Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal’s Just for Laughs.

Held annually in Melbourne, Australia’s comedy capital, the festival features a rich mix of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performances, and more.

Melbourne Comedy Festival 2025 Dates, Program Schedule & Lineup

Launched in 1987 by comedy legends Barry Humphries and Peter Cook, the festival has grown into Australia’s largest ticketed cultural event. With over 770,000 attendees and an average ticket price of $35, it remains both popular and affordable.

Each autumn, for three and a half weeks, the Melbourne Town Hall and surrounding precincts transform into a giant comedy hub. The festival showcases local and international talent, offering something for everyone in various venues. The festival plays a key role in uniting the comedy scene, offering the necessary environment and promotional support while creating and managing many venues.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival hosts hundreds of shows throughout its run, with the list growing yearly to over 700 shows. The Festival includes award-winning performances by famous comedians, debates, comedy performances, and an opening night comedy gala.

In previous years, there have been many headliners and seasoned regulars, including Stephen K Amos, Akmal, Wil Anderson, Rich Hall, David O’Doherty, Arj Barker, Ross Noble, Paul Foot, Tom Green, Celia Pacquola, Hannah Gadsby, Joel Creasey, Judith Lucy, Matt Okine, Tom Gleeson, Peter Helliar, Sarah Kendall, Dave Thornton, Dave Hughes, Carl Barron, Charlie Pickering, Fiona O’Loughlin, Felicity Ward and Lawrence Mooney – to name a few.

The Gala

Brace yourself for the most electrifying night in Australian comedy – it’s back and bigger than ever!

The annual prelude to comedy’s most festive month, don’t miss this star-studded evening as the Festival’s top comedians come together for a once-in-a-lifetime show.

The Gala isn’t just about comedy – it’s about making a difference and supporting Oxfam Australia’s work tackling global inequality and building a future without poverty.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the magic, laugh out loud and support Oxfam’s vital work. Book now before it’s too late!

Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow

Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow is the ultimate kick-off to nearly four weeks of uninterrupted comedy brilliance! Prepare to be dazzled by a star-studded line-up featuring comedy royalty from around the globe and a special few of the soon-to-be-stars guaranteed to be making waves in April.

It’s the most sought-after ticket in town for one night only at the iconic Palais Theatre.

Guaranteed to sell out quickly so book your tickets now!

Upfront

One of the most popular nights on the comedy calendar returns! Delivering a joyful mix of established comedy powerhouses and rising stars, Upfront has earned its reputation as a Festival must-see event with some of the boldest female and non-binary voices in the game.

Don’t wait – grab your tickets now for this one-night-only extravaganza.

This stellar line-up will join our incredible host Becky Lucas: Amy Annette (UK), Chanel Ali (USA), Charlene Kaye (USA), Emma Holland, Frankie McNair, Kirsty Webeck, Mel & Sam, Melanie Bracewell (NZ), Olga Koch (UK), Robyn Reynolds, Sara Pascoe (UK), Scout Boxall, Tarsh Jago, Urooj Ashfaq (India) plus more!

The 35th Annual Great Debate

Well-reasoned arguments. Thorough research. Strong rebuttals. These are the hallmarks of a good debate. Uproarious laughter. Unbridled confidence. Unpredictable accusations. These are the hallmarks of The Great Debate.

Two teams of comedy superstars will battle it out with jokes, jabs, and justifications, to impress the all-mighty moderator. The facts will be dubious, the allegations will be tenuous, and the laughter will be contagious.

RAW Comedy National Grand Final

Australia’s epic open mic competition!

For three decades now, Australia’s largest and most prestigious open mic competition, RAW Comedy, has unearthed an emerging generation of comedic talent. We’ve scoured the country for the sharpest material, bravest jokes, most unexpected punchlines and pure unfiltered comic genius for three months. The National Grand Final is where we present the best of the best.

See our national finalists take to the Melbourne Town Hall stage to fight it out, laugh after laugh, for the ultimate bragging rights and the chance to be crowned the nation’s next comedy sensation.

Who will emerge as the hidden gem that everyone will be talking about? There’s only one way to find out!

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, Sam Campbell, Georgie Carroll, David Woodhead, Cassie Workman, Luke Heggie, Danielle Walker and more.

The (Very) Big Laugh Out

One massive day of free-flowing family fun on Good Friday!

Kick off the Easter long weekend with a massive day of comedy at Fed Square.

Featuring world-class street performers, joined by the best physical and musical comedy acts in da biz, join host Tash York and a massive line-up featuring Josh Glanc, Nat Harris & Hannah Camilleri, Polite Mammals, Dane Simpson, Kirsty Webeck, Clara Cupcakes, Bubble Laboratory and DJ Monski Mouse. It’s undeniably the most fun you’ll have all school holidays!

The (Very) Big Laugh Out is renowned for its exciting and surprising all-ages programming jam-packed with stellar acts. The best bit? It’s totally FREE!

So, if you love live comedy, come and experience this exciting event with thousands of others who flock to comedy shows all over Melbourne. Please check out the official website at https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/ for a full list of artist dates, times, ticket prices and venues.