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Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026: Family Fun Guide
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026 is bringing a huge line-up of kids’ comedy shows, circus acts, magic and free outdoor performances to the city this March and April, making it one of the top family events in Melbourne over Easter and the school holidays.
Running from 25 March to 19 April 2026, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world, and it’s not just for adults. With almost 50 shows created especially for children and families, it’s a standout on the Melbourne school holiday events calendar.
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Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026 family highlights include:
The (Very) Big Laugh Out Returns to Fed Square and City Square
One of the most popular free family events in Melbourne, The (Very) Big Laugh Out, transforms the city into a giant outdoor playground of comedy.
In 2026, the laughs return to Fed Square and expand into the newly reopened City Square, giving families even more space to enjoy world-class street performers, musical comedy, physical comedy and stand-up shows.
The free program kicks off over the Easter long weekend with two showcase events, Good Friday – 3 April 2026 and Saturday – 4 April 2026.
Both shows take place on the Fed Square Main Stage and feature a jam-packed lineup of family favourites, including Oliver Coleman, Claire Hooper, Dane Simpson, Otto & Astrid, Geraldine Quinn, The Burton Brothers, and Dandyman.
The fun continues throughout the school holidays with free City Square performances every Friday and Saturday from 10 – 18 April. Families can catch a show and check out the Festival’s giant microphone installation while enjoying the city atmosphere.
Fed Square
Date and times:
Fri 3 April: 1.30 pm & 3.30 pm
Sat 4 April: 1.30 pm & 3.30 pm
Location: Fed Square Main Stage, Federation Square, Melbourne
City Square
Date and times:
Fri 10 April & Sat 11 Apr: 2 pm
Fri 17 April & Sat 18 Apr: 2 pm
Location: City Square, Swanston Street, between Collins Street & Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Price: FREE
Circus, Comedy and Big Energy at Melbourne Town Hall
Inside the iconic Melbourne Town Hall, families can experience high-energy circus and big laughs from some of Australia’s most loved performers.
Highlights include:
Circus Oz
Date: 8 – 11 & 15 – 18 April 2026
Fresh from their holiday season on 42nd Street in New York City, Circus Oz returns to Melbourne Town Hall with their all-new show Here, There and Everywhere—a fast-paced mix of acrobatics, live music, larrikin comedy and playful circus chaos designed to entertain audiences of all ages.
Mojo & Jimmy
Date: 3 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Mojo & Jimmy is a funny and heartfelt family magic show where Mojo the Magical Monkey and Jimmy the Tomato set off on a high-energy adventure through the enchanted forest of Happyvale, delivering dazzling illusions, mischievous jokes and plenty of surprises for audiences of all ages.
Trash Test Dummies
Date: 3 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Trash Test Dummies is a high-energy slapstick circus comedy packed with jaw-dropping acrobatics, hilarious juggling and wildly inventive wheelie-bin antics, delivering mischievous fun for the whole family during its final season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
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Kids Comedy Shows at Melbourne Museum
At Melbourne Museum, families can dive into imagination and storytelling and laugh out loud at performances designed especially for children.
Program highlights include:
Aboriginal Comedy Allstars (Kids edition)
Date: 18 April 2026
Aboriginal Comedy Allstars for Kids brings together leading First Nations comedians for a lively family show filled with big laughs, sing-alongs, dancing and storytelling as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Bubble Show in Space
Date: 4 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Bubble Show in Space is a colourful family spectacle featuring giant bubbles, flying bubble rockets, bubble fire tornadoes and a finale million-bubble party that fills the room with shimmering soap-filled fun.
Comedy Club for Kids
Date: 4 – 5, 7 – 8, 11 – 12, 14 – 15, 18 – 19 April 2026
Comedy Club for Kids is a lively family showcase featuring a handpicked lineup of stand-up comedians, circus performers, sketch artists and musical comedy acts delivering non-stop laughs for kids aged six and up during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
The Listies
Date: 4, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
The Listies return with Make You LOL – Again, a fast-paced, ridiculous and wildly funny family comedy show packed with their trademark mischievous humour at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Magic, Circus and Absurdity at ACMI
Over at ACMI, the program features a mix of magic, circus and playful absurdity.
Don’t miss the Melbourne debut of Dale Woodbridge-Brown’s Camp Culture (11 – 12 April 2026), a bold circus adventure packed with flips, comedy and big personality.
Also appearing at ACMI:
Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry
Date: 3 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Barry Potter and the Magic of Wizardry is a playful family magic show where award-winning magician Tim Motley brings a world of robed wizards, flying broomsticks and mind-bending illusions to life with plenty of jokes along the way.
Playhouse Pantomimes
Date: 3 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Story Soup by Playhouse Pantomimes is a lively improvised musical pantomime where the cast creates a brand-new fairytale on the spot using audience suggestions, packed with songs, silliness and plenty of laughs.
Signor Baffo
Date: 3 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Signor Baffo is a supremely silly interactive family show where kids help the chaotic chef tackle kitchen disasters through games, surprises and plenty of giggles.
Winni Wizard
Date: 3 – 5, 7 – 12, 14 – 19 April 2026
Winni Wizard and Her Magical Smells is a high-energy, interactive family comedy where kids help Winni the wacky wizard fix magical mishaps in her chaotic shop, packed with songs, jokes and playful problem-solving.
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We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.
