Are you ready to laugh so hard it hurts? One of the largest comedy festivals in the world, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) returns next month with a program that promises to be as entertaining as it is expansive.
Since being launched in 1987 by Barry Humphries and Peter Cook, the festival has since grown to become Australia's largest cultural ticketed event offering both family entertainment and show-stopping adult performances. After Montreal's Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Fringe, MICF is the third-largest comedy festival in the world and attracts the crème de la crème of comedians from across Australia and around the globe.
In 2024, you can expect a mammoth line-up of international performers such as Atsuko Okatsuka (USA), Carl Donnelly (UK), David O’Doherty (Ireland), Fern Brady (Scotland), Larry Dean (Scotland), Chloe Petts (UK), Julia Masli (Estonia), Lara Ricote (Mexico), John Hastings (Canada), Arj Barker (USA), Jason Leong (Malaysia), Melanie Bracewell (NZ), Jimeoin (Ireland), Spankie Jackzon (NZ), Urzila Carlson (NZ) and more.
As for local acts, you can see the likes of Aaron Chen, Ali McGregor, Anna Piper Scott, Anne Edmonds, Aurelia St Clair, Celia Pacquola, Christian Hull, Claire Hooper, Dave Hughes, Fergus Neal, Gen Fricker, Geraldine Hickey, Gillian Cosgriff, Hannah Gadsby, Joel Creasey, Jon Walpole, Julian O’Shea, Lizzy Hoo, Lou Wall, Mel and Sam, Nazeem Hussain, Nina Oyama, Prue Blake, Reuben Kaye, Rhys Nicholson, Scout Boxall, Sez, The Umbilical Brothers, Tom Cashman, Wil Anderson and so many more.
Much-loved annual events such as the 34th Annual Great Debate and Upfront return, as does Ten Comedians for $10. Running from March 27-April 21, 2024, the program is chock-full of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre and more. Check out the full line-up for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024 here.
Tickets can be purchased through the Festival's website, and, depending on the show, through venues and ticketing providers such as Arts Centre Melbourne, Ticketmaster, Ticketek, Trybooking, Eventfinda, and Eventbrite. You can check individual show listings for details on where to book.
As always the festival has a large number of drinking and dining partners – bars and restaurants that are near festival venues and are perfect for getting a meal or drink before or after the show. Some are offering special MICF menus and special deals for ticket holders.