Events

Australia’s favourite celebration of laughter – the Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicks off next Wednesday! With almost 800 shows lighting up stages across the city, the Festival isn’t just about what happens on stage – it’s about the full night out.

Whether you’re after a quick bite between shows, a long dinner with friends or somewhere to raise a glass post-gig, the Festival’s Drinking & Dining partners have you covered. From casual eats to deluxe dining, ticket holders can take advantage of exclusive offers and venues across Melbourne.

A stacked line-up of late-night shows will keep the laughs coming. Audiences can catch performers including Christie Whelan-Browne, Emily Taheny and Jess Harris in People You Know; dive into interactive chaos with Mafia The Game: The Show; or experience the offbeat brilliance of Sam Campbell in a new week of late-night shows just added due to popular demand. From cult hits like The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase and The Kaye Hole to high-energy showcases including Tournament of Teams 2026, there’s no shortage of weird, wonderful and wildly funny late-night discoveries across the Festival.

Then when the curtain falls, the party is just getting started at the Festival Club at Max Watt’s – the ultimate late-night destination for laughs, chaos and dancing. Running Tuesday through Sunday, the Club delivers 21 huge nights of comedy mayhem, featuring massive line-ups of stand-up, variety, storytelling, musical comedy, clowning and more. On the line-up this year is Daniel Connell, Anisa Nandaula, Jack Night, Michael Hing, Nikki Britton, Urvi Majumdar, Tom Sainsbury (NZ), Bron Lewis, Kate Dolan, Helen Bauer (UK), Ray O’Leary (NZ), Sofie Hagen (Denmark), Danielle Walker, and that’s only just scratching the surface! Every show is completely unique, packed with surprise appearances, big names and unforgettable moments.

Fan-favourite Festival Club nights include; 10 Comedians for 10 Bucks – a ridiculously good-value showcase; Comedy Bonanza, where the Festival’s biggest stars let loose in the anything-goes late-night spectacular; expect outrageous energy at Lip Sync Battle hosted by Elouise Eftos; wild reinvention at Flipping the Script hosted by The Burton Brothers, and pure chaos at Otto & Astrid’s Mid-Week Haus Party!

Special one-night-only club events promise to be some of the most memorable comedy experiences this festival; Blak ‘N’ Delicious, a celebration of blak excellence hosted by Jay Wymarra; the Easter Comedy Beauty Pageant hosted by Hunter Smith; and Instructions For Life, serving up the life lessons you didn’t know you needed from some of the wisest comedians and hosted by Tom Cashman. Cult hits like Michelle Brasier’s Comedians on Stage Auditioning for Musicals; Not On Your Rider hosted by Aimon Clark; and Melbourne’s favourite storytelling night Backyard Stories are back, rounding out an eclectic late-night offering.

And when the comedy ends? The dance floor opens. With DJs spinning every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (plus Easter Thursday), the Festival Club keeps the energy high until late.

So grab your tickets, book your table, lace up your dancing shoes and make a night of it – in fact make a few – because at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the fun doesn’t stop when the lights go down. With hundreds of shows on offer, there’s never been a better time to join the party. Whether you’re discovering new talent, reliving Festival memories, or creating fresh ones, the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the place to be.

Explore the Festival’s Drinking & Dining options at: comedyfestival.com.au/drinking-dining/