The world’s best and brightest comedians flock to the river city in droves for a five-week LOL-fest when Brisbane Comedy Festival returns from 28 April – 28 May 2023.

More than 100 artists will see major international acts perform alongside crowd-favourite homegrown heroes in venues across Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli and The Fortitude Music Hall.

Visiting headliners include international comedy master Danny Bhoy, Northern Ireland comedy colossus Micky Bartlett, Irish actor and comedian Ed Byrne, British TV personality and podcaster Ed Gamble, BBC regular Sara Pascoe, award-winning Kiwi comic Chris Parker, the ‘Maracas from Caracas’ – Venezuelan-born Ivan Aristeguieta.

National comedy icons and fan favourites include Brisbane’s queen of comedy Mel Buttle, physical comedy phenomenon The Umbilical Brothers, TV personalities Wil Anderson, Peter Helliar and Rove McManus, Have You Been Paying Attention? regulars Anne Edmonds and Lloyd Langford, TV and radio funnyman Dave Hughes, former accountant Dilruk Jayasinha and 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival winner Geraldine Hickey alongside Aussie import Jimeoin.

Brisbane Comedy Festival Director Phoebe Meredith says Brisbane Comedy Festival continues to grow from strength to strength, pulling record crowds and converting thousands of new comedy fans.

“It’s true that laughter is the best medicine and live comedy has proven to be the preferred antidote to recent woes,” Meredith said.

“We are especially excited to welcome back international acts who share in over 350 individual shows across five huge weeks.”

Brisbane Powerhouse’s dazzling new alfresco riverside venue, the Pleasuredome, joins the venue line-up, transforming into a luxe outdoor comedy club for a range of special events.

Fortitude Music Hall once again hosts The Opening Gala and The Tivoli returns as a satellite festival hub.

Meredith said the 2023 program catered to all tastes and ticklings with genres spanning straight stand-up, musical comedy, comedy cabaret, theatre and variety nights.

“It’s a smorgasbord in the truest sense of the word, with global comedy legends sharing space with fresh faces on the fast track to national notoriety,” Meredith said.

“The comedians’ shows are just as diverse. From public figures behaving badly to the rising cost of living and modern-day mental health crisis, there’s no shortage of topics ripe for scrutiny and nothing and no one is spared!”