The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has unveiled its 2026 award nominees, shining a spotlight on some of the most exciting and diverse comedic talent in this year’s program – and with just five days of the Festival remaining, there’s never been a better time to catch a show. Winners will be announced on Saturday 18 April.
Ten nominees have been revealed for the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show:
- Abby Wambaugh (USA/Denmark) – The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows
- Cassie Workman (AUS) – You Are Here
- Celia Pacquola (AUS) – Gift Horse
- Dan Tiernan (Ireland/UK) – Quartz and All
- Emmanuel Sonubi (UK) – Life After Near Death
- Frankie McNair (AUS) – Huge Ass Mindset
- Kitty Flanagan (AUS) – Glad Game
- Lara Ricote (Mexico/USA) – Inkling
- Reuben Kaye (AUS) – Hard To Swallow
- Sam Nicoresti (UK) – Baby Doomer
Best Newcomer nominations for performers doing their first full, eligible, Festival show are:
- Barney Pollock (AUS) – King of the Pigs 2
- Caitlin Duff (AUS) – Freidah Will See You Now
- Dana Mitchell (AUS) – The Lady Will Have
- Elliot Wood (AUS/NZ) – Mrs Lovett’s Famous Meat Pies Grand Reopening Extravaganza
- Jo Gowda (AUS/India) – Don’t Deport the Fun
- Nathan Chin (AUS) – Chinese Comedy Party
- Tarsh Jago (AUS) – Cherub
The Golden Gibbo – celebrating the legacy of the late, great Lynda Gibson – is aimed at finding a local, independent show that pursues the artists’ idea more than it pursues commercial gain. The 2026 nominees are:
- Andy Balloch (AUS) – Welcome to Hell
- Caitlin Duff (AUS) – Freidah Will See You Now
- Kate Dehnert (AUS) – Echo
Katrina Mathers (AUS) – Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues - Laura Davis (AUS) – Swag
- Sunny Youngsmith (AUS) – Cabin Pressure
Winners will be announced on Saturday with additional awards bestowed including:
- Directors’ Choice, awarded by the Festival Director in consultation with festival programming colleagues to a show they think deserves to be celebrated
- The People’s Choice Award for the most popular show of the Festival as determined by the ticket buying public
- The Pinder Prize, honouring Festival co-founder John Pinder, and supporting a performer to travel to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- The Piece of Wood comics’ choice award, selected by past winners and presented to a peer literally for “doin’ good stuff ‘n’ that”
- VicScreen Greenlight Award will be awarded to a show with standout screen potential
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival continues to 19 April. For more information and full program, visit: www.comedyfestival.com.au for details.
Image: 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award nominees – photo by Nick Mick Pics