Dubai Comedy Festival 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Dubai Comedy Festival is returning for its biggest edition yet, bringing 10 days of stand-up, theatre and live comedy to some of the city's most iconic venues.

Running from October 6 to 18, 2026, this year's festival will feature performances in eight languages, with comedians and theatre productions from across the UK, India, the Middle East, Russia and beyond. Whether you enjoy observational comedy, political satire, family-friendly theatre, crowd work or improvisation, there is something on the programme for almost every kind of comedy fan.

The first wave of artists has already been announced, with Mo Gilligan, Vir Das, Munawar Faruqui, Jamie Lever, Shane Todd, John Achkar, Amit Tandon, Alexander Merkul and the Kuwaiti theatre production Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam all confirmed.

More comedians are expected to be announced in the coming months, making this one of Dubai's biggest entertainment festivals of the year.

Dubai Comedy Festival: One of the region's biggest comedy events

Since launching in 2020, Dubai Comedy Festival has grown into one of the Middle East's largest international comedy festivals.

Unlike traditional comedy festivals that focus on one language or one style of performance, Dubai Comedy Festival reflects the city's multicultural identity.

English, Hindi, Arabic, Russian and several other languages all feature on the programme, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to experience comedy from very different cultures during the same festival.

The programme also goes beyond stand-up.

Alongside traditional comedy shows, you'll find theatrical productions, live improvisation, storytelling performances and large-scale arena events.

That variety is one of the reasons the festival continues to attract audiences from across the UAE.

Mo Gilligan: The Mo You Know

One of the biggest names on this year's lineup is British comedian Mo Gilligan.

He returns to Dubai with his latest world tour, The Mo You Know, performing at Dubai Opera on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Gilligan has established himself as the UK's biggest comedy stars thanks to his energetic storytelling, character impressions and relatable observations about everyday life. Alongside his stand-up career, he is also known for presenting The Masked Singer UK, The BRIT Awards and several major television shows.

His previous Dubai performance sold out, so if he's at the top of your list, this is one of the shows you'll want to book early.

• The performance is in English
• Suitable for ages 16 and above
• Tickets starting from Dhs250
• Click here to book

Vir Das returns to Dubai

Indian comedian Vir Das returns to Dubai Comedy Festival on Sunday, October 18, 2026, this time performing at Coca-Cola Arena.

Vir Das has emerged as one of India's most internationally recognised comedians and made history by becoming the first Indian comedian to win an International Emmy Award for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing.

His comedy combines personal stories, politics, culture and global observations in a way that connects with audiences around the world.

The move to Coca-Cola Arena also makes this one of the festival's biggest productions, giving more fans the opportunity to see him live.

• The show is recommended for guests aged 16 and above
• Tickets starting from Dhs195
• Click here to book

Jamie Lever: Dubai Comedy Festival Debut

Jamie Lever joins Dubai Comedy Festival for the first time with a Hindi-language performance at Emirates Theatre on Friday, October 10, 2026.

Although many people first recognised her as the daughter of legendary comedian Johnny Lever, Jamie has built a successful career of her own with sold-out performances across more than 30 countries.

Her live shows combine stand-up, celebrity impressions, singing and audience interaction, making them some of the most energetic performances on the circuit.

With an age rating of 8+, this is also one of the most family-friendly stand-up shows in the festival.

• Tickets start from Dhs125
• Click here to book

Munawar Faruqui brings brand new material to Dubai

Munawar Faruqui returns to Dubai Opera on Saturday, October 11, 2026 with an entirely new Hindi-language show.

Known for his sharp observations and conversational storytelling style, Munawar has become one of India's most popular comedians over the past few years.

This performance features brand-new content created specifically for his current tour. If you've seen him before, expect a completely different set.

• The show is recommended for ages 16 and above
• Tickets starting from Dhs125
• Click here to book

John Achkar: Feena Nehke

Lebanese comedian John Achkar performs his latest Arabic-language show, Feena Nehke, at Dubai Opera on Friday, October 17, 2026.

John has built a loyal following across the Middle East through comedy centred on family life, relationships and everyday experiences. His performances combine storytelling with observational humour that feels familiar regardless of your background.

• The show is suitable for ages 13 and above
• Tickets starting from Dhs185
• Click here to book

Amit Tandon: Aise Kaise

One of India's best-known observational comedians, Amit Tandon returns with his latest Hindi show, Aise Kaise, on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at Dubai Opera.

Tandon's comedy often focuses on marriage, parenting and modern family life, making him especially popular with audiences who enjoy relatable everyday humour.

He has performed in Dubai several times previously, with many of those shows selling out.

• Tickets begin at Dhs150
• Age recommendation of 16+
• Click here to book

Shane Todd makes his Festival Debut

Northern Irish comedian Shane Todd makes his Dubai Comedy Festival debut with Hold Me Back at New Covent Garden Theatre on Thursday, October 16, 2026.

Todd is known for his successful podcast Tea With Me and his relaxed storytelling style that mixes personal experiences with dry humour.

If you're looking for an English-language comedy show in a smaller venue, this is one of the strongest options on the programme.

• Tickets start from Dhs195
• Click here to book

Alexander Merkul offers a completely different comedy experience

If you enjoy audience interaction, Alexander Merkul's performance may be the most unique event in the entire festival.

Performing in Russian on Wednesday, October 15, 2026, Merkul's show is built around live improvisation.

Much of the performance unfolds through audience interaction, so no two shows ever feel the same.

• Tickets start from Dhs150
• Age recommendation of 16+
• Click here to book

Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam opens the festival

Opening the festival is the Kuwaiti comedy theatre production Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam, running on October 9 and 10, 2026 at Dubai Opera.

This is a full theatrical comedy production featuring a cast led by Khaled Al Muzaffar, Khaled Al Ojairi, Mohammad Safar and Iman Faisal.

The story follows a couple preparing for their first child, creating plenty of opportunities for family-friendly comedy.

With a minimum age of just 3 years, it is the most accessible production in this year's festival.

• Tickets start from Dhs250.
• Click here to book

More comedians are still to be announced

The current lineup is only the first announcement.

Festival organisers have confirmed that additional comedians and performances will be revealed before October, meaning the programme is expected to become even bigger over the coming months.

If you're interested in attending, it is worth keeping an eye on the official festival website for future announcements.

Everything you need to know before booking

Before buying tickets, there are a few things worth remembering:

• Ticket prices currently start from Dhs125, but they vary depending on the performer and venue.
• Age restrictions also differ between shows, with some suitable for families while others are restricted to audiences aged 16 and above.
• Most performances are expected to sell quickly, particularly Mo Gilligan and Vir Das, based on demand for their previous UAE appearances.
• The festival website remains the best place to register for tickets and follow future artist announcements.

Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 at a glance

Festival dates: October 9 to 18, 2026
Duration: 10 days
Venues: Dubai Opera, Coca-Cola Arena, Emirates Theatre and New Covent Garden Theatre
Price: Starting Dhs125
Registration: Official Dubai Comedy Festival website
Headliners: Mo Gilligan, Vir Das, Munawar Faruqui, Jamie Lever, John Achkar, Amit Tandon, Shane Todd and Alexander Merkul.
More acts: Still to be announced.

Very few festivals in the region bring together this level of international talent across so many languages and performance styles.

Whether you're looking for arena-scale stand-up, intimate theatre performances, Hindi comedy, Arabic storytelling or completely improvised shows, Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 offers enough variety to suit almost every taste.

With more artists still to be announced, this year's programme is only going to get bigger.