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Melbourne International Comedy Festival Raw Comedy 2026

Heats for Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 30th edition of RAW Comedy will take place across Australia from January. Back for another year to find the freshest comedic talent across the country, every RAW Comedy line-up is completely unique: expect hidden gems, wildcard moments, and comedy legends in the making. Don’t miss your chance to witness the future of Australian comedy!

For 29 years, RAW Comedy has unearthed the next generation of Australian comedy superstars. Gather your pals and cheer on your community’s next comedy sensation as they compete for a place in the RAW National Grand Final.

 

 

No corner of the continent will be left unturned as we search high and low in all major cities including Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane, Bunbury, Byron Bay, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Mullumbimby, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Wollongong and many more.

Contestants will deliver their best 5-minutes of original material for local audiences. Winners of the heats will advance to state finals, then participants at their peak will battle it out one punchline at a time at the RAW Comedy National Grand Final, held during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

 

 

The crowned champion will not only take home the prestigious RAW Comedy title but also secure a coveted spot at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to compete in So You Think You’re Funny? and rub shoulders with leading emerging comics from around the world.

RAW Comedy has been the launchpad for some of Australia’s most beloved comedians, including Hannah Gadsby, Ronny Chieng, Anne Edmonds, Bron Lewis, Sam Campbell, Aaron Chen and so many more.

Grab your tickets to a local heat and be part of the journey!

Heat #1 – Sun 11 Jan, 1pm – The Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy | Tickets
Heat #2 – Sun 18 Jan, 1pm – Hotel Esplanade, St Kilda | Tickets
Heat #3 – Sun 1 Feb, 1pm – The Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy | Tickets
Heat #4 – Sun 8 Feb, 1pm – Basement, Morris House, Melbourne | Tickets
Heat #5 – Sun 15 Feb, 1pm – Basement, Morris House, Melbourne | Tickets

Plus heats in Ballarat, two more in Melbourne in February and Geelong.


For more information click HERE

Aussie Theatre

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