MICF 2025: MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

For 25 hours, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is slashing ticket prices across a range of 2025 Festival shows to just $25*

With over 300 shows available including: Akmal, Alex Hines, Alex Ward, Andy Balloch, Anirban Dasgupta (India), Becky Lucas, Brett Blake, Bronwyn Kuss, Cameron James, Chloe Petts (UK), Daniel Connell, Douglas Lim (Malaysia), Elouise Eftos, Geraldine Hickey, Geraldine Quinn, Guy Montgomery (NZ), He Huang, Ivan Aristeguieta, Janty Blair, Jenny Tian, Joel Creasey, Josh Glanc, Joshua Ladgrove, Jude Perl, Kirsty Webeck, Lizzy Hoo, Luke Heggie, Luke McGregor, Mel Bracewell (NZ), Nazeem Hussain, Nick White, Nicolette Minster, Olga Koch (Russia/UK), Paul Foot (UK), Rahul Subramanian (India), Rosie Jones (UK), Ruby Wax (USA), Sammy J, Sara Pascoe (UK), Scout Boxall, Suren Jayemanne, Takashi Wakasugi (Japan), Tom Allen (UK), Tommy Little, Wankernomics, Zoe Coombs Marr and so many more.

This is a once-a-year offer, and it all kicks off at noon on Tuesday 4 February, so make the most of it while you can! 

Offer ends at 1pm on Wednesday 5 February, subject to availability.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2525/

More international artists have been announced for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival which kicks off in just 8 weeks on 26 March.

Straight from the UK and exclusive to Melbourne comes One Man Musical by award-winning comedy duo Flo & Joan. Following sell-out runs in London’s West End, One Man Musical is about a very renowned and real-life icon of the musical theatre world who finally turns the spotlight onto the one story he's yet to tell – his own. Starring George Fouracres (HBO’s The Franchise, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Hamlet) as ‘the man’ and Flo & Joan as ‘the band’ and directed by Georgie Staight (Operation Mincemeat) the show will run for the full Festival season at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Also from the UK; trail-blazer Paul Foot returns with his most personal and surprising show yet; and New Order – one show featuring three of the UK’s hottest comedians – Amy Annette (winner Funny Women Award 2022), Emmanuel Sonubi (nominee 2023 Best Show, nominee 2022 Best Newcomer, Edinburgh Comedy Awards) and Paddy Young (winner Chortle Awards 2024 Best Newcomer).

From the USA and for the first time in Australia, comes Julio Torres with his acclaimed, absurdist comedy hour Color Theories. Having written for SNL, Julio comes hot off directing and starring with Tilda Swinton, Greta Lee and the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA in the acclaimed Problemista (Netflix). Also an Australian premiere, the raw and raucous Desiree Burch (USA/UK), who brings a childlike wonder and crone-like wit to the middle-aged experiences of losing sleep, relevance, knee cartilage, youth and illusions.

Adding to our comics from the subcontinent; Rahul Subramanian returns to Australia with his stand-up show, Who are You? fresh off a sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe; and "one of the hottest talents to emerge from the Indian comedy scene" (Deadant, UK) Sumukhi Suresh comes with her Australian premiere of Hoemonal a show about the quirks and pitfalls of modern romance while battling hormones and the fear of dying alone. 

These artists join more than one hundred Internationals and three hundred Australian comics who have already gone on sale.

Beyond the stellar program of individual shows, the Festival features returning flagship events filled with star-studded line-ups:

The red carpet is rolled out for the biggest nights of Australia's comedy calendar, The Gala, proudly supporting Oxfam Australia and the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow – with Mel Buttle and Michael Hing respectively in charge of hosting duties.

The Gala is sold out, with limited tickets remaining for the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow. Both events will be recorded live at the Palais Theatre and screen later on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Other special events include; the 35th Annual Great Debate; Upfront – this year, hosted by Becky Lucas – a night of stereotype-smashing comedy as the funniest and boldest female and non-binary artists take to the stage; and the Asian Allstars Gala hosted by Takashi Wakasugi (Japan) and featuring a huge lineup of visiting artists and locals from South and SouthEast Asia.

The national grand finals for the Festival’s development programs are always a great way to support new talent and an excellent opportunity to see the next big thing. This year, the Deadly Funny National Grand Final will be hosted by Elaine Crombie and the Class Clowns National Grand Final by Sez. After more than 60 events around the country, RAW Comedy will reveal the national winner for 2025. Always a highlight of the Festival, all National Grand Finals are on sale now.

The full program will be available as a lift out in The Age on Sunday 23 February.

The 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from 26 March to 20 April.

For all tickets and program information, visit comedyfestival.com.au

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back and bigger than ever – featuring a diverse

and dynamic mix of international superstars, beloved Australian comedians, and exciting

emerging talent.

Running from 26 March to 20 April 2025, the Festival promises to be an unforgettable

celebration of comedy. From stand-up and sketch to improv and musical comedy, line-up

shows, special events, talks and laughter-filled nights out.

