The biggest comedy festival in the world is Montreal’s Just for Laughs, which has been going strong since 1983. But all those laughs can’t be restrained by mere geography, which is why the organisation has been rolling out mini-festivals around the world. The Sydney iteration is celebrating its ninth year in 2020, returning to the Opera House and venues across the city. As per usual, the star power is of a particularly high wattage.
The perfect place to start? Try the gala. It's the theatrical form of eating a degustation, but unlike an actual degustation, they’re designed to leave you a little bit hungry for more. The sign of a successful gala? You’ve been blown away by at least one set and discovered your new stand-up obsession. The full line-up is yet to be revealed, but the gala will be hosted by local gent Dave Hughes and feature Judith Lucy, Nina Conti, Randy Feltface, Adam Christie and Eman El-Husseini.
Previous acts include John Cleese, Eddie Izzard, Margaret Cho and Reggie Watts, so you never know who might pop up.