Introducing our 2026 Comedy Zone

Each year Melbourne International Comedy Festival scours the country to discover the next wave of big names in Australian comedy – with a fresh line up of new faces coming together annually to form that year's Comedy Zone. Introducing… Peter Josip (VIC), Bahaa Dabbagh (VIC), Stella Wu (NSW), Jack Knight (QLD) and Kushi Venkatesh (SA).

Working under the mentorship of an expert comedian, Comedy Zone is one of the Festival’s key industry development programs helping to establish pathways for local artists. Comedy Zone is both the place for audiences to discover the next generation of comedy stars, as well as a channel to provide skills, support and stage time to transform promising newcomers into household names. Notable alumni include Lawrence Leung (2001), Sammy J (2004), Claire Hooper (2005), Josh Thomas (2006), Hannah Gadsby (2007), Celia Paquola (2007), Tom Ballard (2008),  Luke Heggie (2011), Ronny Chieng (2011), Damian Power (2012), Ivan Aristeguieta (2013), Aaron Chen (2014), Becky Lucus (2014), Demi Lardner (2014), Nina Oyama (2015), Danielle Walker (2017) and more!

2026 Comedy Zone is on sale now, for more info and to buy tickets head here.

COMEDY ZONE 2026:

Peter Josip (VIC)

2025 RAW Comedy National Winner
2025 Finalist Edinburgh Fringe So You Think You’re Funny National Final
An emerging absurdist star.

Bahaa Dabbagh (VIC)

2025 VIC RAW Comedy Semi-Finalist
Finds belly laughs inside a Syrian heritage of displacement, racism and survival.

Stella Wu (NSW)

2024 RAW Comedy National Finalist
Skilfully bounces from themes of immigrant life to embarrassing dating fails.

Jack Knight (QLD)

2022 QLD RAW Comedy State Finalist
Ideas that blast from his brain like a Datsun 120Y backfiring on stage. A new comedy voice bound for cult status.

Kushi Venkatesh (SA)

2023 & 2024 SA RAW Comedy State Finalist
2023 Class Clowns National Grand Finalist
Her parents reckon comedy should be a hobby. Her meteoric rise suggests otherwise.