The laughs feel a little different in 2026 – fuller, louder, maybe even a touch sentimental – as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival celebrates its 40th birthday.
What began in 1987 as a relatively modest gathering of funny people has grown into something that now feels woven into the city’s DNA. For four decades, every autumn, Melbourne’s theatres, bars, laneways and unlikely corners transform into punchline delivery systems. This year, with almost 800 shows on the program, that takeover feels especially triumphant.
At the heart of the celebrations is The Big FOUR-Oh! – a once-in-a-decade gala hosted by Nath Valvo and Geraldine Hickey at the Regent Theatre. It promises to be exactly what a 40th birthday should be: chaotic, nostalgic, stacked with talent and just a little bit emotional. The idea of comedy royalty from across eras sharing the same stage feels less like an event and more like a love letter to the festival itself.
Opening night brings the Comedy Allstars Supershow, a line-up that reads like a greatest-hits playlist: Celia Pacquola, David O’Doherty, Dilruk Jayasinha, He Huang, Jenny Tian, Josie Long, Lou Wall, Nazeem Hussain, Phil Wang, Reuben Kaye, Tom Cashman, Sam Jay and more – all guided by Brett Blake and Bron Lewis. It’s the kind of show that reminds you how deep the bench has become.
Traditions return too, because what’s a milestone without a little reflection? The 36th Annual Great Debate will tackle the wonderfully provocative topic “That It Was Better In The Olden Days” – a theme that feels deliciously ironic for a festival celebrating forward momentum. Meanwhile, Upfront once again centres women and non-binary voices, with Michelle Brasier hosting a powerhouse line-up that stretches from Australia to the UK and New Zealand.
There’s something especially poetic about How It Started, the now sold-out pop-up series at Melbourne Town Hall. Big names in tiny rooms – a reminder that every superstar once performed to a handful of curious strangers. It’s easy to imagine the ghosts of nervous early-career sets lingering in those walls.
International favourite Mark Watson marks both his own 20-year relationship with the festival and its 40th year with a one-night-only showcase introducing 40 artists. The promise that it won’t happen again until 2066 adds a mischievous sense of occasion – blink and you’ll miss it. For 40 VIP ticket holders, there’s even the chance to join him on a comedic tour of Melbourne beforehand. It feels very on-brand: earnest, slightly absurd, entirely charming.
And then there’s the sheer scale of it all. The 2026 program sprawls gloriously across stand-up, sketch, improv, musical comedy and genre-bending experiments. From household favourites like Hannah Gadsby, Wil Anderson, Josh Thomas, Lano & Woodley, Urzila Carlson and The Umbilical Brothers, to international heavyweights including Daniel Sloss, Rich Hall, Sofie Hagen and Zainab Johnson, it’s a reminder that Melbourne isn’t just hosting comedy – it’s shaping it.
Equally vital is the continued spotlight on First Nations storytelling, with Leon Filewood, Elaine Crombie, Steph Tisdell, Dane Simpson and others leading a line-up that reflects both pride and progress. The Aboriginal Comedy Allstars – including a dedicated kids edition – ensure the next generation is laughing just as loudly.
And that’s perhaps the real achievement of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It has never stood still. Over 40 years it has launched careers, evolved formats and helped cement Melbourne’s reputation as one of the comedy capitals of the world. But it has also remained wonderfully accessible – with school holiday shows for kids and free family-friendly performances at Fed Square and City Square from Good Friday through to closing night.
Anniversaries can sometimes feel like retrospectives. This one feels like momentum.
From 25th March to 19th April 2026, Melbourne once again hands over the mic – not just to the established stars, but to the future voices who might be headlining the 80th. If the past four decades have proven anything, it’s that the punchlines aren’t getting softer with age.
They’re getting sharper.
Please check out the website for the full program comedyfestival.com.au.
