Comedy Festival 2021

Credit photo: NZ International Comedy Festival Facebook - Kate Little Photography

Archived: 2021 NZ International Comedy Festival

May 4-23, 2021

After a disrupted 2020, and a blockbuster Best Foods Christmas Comedy Gala being one of the biggest comedy shows in the world last year, the New Zealand Comedy Trust is delighted to announce the return of the NZ Intl Comedy Festival for 2021, running May 4 – 23.

The festival will kick off with an extravaganza in the form of the Best Foods Comedy Gala, hosted by the legendary Justine Smith at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre on Friday 30 April in Tāmaki Makaurau.  As always, a spectacular selection of Aotearoa’s comedy superstars will guarantee big laughs from their bite-sized sets, all packed into a fast-paced live show that will tickle every kind of funny bone.

The first wave of sensational Kiwi talent on this year’s Gala lineup has been locked in, with hugely successful veteran of the local comedy scene and TV star Ben Hurley back on the bill with his classic stand-up style; joined by one-half of the iconic Laughing Samoan’s duo Tofiga Fepulea'i - incredibly making his Comedy Gala debut in 2021 after a long career spanning multiple decades. 2018 Fred Award Winner Chris Parker makes a welcome return to live gigs after becoming a viral sensation with his crafty lockdown antics; also joined by 2017 winner of the Billy T Award Angella Dravid with her awkward and always hilarious style that saw her finishing victorious in TVNZ’s Taskmaster NZ. Stay tuned for even more acts to be announced as we start the countdown to showtime!

See our top 15 picks for this year's New Zealand International Comedy Festival here

$2 per hour to a max of $12 on weekends and a $12 flat rate for weekday evenings at The Civic car park. Find out more

Last updated: 24 May 2021

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