Comedy

Melbourne loves to laugh, and with a huge comedy festival and great venues featuring big names and exciting newcomers, now’s the time to get out there and discover it for yourself.  

A laugh a minute
Stop in to one of Melbourne's numerous comedy clubs to see local heroes road testing new material, international guests performing intimate shows, and the next generation of comedy talent strutting their stuff.

Festival excitement
The highlight of the comedy calendar hits town in autumn. Founded in 1987, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is now a Victorian institution and, along with Montreal and Edinburgh, has become one of the largest comedy festivals in the world. Over March and April Melbourne comes alive with a huge range of cabaret, theatre, stand-up, live radio broadcasts, television, music, comedy film screenings, free outdoor entertainment and visual art exhibitions.

Where to look
Listed below are just a couple of the places to catch great live comedy in Melbourne all year round. Check Beat, the weekly street press, for details.