Brisbane Comedy Festival Has Just Dropped Their Full Laugh-Out-Loud Lineup
ROFL
By Victoria Lewis | 18th February 2026Up for a laugh? Don’t let the woes of winter get you down. Instead, round up your crew for endless nights of side-splitting humour, because Brisbane Comedy Festival is back, baby, and they’ve just released their laugh-out-loud line-up.
Taking over the city for the 17th time from 24 April to 24 May, comedy greats from near and far will descend upon Brisbane Powerhouse and other iconic Brisbane venues – quick wit and all – setting the stage for flushed cheeks, schoolgirl-like giggles, and some seriously good old-fashioned LOLs.
One month, five venues, over 140 acts scheduled, and guaranteed knee-slapping moments. Sign us up!
Imagery: Brisbane Comedy Festival
Who’s coming to town?
Whether you’re a dry humour fiend or raunchy humour is your guilty pleasure, there are some side-splitting laughs in store for everyone. Expect sore cheeks from comedy heavyweights, including Rove McManus, Dave Hughes, The Umbilical Brothers, Pete Helliar, Alex Ward, Denise Scott, and Celia Pacquola (and that’s just to name a few).
Settle in for some self-depricating humour with Will Gibb’s Condfidence is Key, or slip slop slap with Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford’s unhinged Birds. Or if we are keeping it in the family, enjoy some hilarious brotherly trials and tribulations with The Fairbairns’ Fair Dinkum, or the dynamic father-daughter dynamic of Pete and Frankie Rowsthorn’s Smooth and Wrinkly, where contagious laughter is all part of the deal.
Imagery: Will Gibb
You’ll also see some fresh faces, some international debuts, and homegrown stand-up heroes at stand-up. Ranging from improv and late-night (read: naughty) comedy to cabaret and musical theatre. So gear up for what might just be the city’s best and most diverse comedy takeover yet.
Ones to watch
Amongst the big solo names, there are some hilariously unorthodox performances in this jam-packed program that you simply need on your radar. Have you heard of a little thing called Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare? Let us get you acquainted. Think classic Shakespearean plays, except one drunk cast member is there trying to sabotage the whole thing. Be sure to catch their newest and totally boozy rendition of Hamlet – Elizabethan-inspired and filled with liquid courage-fuelled humour.
Experience the world of rock drag and Blak pride with Ben Graetz’s Bogan Villea, or stay up past your bedtime with The Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase, or After Hours, the late-night variety show where comedians ditch the script, test new material, and let chaos reign on a looser crowd.
Imagery: Brisbane Comedy Festival
Frocking Hilarious will also return after a sellout 2025 performance, showcasing a congregation of Australia’s leading women comedians in an empowering afternoon of laughter and solidarity, supporting ActionAid’s mission.
Get amongst it, Brisbane, because these laughs are set to be louder, longer, and harder than ever before. Show times and ticket prices vary depending on the act, so have a scroll online and book your tickets ASAP, because if there’s one thing we know about Brisbane Comedy Fest, it’s that these seats won’t last long.
The rundown
What: Brisbane Comedy Festival Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, Dendy Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall When: April 24 – May 24 Tickets: Prices vary, book here.
Imagery: @brisbanecomedyfest / Alex Hines & Sarah Stafford
