CAPITAL CRACK-UPS: COMEDIANS ANNOUNCED FOR NZ COMEDY FEST WELLINGTON SHOWCASES
The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce the comedians joining Te Whanganui-A-Tara Preview Show, Comedy Fest in Kāpiti, Joe Daymond’s Comedy Mixtape, Comedy Fest in Petone, Comedy Fest in Porirua and Late Laughs in Wellington, as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo. These Trust presented showcases offer the chance to see the very best local and international comedy favourites, rising stars and big names, all on one bill. The Comedy Festival also presents the world premiere of Stamptown 4 Kidz, a silly, chaotic and high-energy family variety spectacular.
With hundreds of shows to choose from in this year’s programme, these signature events are the perfect way to get right into the festival spirit. The line-ups are stacked and packed with comedy gold, offering something for everyone.
Get a sneak peek of what’s in this year’s programme with Te Whanganui-A-Tara Preview Show, on 30 April at Fringe Bar. Hosted by 2025 Billy T Award nominee Lesa Macleod-Whiting the showcase features a huge line-up of local acts, including 2026 Billy T nominees Opeti Vaka, Samantha Hannah and Kipling DC; and award-winning comedians Lily Catastrophe, Mike Fowler, Gabby Anderson, and Ginge & Minge. Rounding out the night is corporate professional turned comedian Sarah Tuck, and Raw Comedy Quest finalist Jundas Capone.
It’s not just the CBD that’s having a laugh. Hosted by the hugely talented Sam Smith (the comedian not the singer), the sell-out hit Comedy Fest in Kāpiti returns on 9 May at Te Raukura ki Kāpiti Performing Arts Centre. The Kāpiti lineup includes comedy and acting heavyweight Josh Thomson (Young Rock, Educators), Gabby Anderson, award-winning Danish stand-up Sofie Hagen and rising star Oliver Pol.
Greater Wellington’s weekends will be funnier throughout the month of May. For the first time the fest heads to the Abandoned Taprooms, with Comedy Fest in Petone every Friday and Saturday and Comedy Fest in Porirua every Sunday.
The Comedy Fest in Petone lineups see some of the very best local acts and international acts head to the seashore. James Nokise hosts Friday 8 May, with Gabby Anderson, Josh Thomson, and Rosco McClelland. 9 May is hosted by Jerome Chandrahasen, with He Huang, Raybon Kan and Samanatha Hannah. 15 May is hosted by Sera Devcich alongside Benny Feldman, Meaghan Fisher and Sean Collier. 16 May is hosted by Brendon Green, with Elena Smith-Beech, Jak Darling and James Nokise. 22 May is hosted by Neil Thornton with Austin Harrison, Cohen Holloway and Johanna Cosgrove. And finally, 23 May is hosted by Zach Mandeville, with Anya Rzhevitskaya, James Mustapic, and Tama Alexander. Comedy Fest in Porirua is hosted by Dan Boerman on 10 May, with Josh Thomson, Rosco McLelland and more. Hoani Hotenehosts 17 May, with Li’i Alaimoana, Oliver Pol and Sera Devcich. Jak Darling hosts 24 May, with Booth the Clown, Jerome Chandrahasen and Keegan Thomas.
Kicking off the final week of the fest at Hannah Playhouse on 19 May, online funnyman Joe Daymond (creator and star of Comedy Central’s BOUNCERS) hosts and curates Comedy Mixtape. A high-energy stand-up showcase built like a perfect set list: comedians you already rate, comedians you’re about to start recommending, and a few moments that remind you why live comedy is undefeated. Joining Joe as co-host is Mai FM DJ Randy Sjafrie, alongside comedian and community organiser Jenice Goveas and rising comedy star and Raw Comedy Quest finalist Q Potts. Plus even more still to be announced.
Late Laughs offers the Capital comedy after dark – it’s fast, loose, and famously unpredictable, on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the Fest at Hannah Playhouse. With a different lineup every night, audiences can come back multiple times for a stellar mix of locals and internationals. This year’s hosts include comedy and podcast icon Tim Batt, The Office Australia star Felicity Ward, sketch comedy duo Hot Department, Taskmaster star David Correos and UK comedian Danny Ward, in NZ for the first time.
The very best comics come out after dark, including internationals He Huang (Aus), Jessie Nixon (UK) Benny Feldman (US) and locals, Josh Thomson, Karen O’Leary, Henry Yan, Abby Howells, James Mustapic and Hoani Hotene, and more to come.
The NZ Comedy Fest is also thrilled to present the first ever Stamptown 4 Kidz, created especially for the festival. Think the chaotic, absurd, high-energy, variety spectacular of New York cult hit Stamptown (Netflix is a Joke), but remixed for families. It’s all the wow, silliness and theatrical mayhem, with the edges safely rounded. The kids get the visual gags and wild moments. The grown-ups get the sly little layers. Like a Disney movie… if Disney had a slightly unhinged cousin who runs a circus.
Packed with big laughs, bold surprises, and the kind of anarchic showmanship that makes kids go “WHAT?!” and adults go “WAIT… was that for me?” (Yes. Yes it was.) Stamptown 4 Kidz is hosted by Stamptown’s own Zach Zucker, on 23 May at Hannah Playhouse. Stamptown’s headline show (for grown-ups) runs May 19 to 23, also at Hannah Playhouse.
Laugh the month away this May!
The 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo runs from 1 – 24 May.
www.comedyfestival.co.nz
TE-WHANGANUI-A-TARA PREVIEW SHOW
Thursday 30 April, 7PM
The Fringe Bar
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COMEDY FEST IN KĀPITI
Saturday 9 May, 7PM
Te Raukura ki Kāpiti Performing Arts Centre
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COMEDY FEST IN PETONE
8, 9 15, 16, 22 & 23 May, 7.30PM
Abandoned Taproom Petone
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COMEDY FEST IN PORIRUA
10, 17 & 24 May, 6PM
Abandoned Taproom Porirua
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JOE DAYMOND'S COMEDY MIXTAPE
Tuesday 19 May, 6PM
Hannah Playhouse
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LATE LAUGHS
8, 9, 15, 16 May, 9.30PM & 23 May, 10.30PM
Hannah Playhouse
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STAMPTOWN 4 KIDS
Saturday 23 May. 3PM
Hannah Playhouse
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