Brisbane Comedy Festival is returning in 2026, celebrating its 17th year with what promises to be its biggest yet.
Taking over the city from April 24th-May 24th, 2026, the festival will be packed with international stars, local legends and fresh talent who are ready to serve real, unadulterated and raucous rolling-on-the-floor moments right across the event.
Venues including Brisbane Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre will be transformed for the city-wide celebration of comedy and all things that tickle the funny bone.
The 2026 edition will kick off with the ever-popular Brisbane Comedy Festival Opening Gala at The Fortitude Music Hall on Friday, April 24th, a special one-night-only showcase of big punchlines and even bigger personalities from across the program.
This appetiser of shows from across the festival always sells out, so comedy lovers will need to get in early.
Brisbane Comedy Festival’s first lineup drop for 2026 brings together a mix of festival favourites and new names. Prepare for a full abdominal workout with the likes of Denise Scott, Melanie Bracewell, The Umbilical Brothers, Connor Burns, Dave Hughes, Anisa Nanduala, Georgie Carroll, Ray O’Leary, Tom Cashman, and many more. See the full lineup below.
The full 2026 program, dropping in March, will unveil an embarrassment of international debuts, homegrown heroes, late-night takeovers and all-ages shows.
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The 2025 edition earlier this year welcomed over 90,000 attendees across more than 420 performances, breaking records since its establishment in 2009.
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From special one-off shows and comedy especially for kids to free outdoor events, Brisbane Comedy Festival 2026 will bring one huge month of belly laughs to venues across the city, and that unique communal joy that only comedy can deliver.
Ticket presale begins at 10am (AEDT) today (November 13th), before general tickets go on sale at 10am (AEDT) on Friday, November 14th. Ticket information is available here.
BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL 2026
April 24th – May 24th
Brisbane QLD
Lineup
Denise Scott, Melanie Bracewell, The Umbilical Brothers, Connor Burns, Dave Hughes, Anisa Nanduala, Georgie Carroll, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Ray O’Leary, Tom Cashman, Marty Sheargold, Shitfaced Shakespeare, Bron Lewis, Guy Williams, Chris Parker, Joanne McNally, Colin Mochrie (Hyprov: Comedy Under Hypnosis), Jack Ansett
+ more to come