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The 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award nominees, a large and diverse group of people, seated on the steps of Melbourne Town Hall. MICF Award nominees
News

MICF award nominees announced for Outstanding Show and Newcomer

Ten comedians have been nominated for the MICF Outstanding Show Award, with a further seven comedians nominated for Best Newcomer.

Comedian Mel McGlensey 's MICF show Mel McGlensey is Normal is one of many shows reviewed by writers for the Funny Tonne. The photo shows McGlensey, a curvacious figure with dark curly hair and wearing a sleeveless white dress, crouched in front of an audience member as if she is about to bit his raised finger. More audience members watch on in the background.

Funny Tonne MICF reviews: Alex Ward, Gillian Cosgriff, Hannah Camilleri, Mel McGlensey, Olga Koch and more

Another serve of Funny Tonne reviews by emerging writers to help you navigate the final days of the 40th Melbourne…

English. Photo: Richard Farland.
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English review: an insistently brilliant prize-winning play

Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play takes to the Seymour Centre stage for its Sydney debut.

Brynley Stent. Photo: Supplied.

Funny Tonne MICF reviews: Dan Rath, Grace Jarvis, Kate Dehnert, Kate Dolan, Lara Ricote and more

ArtsHub brings you the first batch of reviews from the Funny Tonne 2026, MICF's long-running competition for fledgling reviewers.

Belvoir St Theatre's Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead. Photo: Brett Boardman.
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Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead review: a long slog with flashes of brilliance

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is a bloated beast of a play – but not without…

Sting in The Last Ship. Photo: Mark Senior.
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The Last Ship review: Sting performs his 'deeply personal' musical in Brisbane

Sting’s childhood-inspired musical The Last Ship is a beautifully crafted, well-realised story of defiance tempered with hope.

Maitreyi Karanth. Photo: Facebook.
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Maitreyi Karanth – Maitriarchy review: boldness and bravura in action

Maitreyi Karanth has been doing stand up for less than a decade but has the stamina and delivery of a…

Anisa Nandaula. Photo: Supplied.
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Anisa Nandaula – No Small Talk review: TikTok star continues her rise at MICF

A Ugandan by way of Queensland, Anisa Nandaula is one to watch.

Performing Lines Tas. Image: Michael O'Neill.
Features

Performing Lines Tas at 20: 'For the survival of the human race, arts and culture are medicine'

As Performing Lines Tas marks a milestone, what will it take to secure Lutruwita’s cultural future for artists, producers and…

Lou Wall presents Where Are All the Tall Grandmas? at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Photo: Supplied. MICF
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Lou Wall – Where Are All the Tall Grandmas? review: 'warm, mischief-tinged energy' at MICF

Lou Wall’s mission to find tall old ladies takes unexpected turns at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

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