Jo Gowda, Sharon Wanjohi (UK) and more.
Mark Watson (celebrating 20 years at MICF) will bring a special anniversary event created exclusively for this milestone year. 40 great names from the festival will come together in an unmissable evening.
As for the wider programme, it spans stand-up, sketch, improv, musical comedy, film, and genre-defying performances from some of the most exciting voices in comedy.
Expect to see the likes of Melanie Bracewell, Josh Thomas, Gillian Cosgriff, Lizzy Hoo, Ivan Aristeguieta, Sam Campbell, Scout Boxall, Nat Harris, Wil Anderson, Lano & Woodley, Hannah Gadsby, Denise Scott, Urzila Carlson, Cassie Workman, Matt Okine, The Umbilical Brothers, Sammy J and Celia Pacquola, alongside international award winners and nominees Sam Nicoresti (UK) hot from a Best Show win at Edinburgh Fringe, two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Ian Smith (UK), plus Luke McQueen (UK) and long-time favourites Chloe Petts (UK), Connor Burns (Scotland), Daniel Sloss (Scotland), Douglas Lim (Singapore), Fadzri Rashid (Singapore), Josie Long (UK) Schalk Bezuidenhout (Sth Africa), Rich Hall (USA) Sofie Hagen (Denmark), Takashi Wakasugi (Japan), Zainab Johnson (USA) and way more.
There is of course a commitment to championing First Nations storytelling and comedy, with a powerful line-up, featuring Leon Filewood, Elaine Crombie, Steph Tisdell, Dale Woodbridge-Brown, Dane Simpson, Kevin Kropinyeri and Tarsh Jago, who join the much-loved Aboriginal Comedy Allstars and Aboriginal Comedy Allstars For Kids.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on from 25 March-19 April.
