Just For Laughs 2025

The only thing unlucky about the 13th Just For Laughs comedy festival will be missing out on tickets!

By Rita Bratovich

With a massive line-up that includes A-list local and international headliners, incredible variety shows, live podcasts, and improv in venues across the city, this year’s Just For Laughs might be the best ever. 

In its thirteen year history, Just For Laughs has garnered a reputation for presenting an exciting and diverse comedy festival with a program that caters to every sense of humour. 

Performances will take place in a range of spaces, from the low-key vibes of The Factory Theatre (Marrickville) and Comedy Store (Moore Park), to the slightly more upmarket Darling Harbour Theatre (Darling Harbour), The Concourse (Chatswood) and Playhouse (Sydney Opera House), to the prestigious State Theatre (CBD) and The Concert Hall (Sydney Opera House). 

Just For Laughs 2025 sees the return of irrepressible comic genius, Eddie Izzard, whose cutting wit and acute observations are delivered with sharp, eloquent, perfectly timed banter. Festival highlights also include popular stand-up and TV comedian, Jimmy O. Yang who brings his acclaimed show, The Big & Tall Tour to Darling Harbour; First Nations local favourites Kevin Kropinyeri, Sean Choolburra, Andy Saunders, Steph Tisdell, Elaine Crombie, Dane Simpson, Jay Wymarra and Janty Blair appear in Aboriginal Comedy Allstars at The Factory, Marrickville; Abbie Chatfield hosts a line-up of hilarious women — He Huang, Elouise Eftos, Concetta Caristo, Emma Holland, Danielle Walker and Frankie Rowsthorn — to disprove the show title, Women Aren’t Funny.

Our cover star, Reggie Watts, performs his absolutely must-see show at The Playhouse and you will want to buy your tickets now. True to his name, Watts is bright and disruptive as a flickering lightbulb. His performances bring together beatboxing, singing, storytelling and wild riffing in a spontaneous blend that makes each show unique. 

Preacher Lawson has proved he’s got talent many times over. Getting a fan-favourite call back for both Britain’s and America’s Got Talent Championships, he has gone on to host AGT in Las Vegas, appeared in several TV shows and has amassed a big, enthusiastic following. See him at the Sydney Opera House. At the top of your ticket-buying list should be these three one-night-only shows that are selling fast. 

Rhys Nicholson presents a line-up of queer and quirky LGBTQI+ talent in Gay Panic Showcase. Nina Oyama, Tarsh Jago, Annie Boyle, Aves Robins and Chris Parker bend gender, genre and all the rules in this rainbow of comedy at the Sydney Opera House. 

If you enjoy your humour a little bit weird, you’ll enjoy The Alternative Show, hosted by Demi Lardner and featuring Dan Rath, Sez, Tom Walker, and Neel Kolhatkar. You won’t see the punchlines coming and sometimes you won’t know that they’ve been. At the Sydney Opera House. 

And finally, the grand finale. The Just For Laughs All Star Gala has been the hottest ticket in comedy for thirteen years, and the 2025 show will be scorching. Australia’s king of comedy, Shaun Micallef hosts a night of true comic royalty: Reggie Watts, Melanie Bracewell, Wil Anderson, Joel Creasey, Celia Pacquola and Preacher Lawson. It’s a spectacular event in the Opera House’s Concert Hall and one you definitely will have FOMO over if you don’t get tickets now. There are loads more shows in the program.

Check them out and buy tickets at justforlaughs.sydney

November 10 - 22, 2025.