Melbourne International Comedy Festival (expired event)

Save the date now, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will be back for more laughs in 2024 – from Wednesday 27 March – Sunday 21 April 2024.

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 Festival. An annual event, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival literally takes over Australia's comedy capital, Melbourne, each autumn with an enormous program of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts.

The Festival was launched in 1987 by Barry Humphries and Peter Cook. Thirty-three festivals later, with attendances of up to 770,000, it has grown to be Australia's largest cultural ticketed event. With an average ticket price of just $32, the Festival is not only a hugely popular event but an extremely accessible one. When the Melbourne Town Hall precinct is converted into a giant comedy hub, there is something for every comedy lover, from the very best local and international comedy acts in venues of all shapes and sizes.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival aims to discover, develop and showcase great talent for the entertainment and inspiration of a broad based audience. The Festival values irreverence, inventiveness and creativity, inclusiveness and accessibility, freedom of speech and respect for all.