01
One of the world’s biggest comedy festivals
The 40th edition in 2026 ran 26 days with 803 shows and 9,164 performances, drew almost 800,000 visits and set a box-office record.
Festivals & traditions
Back to events
The Doug Anthony All Stars at Melbourne Town Hall during the 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival; a file photo. · Report image rightsMelbourne · AustraliaFestivals & traditions
2027.03.24 — 2027.04.18 · Coming soon
A month of laughs in Melbourne.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2027
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest comedy festivals in the world. Its 40th edition in 2026 ran for 26 days with 803 shows and 9,164 performances, drew almost 800,000 visits and set a box-office record. In 2027 it runs from Wednesday 24 March to Sunday 18 April, with stand-up, improv and comedy theatre in theatres and comedy clubs across Melbourne, each show ticketed separately. The full programme is not out yet, though some shows are already on sale.
GOWOAH / Melbourne
A REASON TO GO
A REASON TO GO
Venues across Melbourne2027.03.24 — 2027.04.18Festivals & traditionsTicket required
FIND YOUR REASON
What draws you to this experience?
02
Several stand-up hours in a night
The shows announced so far run about an hour, starting from early evening to late, so you can fit two or three into a night.
Festivals & traditions03
Comedians from Australia and beyond
Australian and overseas comics share the bill; the 2026 Asian Allstars Gala brought performers from Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, India and beyond.
Festivals & traditionsProgramme, background & sources
Checked · 2026-10-15
A LITTLE CLOSER
A closer look.
1 / 1
Swipe to explore · Tap to enlarge
2015 · Tourism Victoria · Photo source · CC BY 2.0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
MAKE IT YOUR EXPERIENCE
Does this fit what you are looking for?
This could be for you if you are…
- Fans of stand-up and improv
- Anyone in Melbourne in March or April
Before you decide
The full programme is not out yet.
Each show is ticketed separately, in venues across the city.
Most shows are in English, many with strong language, and age limits depend on the show and venue.
FIND YOUR PLACE
Explore the layout. Plan your route.
Shows are spread across venues in Melbourne; see each show page for its venue.
Open official guide ↗FROM AN IDEA TO A PLAN
Make a plan that works for you.
Dates & times
2027.03.24 — 2027.04.18Wednesday 24 March to Sunday 18 April 2027, 26 days (Melbourne time); each show has its own dates and times, for example Luke Heggie plays the whole run at 6.20pm (5.20pm on Sundays) and Dilruk Jayasinha from 6 to 11 April at 7pm.
Australia/MelbourneMore programme details
- One of the world’s biggest comedy festivals
- Several stand-up hours in a night
- Comedians from Australia and beyond
Venue & travel
Venues across MelbourneShows are spread across theatres and comedy clubs in and around central Melbourne, such as the Basement Comedy Club at 120 Exhibition Street and The Comic’s Lounge at 26 Errol Street, North Melbourne; follow the venue details on each show page.
Entry & companions
Age advice and venue rules differ by show: Luke Heggie’s hour is for 18+ with strong language, and under-18s need a parent at the licensed venue; The Comic’s Lounge, where Dilruk Jayasinha plays, admits no under-18s and has 25 steps at the entrance. Check each show page for venue and access details before buying.
Tickets & access
Ticketed per show · from AUD 26
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Sources & image credits
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
- Comedy Festival site ↗
- 2027 registrations (dates) ↗
- The 2026 festival in numbers ↗
- Luke Heggie《Relic》 ↗
- Dilruk Jayasinha《I Stand Corrected》 ↗
Canley · CC BY-SA 4.0 Image source
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Doug Anthony All Stars at Melbourne Town Hall during the 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival; a file photo.
Information checked on 2026-10-15
Suggest a correction ↗Festivals & traditionsMalthouse Theatre and its square in Southbank, Melbourne, in 2008, where SWIM plays; a file photo.
Photo source · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped preview· Report image rights
05month2027.05.06 — 2027.05.16Local dates
YIRRAMBOI Festival 2027
Melbourne’s First Nations festival turns ten with four world-premiere commissions, from a Yorta Yorta album to drag street theatre.
Australia · Melbourne
Set per show · SWIM on saleWhy Go
Festivals & traditionsFolk Group Bulgari from Melbourne in costume with welcome bread in the European village at the 2020 festival; a file photo.
Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped preview· Report image rights
02month2027.02.05 — 2027.02.07Local dates
National Multicultural Festival 2027
Australia’s largest celebration of cultural diversity: three days of food stalls from around the world, music and dance in Canberra City.
Australia · Canberra
To be announcedWhy Go
02month2027.02.19 — 2027.03.21Local dates
Adelaide Fringe 2027
The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest arts festival: 8,000-plus artists across 500-plus venues, a month of comedy, theatre and street performance.
Australia · Adelaide
Ticketed per showWhy Go
Share your experience