The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has unveiled its 2026 award nominees, shining a spotlight on some of the most exciting and diverse comedic talent in this year’s program – and with just five days of the Festival remaining, there’s never been a better time to catch a show. Winners will be announced on Saturday 18 April.
Ten nominees have been revealed for the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show: Abby Wambaugh (USA/Denmark) – The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows, Cassie Workman (AUS) – You Are Here, Celia Pacquola (AUS) – Gift Horse, Dan Tiernan (Ireland/UK) – Quartz and All, Emmanuel Sonubi (UK) – Life After Near Death, Frankie McNair (AUS) – Huge Ass Mindset, Kitty Flanagan (AUS) – Glad Game, Lara Ricote (Mexico/USA) – Inkling, Reuben Kaye (AUS) – Hard To Swallow and Sam Nicoresti (UK) – Baby Doomer.
Best Newcomer nominations for performers doing their first full, eligible, Festival show are: Barney Pollock (AUS) – King of the Pigs 2, Caitlin Duff (AUS) – Freidah Will See You Now, Dana Mitchell (AUS) – The Lady Will Have, Elliot Wood (AUS/NZ) – Mrs Lovett’s Famous Meat Pies Grand Reopening Extravaganza, Jo Gowda (AUS/India) – Don’t Deport the Fun, Nathan Chin (AUS)– Chinese Comedy Party and Tarsh Jago (AUS) – Cherub.
The Golden Gibbo – celebrating the legacy of the late, great Lynda Gibson – is aimed at finding a local, independent show that pursues the artists’ idea more than it pursues commercial gain. The 2026 nominees are: Andy Balloch (AUS) – Welcome to Hell, Caitlin Duff (AUS) – Freidah Will See You Now, Kate Dehnert (AUS) – Echo, Katrina Mathers (AUS) – Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues, Laura Davis (AUS) – Swag and Sunny Youngsmith (AUS) – Cabin Pressure.
Winners will be announced on Saturday with additional awards bestowed including; Directors’ Choice, awarded by the Festival Director in consultation with festival programming colleagues to a show they think deserves to be celebrated; thePeople’s Choice Award for the most popular show of the Festival as determined by the ticket buying public; The Pinder Prize, honouring Festival co-founder John Pinder, and supporting a performer to travel to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; the Piece of Wood comics’ choice award, selected by past winners and presented to a peer literally for “doin’ good stuff ‘n’ that”. This year a newly created VicScreen Greenlight Award will be awarded to a show with standout screen potential.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from 25 March – 19 April. For more information and to buy tickets, visit comedyfestival.com.au
For more information click HERE
Sonia Friedman has become one of the most influential figures in international theatre, building a…
Randy Weiner, the producer behind immersive theatre phenomenon SLEEP NO MORE and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s…
Broadway is preparing to turn purple, with the stage adaptation of Prince’s landmark film and…
The Australian premiere of the festive fiasco Christmas Carol Goes Wrong will fill the Sydney Opera House…
The Grand Electric has quickly established itself as one of Sydney's most exciting entertainment destinations,…
Prepare to be amazed when internationally acclaimed illusionist Michael Boyd returns to Sydney's State Theatre…