Overview
The Sydney Comedy Festival has always been an event that could be considered huge, with comedians from across the country and the world flocking to venues all over the city to dial the laughter up to 11. Well, the just-released program for the 2026 run is taking the "huge" part literally — in fact, it's going to be the festival's biggest run yet.
First are the celebrity guests. At the top of the bill are Emmy and Grammy-winning US comedian Tiffany Haddish, and the creator and star of Netflix's runaway hit of the 2024 watercooler chat, Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd. Haddish will appear at the State Theatre and Enmore Theatre on April 25 and 26, respectively, while Gadd will host a one-night-only in-conversation special at the Opera House on Monday, May 11.
On the events program, a newcomer will join the festival in 2026 in the form of the Sydney Harbour Comedy Cruise, while the returning comedy crawl will expand into six separate crawl events in Manly, The Rocks, Rozelle and Oxford Street. Also confirmed on the returning bill this year is the popular whodunnit play, "CLUEDO," the Theatresports Allstars, Aboriginal Comedy All Stars, and the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala.
And the other comedians? The stacked lineup includes the likes of Zachary Ruane, Dave Hughes, Geraldine Hickey, Felicity Ward, Neel Kolkhatar, Blake Pavey, Guy Williams, Josh Thomas, Mandy Scotney, Nick White, Jimmy Rees, Wankernomics, The Umbilical Brothers and many, many more.
"With almost 400 shows over five massive weeks of comedy, we are pleased to welcome you to the biggest Sydney Comedy festival program ever," Sydney Comedy Festival General Manager, James Declase, said, "Get ready to laugh, Sydney, we have many surprises in store for you!"
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper added: "The Sydney Comedy Festival is celebrating its 21st birthday this year and is bringing big laughs to the party. It's their biggest program yet with global comedy superstars, Australian legends and the best emerging standups, all showcasing why Sydney is the nation's premier destination for world-class cultural experiences and hilariously fun times. With more than 850 performances across Sydney, this year's festival will energise the city's venues and entertainment precincts like never before."
For the full program or to buy tickets, visit the Sydney Comedy Festival website.
Images: supplied
This article first appeared on Variety Australia.