Newcastle’s biggest month of comedy will be back in 2026!
Clear your calendar and loosen your laugh muscles - the Newcastle Comedy Festival is officially back from July 16 - August 16 2026, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest, boldest program the city has seen yet.
After a record-breaking 2025 festival that pulled nearly 7,000 comedy fans into venues across the city (and sold out most shows).
Newcastle Comedy Festival has well and truly cemented itself as one of Australia’s must-visit comedy events.
Backed once again by the City of Newcastle, the festival continues its rapid rise on the national comedy calendar - and 2026 is where things really level up.
Gala Night: July 18, Civic Theatre - Sold Out
The now sold out Newcastle Comedy Festival Gala festival opener set for July 18 at the Civic Theatre, will bring together an all-killer, no-filler lineup that reads like a greatest-hits list of Australian and New Zealand comedy.
Due to demand, a second gala has been announced on July 25 so there's no excuse to miss out.
Gala Night: July 25, Civic Theatre
With the first Gala the fastest-sell out in the festival’s history, a second night has been announced, ensuring more audiences can experience the biggest night on the Newcastle comedy calendar.
Artists include: Mel Buttle • Andrew Hamilton • Lizzy Hoo • Stephanie Broadbridge • Bec Charlwood • Dave Thornton • Sez • Takashi Wakasugi • John Cruckshank • Dan Rath • Paige Hally.
This is the kind of night where you laugh, cry, text your group chat mid-interval, and wonder how Newcastle landed a lineup this good.
First Lineup Announcement
Brett Blake
Mullet, flannie, and zero pretence - Brett Blake is coming in hot after starring in Taskmaster Season 5 and hosting the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala 2026. Bogans, beware: he’s smarter than he looks.
Chris Ryan
A certified Newcastle favourite. Chris’ sharp cynicism, emotional honesty, and hard truths have earned her a meteoric rise over the past five years – and sold-out rooms everywhere she goes.
Daniel Muggleton
Yes, the one in the tracksuit. Award-winning, five-star reviewed, and selling out rooms worldwide – including the Sydney Opera House – Muggleton is observational comedy at its most ruthless.
Kirsty Webeck
After a huge FRINGE WORLD 2025 debut (including a Weekly Best Comedy Award), Kirsty is back with rapid-fire jokes and unstoppable energy. As seen on Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee and Question Everything.
Lizzy Hoo
One of the most in-demand live performers in Australia right now. You’ve seen her on Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Cheap Seats, The Weekly, The Hundred, and The Cook Up – now catch her live in Newcastle.
Luke Heggie
Brutally honest, bone-dry, and wildly relatable. Luke’s razor-sharp observations and sarcastic delivery have made him a cult favourite – and a guaranteed hit with Newcastle crowds.
Luke McGregor
Now officially a Newcastle local. Come see why one of Australia’s most beloved comedians is best experienced live, awkward, and slightly uncomfortable (in the best possible way).
Tom Cashman (MC)
You might know him from TikTok. You might know him from Taskmaster Australia. Or you might still be figuring that out. Either way, Tom’s hosting – and you’ll be laughing.
Wil Anderson
One of Australia’s most celebrated comedians, full stop. Known for his fearless takes, rapid-fire delivery and razor-sharp political insight, Wil Anderson brings decades of award-winning comedy experience to the Newcastle stage.
And That’s Just the Beginning
More shows will be announced in the lead up, with performances rolling out across the Civic Theatre, Playhouse, Conservatorium, and the brand-new Newcastle Comedy Club.
Building on the momentum of 2025 – where the majority of shows sold out – the 2026 festival will run across the entire month, featuring stand-up, sketch, musical comedy, and special events that continue to position Newcastle as a major destination for live comedy in Australia.
Tickets
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s this: don’t wait.
Tickets will move fast so grab yours early at newycomedy.com.
July in Newcastle just became very, very funny.
