MICF 2026

Upfront returns as one of the festival’s most stacked nights; bringing together a huge lineup of local and international female and non-binary talent for a fast-moving, anything-goes showcase.

Hosted by Michelle Brasier, the night opened with a big musical energy, as she launched into songs throughout about the Fast & Furious franchise and her love for the cartoon version of Aladdin. Michelle was the perfect choice to lead the evening. 

First Half Highlights:

• Abby Howells (NZ) and her thoughts on Taylor Swift 
• Cassie Workman sharing stories about living in America 
• Danielle Walker talking about dating and role-play
• Felicity Ward on navigating post-divorce life on the dating apps
• He Huang on spending a year as a bald woman
• Kate Dolan discussing hens party chaos
• Kushi Venkatesh discussing her return journey from India 
• Nikki Britton getting the crowd up and moving for some sexy aerobics
• Sharon Wanjohi (UK) taking the audience through some affirmations 
• Celia Pacquola on being a young mum and navigating the anxiety that comes with it. 

Second Half Highlights:

• Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford spending a day at the beach
• Jo Gowda on cultural double standards 
• Lou Wall taking on tall men 
• Sam Nicoresti (UK) learning to be a woman in the same way one uses Duolingo
• Sez discussing first orgasms and period mishaps 
• Tarsh Jago trying to sell the crowd seahorses
• Zoë Coombs Marr on trying to disprove the ‘Australia is a hoax’ theory 
• Mish Wittrup performing a breakup anthem with help from her Woolworths rewards card. 

With so many wonderful acts packed into the one showcase, Upfront continues to be one of the best opportunities of the festival to see so much amazing talent in one room, all in one night. 

The 36th Annual Great Debate once again delivered exactly what it promises - big personalities, questionable arguments and plenty of laughs; all centred around the topic ‘That It Was Better In The Olden Days’.

Held on Easter Sunday, the lineup featured Scout Boxall, Sam Jay and Ian Smith arguing the affirmative, with Luke Heggie, Osman Faruqi and Michelle Brasier taking the negative. Hosted by none other than Paul McDermott, the show was full of generous servings of quick wit, rebuttals and lots of songs. 

Highlights included: 

• Michelle Brasier singing about her thoughts on LARPing 
• Osman Faruqi getting a whooping cough shot live on stage from a doctor just to make a point 
• Scout Boxall preparing slander videos and smear campaigns on the opposing team 
• Luke Heggie talking about how bullying has become easier than ever in today’s digital age
• Sam Jay focussing on the simplicity of the olden days during the time of dial-up internet 
• Ian Smith’s and his visitor from the future who came with a warning
• Paul McDermott encouraging the contestants to run overtime and performing a song about the Union Jack and Harry Styles. 

In the end, the affirmative team took the win, but as always, the result felt secondary to the spectacle. It’s messy, loud and exactly what a comedy debate should be.

In his first solo show, Aunty Donna’s Zachary Ruane delivers a high-energy set that leans into everything you’d expect - and a few things you wouldn’t, with his all encompassing show - Comedy. 

Blending songs, crowd work and plenty of references (from Avatar to My Chemical Romance), the show takes you through a look at the history of comedy and the many forms it takes. With Zach as your spirit guide, you’ll cover all types of comedy from the classic stand-up through to today’s podcast comedy - and nothing is off limits as he moves between styles and ideas. 

The show is fast, chaotic and incredibly self-aware, with Ruane showcasing his own usual quirks while building a show that is both fun and bizarre; keeping the audience guessing where it’s heading next. 

David O’Doherty returns with a show that sits somewhere between musical comedy and a full-blown rant - and that balance is exactly what makes it work.

Leaning into getting older, O’Doherty reflects on the small things that seem to get more irritating with time, while also trying to make sense of how to appreciate life a bit more along the way.

He’s going high performance; covering everything from recurring dreams to making small changes to save the planet. 

Back in Melbourne for the umpteenth time, he promises an honest performance; equal parts musical comedy and unfiltered frustration, with his signature mix of funny songs and sharp observations. 

Phil Wang is back in Melbourne with new show Uh Oh!, as well a new moustache; embracing life as a homeowner settling into his cool new suburb.

The show leans into the realities of millennial life - trying to stay relevant, navigating adulthood, and realising things don’t quite feel the way you expected they would.

