Auckland Comedy Festival 2026
Auckland Comedy Festival 2026 guide, shows and tickets, with central accommodation at Parkside Hotel & Apartments.
If you’re in Auckland in May, the NZ International Comedy Festival is hard to miss. It’s one of the biggest annual events on the city’s calendar, bringing together international comedians, well-known New Zealand acts, and a full programme of shows running across multiple weeks.
It’s not just one or two headline nights, it’s a packed schedule, with performances happening daily across different venues. Some shows sell out quickly, others fly under the radar and end up being the ones people talk about most afterwards.
Auckland Comedy Festival 2026: What to expect
Each year, the festival brings together a mix of established comedians, international acts, and emerging talent across a full programme of live shows. It opens with major lineup events like the Best Foods Comedy Gala, where multiple performers take the stage in one night, and continues with a mix of solo shows, themed line-ups, and smaller performances throughout the city.
There’s also a strong focus on local comedy, giving New Zealand performers the chance to share the stage with international acts and build momentum with new audiences.
The full programme, including confirmed acts and dates, is released and updated here: www.comedyfestival.co.nz
Auckland Comedy Festival 2026: Tickets
The festival runs from late April through May, with a mix of:
• International headline comedians
• Established local performers
• Smaller, emerging acts testing new material
• Stand-up, improv, themed shows, and one-off specials If you’re going for a specific comedian, book early.
If you’re just there for the experience, it’s worth picking one or two shows across different nights or styles so it feels like more than a single event. Find a show you like, and book your tickets!
Parkside Hotel and Apartments – One of the many room selections
Auckland Comedy Festival 2026: Best Accommodation
Parkside Hotel & Apartments is centrally located, so getting to and from festival venues is straightforward.
The apartment-style rooms also give you more space than a standard hotel stay. If you’re there for the weekend, or turning it into a Mother’s Day trip, that extra room makes a difference. You can settle in properly rather than just passing through and enjoy the location and amenities on offer.
Parkside Hotel and Apartments offer accommodation specials and gift vouchers, so why not gift an overnight stay and turn a comedy night event into a mini breakaway.
Book your accommodation with us or get in touch, we’re happy to help you find the right room for your stay.
Parkside Hotel and Apartments - Lobby
