International Comedy Heavyweights Descend On Melbourne For 40th Melbourne International Comedy

Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is gearing up for a massive 2026, with an incredible lineup of festival-curated international comedians landing in Melbourne in just under two months. From award-winners and cult favourites to bold new voices making their Melbourne debuts, MICF 2026 brings together some of the sharpest, strangest and most exciting comedy talent from around the world.

 

 

Leading the charge is Rich Hall (USA), the award-winning Montana native whose acerbic political satire and deadpan storytelling have made him a global favourite; MICF stalwart Josie Long (UK) – a three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee – returns with a brand-new show exploring extinct, gigantic, charismatic megafauna; David O’Doherty (Ireland) – our very own hairy Enya, Ryanair Bublé, and nine volt battery-powered Beethoven brings more musical whimsy; Phil Wang (UK/Malaysia) is back with a new stand-up show and he’s older than ever before.

He’s got a moustache now which bristles with wisdom; New Yorker Zainab Johnson (US) brings a bold new hour exploring being charitable on dates and a surprising friendship with a wild animal; and Comedy Festival royalty Mark Watson (UK) celebrates a major milestone – 20 years since he first appeared at the festival in 2006. A then clean-shaven and even skinnier Watson has spent the past two decades unpacking everything from sin, death and fatherhood to divorce, identity theft, alcoholism, Google, life expectancy and a truly massive passport problem – all with an unusual amount of ad-libbing and enthusiastic arm-waving.

 

 

Also returning to Melbourne:

• Emmanuel Sonubi (UK) with a deeply personal, refreshingly honest and outrageously funny show about surviving heart failure and finding comedy in life’s toughest moments.
• Ed Night (UK) will share endearing tales of fragile, penniless adulthood – from rent haggling and cheap coffee to eccentric grandparents and their multi-purpose biscuit tins in his Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show.
• Lara Ricote (USA/Mexico) is set to return with an hour of exceedingly surreal, oddball musings.
• Sarah Keyworth (UK) is back but with something a bit different – an hour of playful crowd work. Expect to chat. Expect to be surprised.
• Sam Jay (USA) fresh from her best show nomination at Edinburgh Fringe, explores how a black woman who never truly felt a part of her country might grapple with its certain demise.
• And Chloe Petts (UK) takes a deep dive into her upbringing at the height of lad culture.

MICF will also welcome a wave of international artists making their Melbourne solo debuts, including:

• Sam Nicoresti (UK), hot from a Best Show win at Edinburgh Fringe, bringing a glistening diamond hour of stand-up about love, insanity and the hunt for the perfect skirt suit.
• Luke McQueen (UK), the critically acclaimed comedy maverick, with a mischievously funny new show – and recording his long-overdue appearance on The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast live on stage using artificial intelligence.
• Ian Smith (UK) Two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee brings his critically acclaimed new show about stress, love and buying a magic spell off Amazon.
• Mike Rice (Ireland) a rising star delivering a rapid-fire hour of darkly twisted storytelling.
  Prashasti Singh (India) one of India’s biggest stand-up stars, making her festival debut with Divine Feminine – including a special Hindi-language performance.
• Abby Wambaugh (Denmark/USA) with The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows, a one-person variety hour showcasing an astonishing range of comedy styles.
• And New Order, a curated showcase featuring three of the UK’s hottest young comedians: Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Sharon Wanjohi and Thor Stenhaug.

Podcast fans are also in for a treat with LIVE PODCAST: What Did You Do Yesterday? featuring Max Rushden and David O’Doherty, bringing their beloved podcast to the festival stage.

Australia’s favourite celebration of laughter – the Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from 25 March to 19 April 2026. With hundreds of shows lighting up the city, 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.

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