Right now in Australia is an exciting time to be a stand-up comedy fan. If you're anywhere near Melbourne or Sydney this month, chances are you know about two of the biggest comedy festivals that take place every year: the Melbourne Comedy Festival & the Sydney Comedy Festival.
Both festivals have a proven track record of delivering an abundance of laughs and serving as avenues for creating some of the biggest superstars in comedy (and this year goes as no exception). And in the spirit of Worldwide Comedy Month here at 800 Pound Gorilla, here's a closer look at each of the renowned festivals.
Melbourne Comedy Festival
First launched in 1987, the Melbourne Comedy Festival remains to be one of the three biggest comedy festivals in the world alongside the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal's now in limbo & currently canceled Just for Laughs Festival.
Currently taking place this year from March 27 to April 21, among this year's biggest headliners have included Atsuko Okatsuka, Hannah Gadsby, Celia Pacquola & Tom Gleeson just to name a few. Beyond stand-up, the festival expands into multiple areas of comedy with its festival programming including cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts.
Sydney Comedy Festival
The Sydney Comedy Festival is the biggest annual comedy event in the city, featuring 250 of the best comedians from Australia and beyond take to stages across Sydney for a massive month of comedy.
This year's festival will take place April 25 to May 15 with its lineup including Jean Kittson, Daniel Muggleton & Felicity Ward to name a few. Similarly to Melbourne, the Sydney Comedy Festival expands beyond stand-up with its comedy programming sketch, satire, impro, musical, absurdist, theatre, magic and kids comedy.
In addition to its comedy fest programming, the Sydney Comedy Festival serves as a champion for advocating & supporting new comedy via its FRESH program. US fans may not know, but comedian & The Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng was the recipient of the MCIF Best Newcomer Award in 2012. Other past honorees of the festival's programming include comedians Matt Okine, Lou Sanz, Cassie Workman, Rhys Nicholson, Corey White & more.
For more information on the Melbourne Comedy Festival visit comedyfestival.com.au/2024. For more information on the Sydney Comedy Festival visit sydneycomedyfest.com.au.
Looking for some of the funniest Australian Comedy? Be sure too check out the latest specials from Australian comedians Tom Ballard, Dan Rath, Tom Cashman, Daniel Muggleton, Damien Power, & Randy Feltface on 800 Pound Gorilla!
Click right here to get the latest comedy news delivered to your inbox!
Follow 800 Pound Gorilla News on Instagram, Twitter, & Threads.