International Stars Take The Stage

The Festival is renowned for bringing the biggest international names to Australian stages, and

2025 will be no exception. This year’s line-up includes top-tier acts from the UK, the US and

Asia, delivering fresh, funny material and boundary-pushing performances. Audiences can look

forward to seeing:

● Celebrated comedian, author and honorary Brit, Ruby Wax in her most compelling and critically acclaimed show yet, I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was based on her best-

selling memoir of the same name. Ruby will tour eight-cities across Australia and New Zealand.

● Winner of Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 Best Show for Make Me Look Fit On The

Poster, Amy Gledhill (UK).

● Jin Hao Li (Singapore/UK), whose debut hour Swimming In A Submarine earned him a

nomination for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024.

● 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Award winner Ahir Shah (UK), who will share his

intellectual brand of stand-up featuring a blend of philosophical inquiry, political vigour

and sweet gags.

● Honorary Australian, comedian and novelist Mark Watson (UK) will visit Melbourne,

Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide.

● After a successful Australian debut hour, comedian and football lout Chloe Petts (UK)

will return with a brand new, and personal show, packed with her trademark ladishness

to tell you who she really is (touring to Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney).

UK’s finest confessional comedian Sara Pascoe, hitting Melbourne for the first time

since 2023.

● Brand-manager-turned-comedian and now Indian TV star Rahul Subramanian,

returning to Australia fresh off a sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe for a special limited

season.

● The New Zealanders return in strength - with the likes of Chris Parker, Guy

Montgomery, Guy Williams, Melanie Bracewell, Ray O’Leary, Rhys Darby and Urzila Carlson (Sth Africa/NZ).

Plus more international artists go on sale in the coming weeks including South African-born

comedian and writer Pierre Novellie (Sth Africa/UK), British comedian and TV panelist

extraordinaire Rosie Jones, the charming and easy-going Anirban Dasgupta (India), winner of

the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2023 Urooj Ashfaq (India),

American singer-songwriter Charlene Kaye with her one-woman comedy show Tiger Daughter:

Or, How I Brought My Immigrant Mother Ultimate Shame, and a return season for the Festival’s

2024 Most Outstanding Show winner Sarah Keyworth (UK) – including a tour to Auckland,

Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

But the list of international stars doesn’t end there, with Arj Barker (USA), Carl Donnelly (UK),

Danny Bhoy (Scotland), Ed Gamble (UK), Elf Lyons (UK), Iliza Shlesinger (USA), Kai

Humphries (UK), Kemah Bob (USA), Schalk Bezuidenhout (Sth Africa), Sofie Hagen

(Denmark) and more!

Australia’s Best On Show

The Festival will also feature the very best of Australia’s comedy scene, with stars of TV, radio,

and social media joining the fray. Whether you’re a fan of stand-up, satirical commentary, or

absurdist humour, these local artists have you covered:

Alex Ward, Amy Hetherington, Anisa Nandaula, Becky Lucas, Bron Lewis, Cameron

James, Claire Hooper, Daniel Connell, Daniel Muggleton, Emma Holland, Geraldine

Hickey, Gillian Cosgriff, Grace Jarvis, He Huang, Ivan Aristeguieta, Jenny Tian, Joel

Creasey, John Safran, Josh Glanc, Jude Perl, Lizzy Hoo, Lloyd Langford, Lou Wall, Luke

Heggie, Luke McGregor, Michael Hing, Michelle Brasier, Nath Valvo, Nazeem Hussain,

Oliver Coleman, Sammy J, Sez, Suren Jayemanne, Sweeney Preston & Ethan Cavanagh,

Takashi Wakasugi, Ting Lim, Tommy Little, Wil Anderson, Zoë Coombs Marr and more to

be announced!

Special Events

The Festival’s flagship special events return for another year. The Gala, proudly supporting

Oxfam Australia, will kick off 2025 with a showcase of the Festival’s brightest stars at

Melbourne’s Palais Theatre. Then one week later, the Opening Night Comedy Allstars

Supershow will officially launch the Festival with a star-studded line-up featuring comedy

royalty from around the globe. Two of the Festival’s most popular events are back in 2025, The

35th Annual Great Debate and Upfront, a night of stereotype-smashing comedy as the

funniest and boldest female and non-binary artists take to the stage. The second annual Asian

Allstars Gala will present a one-night-only epic showcase featuring extraordinary talent and

irresistible humour from India, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and more.

Audiences can also get a peek into the future of comedy with the RAW Comedy, Deadly

Funny and Class Clowns National Grand Finals, featuring the boldest and funniest new talent

from across the country.

But it’s not just the big kids who get to have all the laughs this autumn, the Festival’s kids and

family program will include Comedy Club for Kids running through the Easter holidays, free-

flowing family fun at The (Very) Big Laugh Out in Fed Square, The Listies and more to be announced soon.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest and most celebrated comedy

festivals in the world, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Over its 39 years, the Festival

has become a cultural icon in Melbourne, offering a platform for comedians to showcase their

craft and for audiences to experience the best in live comedy from across the globe.

For all tickets, gift vouchers and up to date program information, visit comedyfestival.com.au.