New Zealand International Comedy Festival
Celebrate 30 years of laughs as local and international comedians touch down in Wellington for a giggle fest this May
The New Zealand International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is back. Celebrating 30 years of the festival in 2023, get ready for three weeks of belly laughs and incredible live comedy this May.
This year's lineup includes more than 150 local and international comedians in over 600 performances across Wellington and Auckland. Joining local talents such as Chris Parker, Kura Forrester, Justine Smith, and Melanie Bracewell will be a swathe of heavy-hitting international comedians, including Joe Lycett, Sara Pascoe, Dylan Moran, Daniel Sloss, Ed Byrne, and Ed Gamble.
2023's Festival programme has an incredible selection of variety shows. The premiere evening is the Best Foods Comedy Gala hosted by Melanie Bracewell, featuring an all-star lineup of comedic talents and of course, mayo galore. Wellington will also host Best of the Fest, a late-night comedy showcase featuring the Festival's best international, national, and local comedians.
This year will debut Loud & Queer, a celebration of queer comedy in Aotearoa. Sure to be full of camp and witty humour, the event will be held at Wellington’s St James Theatre and hosted by super satirist Tom Sainsbury and drag queen and activist Judy Virago.