Melbourne International Comedy Festival

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Robata Japanese Grill

Win a city staycation enjoying Melbourne Comedy Festival

Subscribers have the chance to win a night at The Westin Melbourne, a $250 voucher to dine at Robata Japanese Grill and tickets to see The Big FOUR-OH!*

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Get 2-for-1 tickets* to Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back from 25 March to 19 April, and in 2026, we’re celebrating 40 years of funny! Age subscribers can access 2-for-1 tickets* to selected sessions.

Luke “no crowd work” Heggie.

Why are we paying hundreds to answer ‘what’s your job’?

The rise of the crowd-work comic: because thinking of a second joke is just too much effort.

  • Luke Heggie
Craig Tiley and Mecca founder Jo Horgan at the announcement last week of Mecca’s partnership with the Australian Open.

The shake-up coming to Melbourne’s major events calendar in 2026

Some of the country’s most beloved events are facing change next year.

  • Cara Waters

Is this the world’s most infuriating comedian? He certainly hopes so

Luke McQueen lies, pours soup on his head and uses AI to take down his enemies. No wonder his audiences sometimes walk out.

  • Richard Jinman
Susan Provan, director of the Melbourne Intrnational Comedy Festival.

‘I can’t do this forever’: Comedy festival boss to hand over baton

After 30 years in the top job, Susan Provan is thinking it might be time for someone else to take the wheel. Maybe.

  • Karl Quinn
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Garry Starr (Damien Warren-Smith) has won the Most Outstanding Show award.

I predicted the winner of MICF’s Most Outstanding Show eight months ago

This show was named best in the festival – and (probably) not just for the full-frontal nudity.

  • Tyson Wray

The best heckles, riskiest jokes and strangest moments from this year’s comedy festival

After a month packed with shows, our reviewers have come together to pick out the best (and most memorable) moments from this year’s comedy festival.

  • Donna Demaio, Guy Webster, Hannah Francis, Lefa Singleton Norton, Mikey Cahill, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray and Vyshnavee Wijekumar
Color Theories is on at Max Watt’s until April 20.

The good, the weird and the unmissable from this festival’s final week

From absurdist scribbling in a notebook to a show that digs into the dark recesses of the internet, and ChatGPT acting as matchmaker, here are our latest reviews.

  • Cher Tan, Donna Demaio, Hannah Francis, John Bailey, Lefa Singleton Norton, Sonia Nair, Tyson Wray, Vyshnavee Wijekumar and Nell Geraets
Torres in a scene from Fantasmas.

The letter Q is lonely and purple is sassy: What can we learn from fonts and colours?

Former Saturday Night Live writer and cult comedy favourite Julio Torres has brought his newest experimental work to Australia.

  • Will Cox