MICF 2026

Mark Watson’s latest show 20 Years Of Doing My Absolute Bloody Best is a live time capsule, revisiting his favourite stories and jokes from two decades of performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Taking the audience back to where it all began in 2006, Mark reflects on his early visits to Melbourne and how both his life and the city have changed over time - unpacking everything from personal milestones, to which jokes still land and which no longer make sense.

It’s a walk down memory lane for those who’ve seen him before, and a best-of show for those who haven’t. Moving between past, present and future, the show even dares to ask whether you might outlive Mark - or if an app might have the final say.

In Chaos, Bron Lewis leans fully into exactly that - the unpredictability of everyday life, both at home and beyond it.

From kids growing up, to a new puppy, her mum moving in, and a husband working from home, the show pulls apart the constant noise of a busy household. 

Add in stories of being a teacher, running into students outside of school, and navigating trick or treating and trying to set a good example for the kids to recycle. 

Performing her biggest shows yet to sold-out crowds at Melbourne Town Hall, come see Bron in her element, who’s honestly just excited to spend at least one hour out of the house. 

Danielle Walker’s new show Bittersweet centres on family, perspective and the moments that shape how you see the world.

Built around her relationship with her grandfather, the show flicks between past and present, reflecting on returning home after he received terminal news and the role he’s played throughout her life. Along the way, she weaves in stories of her wider family - chaotic, dysfunctional and always entertaining - alongside her new dating life, her love of pranks, and moments that shift quickly between heartfelt and unexpected.

Like storytelling around a campfire, Walker marvels at the small details of the world around her. From time spent in nature to the way she sees everyday moments, the show unfolds through her lens; blending the ordinary with the significant in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Mish Wittrup’s latest show Not As Good As I Remember pulls directly from her childhood diaries; reading entries from the pivotal ages of 11 to 13, and bringing them to life on stage.

Moving between past and present, Mish unpacks why she’s gone back to these entries, weaving in recent moments from her life along the way. From first crushes and early experiences of love to the movies she was watching and the things her mum said that made her a ‘bitch’, she reflects on how much has changed - and whether she’s lived up to her own expectations.

The show is raw, honest, truthful and moving. It’s not quite a breakup show, but it doesn’t avoid those moments either. Instead, it sits in that space of reflection - looking back at who you were, who you are now, and how the two don’t always have to line up.

Sez delivers a fast-moving musical comedy set in her latest show Sorry, What?, built around the everyday moments most people would rather not admit to.

From navigating period mishaps to the struggles of the middle seat on a plane, Sez leans into the kind of everyday chaos most people try to forget.

The show’s tales tell of sharehouse life, to being approached at a pub (in real life), and why it’s worth doing a quick social media check before making a joke about someone’s family. Nothing is off limits.

Backed by guitar, each song - and the moments in between - are filled with honesty and humour, making it musical comedy at its finest.

In Small Poppy, Gabbi Bolt blends musical comedy with sharp observational humour; building a show around success and asking how you’re meant to define it. 

From receiving an award from her former high school to questioning what actually counts as ‘making it’, Bolt moves between personal stories, industry realities and bigger ideas about ambition. Along the way, she weaves in everything from ancient Rome comparisons to modern politics, and what it really takes to build a career in the arts.

With piano at the centre (a skill she’s honed since the age of three), the show jumps between songs, storytelling and commentary, all while exploring ideas of being a personality hire, an ‘it’ girl and her quest to find her name on a mug. 

Game On Mole Live! flips the traditional comedy quiz show format into something far more interactive - a live trivia game show hosted and written by Aimon Clark from Not On Your Rider and Isolation Trivia. 

Two teams of comedians plus Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson go head-to-head, but with a twist: one of them is secretly the mole, working to sabotage their own team. Decided on the night, neither the audience nor the other contestants and host know who the mole is. 

What follows is a mix of trivia, pop culture challenges and games that keep both the audience and performers on their toes. With different guests each night and plenty of audience participation and games (including ring toss), the show never plays out the same way twice. 

At its core, it’s about working out who’s playing dumb - and who’s just actually getting the answers wrong. Saturday’s performance included Myf Warhurst, Cameron James & Stuart Daulman while Sunday will feature Emma Holland, Tom Ballard and Frankie Rowsthorn.