Along the way, he unpacks his thoughts on David Bowie, reveals the unexpected animal behind his fitness inspiration, and delivers a set that balances self-awareness with plenty of laugh out loud moments.

Tom Cashman’s new show NPC (Nearly Proficient Comedian) leans fully into his love of logic, structure and seeing the world just a little bit differently.

Packed with stats, graphs and the need to be right, the show follows Tom taking on the world during his travels. Learn about him going head to head with the ‘Mother of NZ’, his feelings on bird idioms and the various spectrums of confidence throughout life. 

No matter how much you love Tom Cashman, you’ll leave the show knowing there are even more dedicated fans out there - and that’s all part of the fun.

Chris Parker returns to Melbourne with a show built around life getting a little more serious - or at least, that’s the idea. With new responsibilities (including becoming a dog parent), he dives into what adulthood is supposed to look like.

In Take A Good Hard Look At Me, the show follows one very normal February day, told hour by hour, as he moves through his routines, distractions and the overthinking that comes with it. From therapy, to the whimsy of cafes, the feeling of fresh bedsheets, and getting into swimming, it’s a snapshot of everyday life that never quite stays ordinary for long.

Along the way, Parker tackles everything from brands jumping on Pride, to the realities of his own personal life in Central Auckland; tying it all together with a perspective that feels both self-aware and completely unfiltered.

Ian Smith’s latest show Foot Spa Half Empty centres on life finally being on track - and the strange new problems that come with it.

At the centre of it all is his journey to get his semen tested; using it as the thread that ties the show together. Discussing everything from wearing a blindfold, to ski trips; no stone is left unturned as Ian talks with the audience about the past year. 

It’s a shift from past shows - less about stress and more about the quiet pressures of getting older and having your life together. Even if that includes buying a magic spell off Amazon.

In Real Human Man, Michael Hing turns his focus to parenting - or more specifically, trying to work out what you’re actually meant to teach your kid, and how much of it comes from the way you were raised yourself.

Hing takes the time in his latest show to unpack various ideologies about culture, identity, stereotypes and expectations that we navigate through in life. 

Come hear about his weekly zoo visits, the experiences of being the token cultural representative among friends, and why Hing won’t be throwing any tantrums anytime soon. 

In The Evening Muse, Hannah Gadsby steps into something completely different - a Tonight Show-style setup at the Malthouse Theatre, complete with couches, a desk, mannequins and even an applause button telling the audience when to laugh.

Each night brings a different lineup of guests, and for this show it was Abby Wambaugh, Janty Blair, and the duo Ethel Chop and Tina Del-Twist. The format shifts between stand-up, interviews and game show, making it feel more like a live taping than a traditional comedy set.

Hannah is upfront about the goal - to have fun. They describe it as the first time in over 20 years that is their goal, pushing themselves outside their comfort zone (or at least outside the house). From stories about their New York theatre stint to their thoughts on theatre games, the honesty in how they interact with both the format and the audience is what keeps it engaging.

Each night brings a rotating mix of Trivial Pursuit challenges performed live on stage, with prizes on the line for those involved. It’s loose, a little unpredictable, and a reminder that sometimes the best nights out come from not knowing exactly what you’re going to. 

Gillian Cosgriff’s latest show Life, Oh Life takes you on a journey where no two nights are ever the same. Built around getting to know the audience - both new faces and those returning - the show explores life’s bigger questions across past, present and future.

From the latest news cycles to generational divides and doing whatever it takes to support your mental health, the show reflects on how strange life can feel at times, while never losing sight of how good it can be too.

At its core, it’s about connection. Gillian draws on stories and advice collected from past audiences while adding new ones each night; creating something that feels both familiar and completely new. You’ll leave feeling like you’ve been part of something, rather than just watching it.

For fans of romantasy, conspiracy theories or just life in general. There’s something for everyone. 

Scout Boxall’s show God’s Favourite centres around one very long night in regional Victoria the night before an important (fake) wedding. Without their medication for the first time in over a decade, their story unfolds hour by hour, reflecting on the night that was. 

With the performance staged as a detailed retelling of the evening and pivotal moments throughout their life, you’ll hear about opinionated psychiatrists, the latest updates in the LARPing community and about trying to navigate life as a perfectionist. 

It’s the kind of show where you’re laughing one minute and then realising you’ve been pulled into something much more personal the next.

And yes, there is a reason Scout is dressed as a nun - but that’s one best left to the show itself.

Catch their show this week - on until April 5.