What to Book at Just For Laughs Sydney 2026

In partnership with Just For Laughs Sydney

If your group chat has spent more time sharing comedy clips than organising a night out, there's a good reason to change that. Just For Laughs Sydney has revealed its full 2026 lineup, with Greg Davies, Dara Ó Briain, Melanie Bracewell, and Dan and Phil among the familiar faces heading to the city's stages.

The Montréal-born festival returns for its 14th Sydney edition, with the main fortnight running from Monday, November 9 to Sunday, November 22, within a wider season stretching from September to December. Alongside the solo tours are showcases that let you see several comedians in one sitting. Here's where we'd start.

The JFL All-Star Gala is a handy first booking if your friends have wildly different ideas about what's funny. On Saturday, November 21, The Cheap Seats duo Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald host the evening at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, with Geraldine Hickey, Tom Cardy, Denise Scott, Matt Okine and Anisa Nandaula joining Rhys James and David Nihill. The show starts at 7pm, giving you a reason to get into town early and make an evening of it.

For anyone who knows Greg Davies from Taskmaster, Full Fat Legend offers a chance to see him hold the room on his own. His first Australian tour reaches TikTok Entertainment Centre on Tuesday, November 10. With the State Theatre dates already sold out, this is the Sydney performance to look at if you've been meaning to book.

Dara Ó Briain takes over the State Theatre the following night, Wednesday, November 11, with Re:Creation. Storytelling and conversations with the audience are central to his live shows, so it's a good option if you like a comedian who can follow a room wherever it takes him.

Dan Howell and Phil Lester bring their Hard Launch World Tour to the Enmore Theatre on Monday, November 16. Their November 17 performance is already sold out, making the earlier date the one to check. Meanwhile, Zarna Garg brings The Million Dollar Excuses Tour to the Opera House Concert Hall at 9.30pm on Saturday, November 21. Her comedy draws on family life and her experience as an Indian immigrant mother, with very little patience for excuses.

If you'd prefer to discover a few new favourites in one night, the showcases are worth a closer look. Reuben Kaye's Big Gay Show arrives at the Opera House Playhouse on Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11, with Rhys Nicholson, Michelle Brasier, Cassie Workman, Guneet Kaur, Jordan Barr and Scout Boxall joining Kaye. That's a substantial lineup of LGBTQIA+ comedy voices sharing a single bill.

The title of Women Aren't Funny should give you some idea of how seriously its premise will be taken. Abbie Chatfield hosts Becky Lucas, Nina Oyama, Steph Broadbridge, Dr Esmé Louise James and Lizzy Hoo at the Playhouse on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15. If a few of those names already turn up in your feeds, this is a chance to catch them together.

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars brings Andy Saunders, Janty Blair, Jay Wymarra, Kevin Kropinyeri, Sean Choolburra and Tarsh Jago to the Opera House Studio on Monday, November 16. The show puts six First Nations comedians on one stage, giving audiences a chance to hear several distinct voices across the evening.

For something more unpredictable, Demi Lardner hosts The Alternative Show at the Studio on Thursday, November 19. Will Gibb, John Cruckshank, David Correos and Alex Hines join her for a bill built around absurd and unconventional comedy. Michael Hing then hosts Asia Comedy Showcase at the same venue, with performances on November 19 and 20 featuring Ting Lim, Harry Jun, Dilruk Jayasinha, Neel Kolhatkar, Jordan Leung and Annie Louey.

There are other ways into the programme, too. Lucas Zelnick brings his stand-up to the Opera House Playhouse on November 12 and 13, while Nick Cody and Luke Heggie take their Mid Flight Brawl podcast to the Comedy Store on November 13. At the Opera House Concert Hall on November 20, doctor-turned-comedian Jason Leong's In Laughing Memory takes a more personal turn, drawing on the loss of a close friend.

The season keeps going into December. Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias brings The 1976 Tour: A Fluffy Celebration to Afterpay Arena at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, December 5. If you've watched his Netflix special Legend of Fluffy, here's your chance to swap the couch for an arena seat. Aurie Styla's Maverick lands at the Comedy Store on December 2, RocKwiz Rocks Xmas returns to the State Theatre on December 6, and Adam Kay brings 'Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas to the Enmore Theatre on Sunday, December 13.

If you're booking the Gala, look out for access to discounted tickets to selected showcases. It's worth checking the offer before settling on just one show. With performances spread across the city, you can plan a weeknight outing or use the November programme as the starting point for a weekend in Sydney.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: "The NSW Government is proud to support the return of Just For Laughs Sydney, and this year's stellar lineup will offer locals and visitors unforgettable nights. Events like this not only showcase Sydney on the global stage, but also means packed venues and a huge night out for our visitor economy. Sydney doesn't stop having fun when the sun goes down, and neither do the businesses that rely on it."

What to book at a glance

Selected highlights. All dates are in 2026.

JFL All-Star Gala: 21 November, 7pm. Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Greg Davies: 10 November. TikTok Entertainment Centre.

Reuben Kaye's Big Gay Show: 10 and 11 November. Playhouse, Sydney Opera House.

Dara Ó Briain: 11 November. State Theatre.

Women Aren't Funny: 14 and 15 November. Playhouse, Sydney Opera House.

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars: 16 November. Studio, Sydney Opera House.

Dan and Phil: 16 November. Enmore Theatre.

The Alternative Show: 19 November. Studio, Sydney Opera House.

Asia Comedy Showcase: 19 and 20 November. Studio, Sydney Opera House.

Zarna Garg: 21 November, 9.30pm. Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

December shows

Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias: 5 December. Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park.

Adam Kay: 13 December. Enmore Theatre.

Explore the full JFL Sydney programme and book tickets at justforlaughs.sydney. Check the available sessions and book through the official ticketing agent listed for your chosen show.

A Just For Laughs Festival Sydney 2026 event, proudly supported by Destination NSW, Strategic Sponsor of Just For Laughs Sydney.