NZ International Comedy Festival Hits Its Stride With More Lineup Announcements, Sell-Out Shows

The 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo continues this month, with a stellar array of lineup shows featuring local and international comedians alike, as the NZ Comedy Trust adds more stars to its own festival offerings including this weekend’s Pōneke House Party, B**** Better Have My Funny, Joe Daymond’s Comedy Mixtape and Best Comedy Show on Earth.

Interim Festival Director Gemma Gracewood says the 2026 season is tracking strongly across the board.

“We’re seeing stronger early engagement than we’ve had since before Covid, with standout demand across ticket sales and box office,” she says.

“There’s a hunger for comedy right now. All three Best Foods Comedy Galas sold out quickly and last week’s broadcast on Three was the highest-rating Gala in recent years. Going into week two, we’ve added extra shows to meet demand.

“It’s also fantastic to see smaller venues selling out and a real city-wide buzz, with audiences staying out later and venues at capacity in Auckland and Wellington. Our new Monday Happy Hour ticket offer has been a real success too, with 900 tickets sold in a single session.”

“As a charitable trust, it’s rewarding to see our team’s work pay off for the partners whose crucial support drives our mission of championing the craft of comedy so everyone can share a laugh. Gala weekend alone saw more than 25,000 Best Foods products handed out, and venue bars are reporting having to restock drinks much sooner than usual — including those of our official beverage partner, Iconic.”

LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENTS: TWO HEARTS, PAUL WILLIAMS, OSCAR KIGHTLEY & MORE

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Taskmaster NZ and NZ Spy star Paul Williams joins an already stacked bill for Pōneke House Party, this weekend’s celebration of jokes and songs in collaboration with NZ Music Month, at Wellington’s Opera House on Sunday 17 May.

Featuring headliners Tofiga Fepulea’i and Tami Neilson, and host James Nokise, profits from Pōneke House Party will go to the Mayoral Flood Relief Fund. Thanks to the generosity of Venues Wellington, $20 student pricing is offered for students who show valid ID at the box office on the night, enabling the Capital’s thriving student population to participate in the fundraising efforts.

Also announced today is the headline act for the festival’s Last Laughs Awards Gala. Hit pop-comedy duo Two Hearts is the creation of Laura Daniel (Funny Girls, My Life is Murder) and Joseph Moore (back in Aotearoa fresh from writing on the first season of SNL UK).

Hosted by Guy Montgomery at SkyCity Theatre on Sunday 24 May, Last Laughs Awards Gala is the final, and most anticipated, night of the 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo, where the Billy T Award for Best Newcomer and Fred Award for Best Show by a New Zealand comedian are announced.

This year, Last Laughs Awards Gala is going “gumboot glam” to mark the 20th anniversary of The Fred Award, named in honour of the late comedy icon John Clarke’s legendary Kiwi character Fred Dagg. Clarke’s daughter, filmmaker Lorin Clarke, will be attending as a special guest, following a same-day screening of her documentary Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke at The Capitol, with a Q&A by comedian Oscar Kightley, ONZM.

Meanwhile, Joe Daymond’s Comedy Mixtape has announced its Saturday, 16 May Auckland lineup as Ama, Bubbah, Jonjon, Richie Faavesi, Tesi Naufahu, and Uce Gang. The Wellington edition on Tuesday 19 May features Jenice Goveas, Q Potts, Raybon Kan and more still to be announced.

Sunday night’s Best Comedy Show on Earth at Auckland’s SkyCity Theatre on 17 May now includes Stamptown star Martin Urbano and local comedian Itay Dom alongside those previously announced. The show is hosted by Stamptown’s Jack Tucker, who comes to Aotearoa directly from filming Netflix is a Joke.

There is something for every comedy lover in the final two weeks of the NZ International Comedy Festival.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading