Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Ready to laugh until you cry? The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is back from March 25 to April 19, serving up nearly a month of punchlines and pure joy in venues across the city.

Since its inception in 1987, the festival has grown to become Australia's largest cultural ticketed event – and the third-largest comedy festival in the world, behind Montreal’s Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Fringe, luring the funniest peeps from around Australia and across the globe.

The 2026 program opens on March 25 with the Comedy Allstars Supershow at the Palais Theatre. Get ready to LOL with homegrown faves like Celia Pacquola, Dilruk Jayasinha, Jenny Tian, Josie Long, Nazeem Hussain as well as international talent like Sam Jay (USA), Phil Wang (UK/Malaysia) and David O’Doherty (Ireland).

From stand-up and sketch to improv, musical comedy and even film, this year’s line-up is stacked with hilarious heavyweights – think Josh Thomas, Gillian Cosgriff, Lizzy Hoo, Nat Harris, Wil Anderson, Lano & Woodley, Hannah Gadsby, Denise Scott, Urzila Carlson, Matt Okine and Sammy J, plus plenty more international acts.

Championing First Nations storytelling remains front and centre, with a shows featuring Leon Filewood, Elaine Crombie, Steph Tisdell, Dale Woodbridge-Brown, Dane Simpson, Kevin Kropinyeri and Tarsh Jago.

Beloved annual events also return like The 36th Annual Great Debate featuring six comedy superstars and one fearless moderator; Upfront featuring a line-up of the funniest women and non-binary comedians from Australia and around the world; the Asian Allstars Gala; How It Started with four pop-up shows at Melbourne Town Hall; shows for kids during the school holidays and free family-friendly performances at Fed Square and City Square for everyone to enjoy.

Add in talent-spotting programs Deadly Funny, a competition to find comedic talent from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and Class Clowns, a program that gives teens a chance to hone their comedic talent, and you've got the complete package.   

Tickets can be purchased through the website, and, depending on the show, through venues and ticketing providers. As always, the festival has a large number of drinking and dining partners that are near festival venues and are perfect for getting a meal or bevvie pre- or post-show.   

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