Gold Coast Laughs Festival 2026
18 December 2026
Gold Coast Laughs is the Gold Coast's own comedy festival, a packed week and a half of shows at HOTA, the city's Home of the Arts. The 2026 edition ran from 13 to 22 March, its programme a run of stand-up hours from Lizzy Hoo, Luke Heggie, Zoë Coombs Marr, Matt Okine, Michael Hing, Damien Power, Nick Cody and Takashi Wakasugi, with Local Laughs and Late Laughs nights on its weekend. Between festivals it puts on a Christmas Comedy Gala at HOTA, on Friday 18 December 2026 at 8 pm, and the 2027 dates are still to be announced.
The 2026 festival
The Gold Coast Laughs Festival 2026 is a one-day festival, on Friday 18 December 2026, in Gold Coast, Australia. On its stages: stand-up. Tickets, times and the full programme are on the festival's site. Comedy festivals in 2026, month by month.
Comedians connected to it
Your working holiday in Gold Coast
You're here to work, and it's still a trip. Somewhere for the gap before a set, a place to watch people and find material, where the locals really go, and every one priced on the comedy ladder, from Open mic (free) to Arena star.
Other festivals taking acts around the same dates: Impro INvention (Improvention) (7–13 December 2026); SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival (22–24 January 2027).
Between sets
- Open mic · FreeHOTA Outdoor Art Sculpture Walk
A self-guided trail of big outdoor sculptures through the lakeside parkland at Bundall
Near HOTA, Home of the Arts
Their site ↗ - Feature · $45Fu Manchu Oriental
A two-level modern Asian restaurant on Chevron Island, a short walk over the footbridge from Bundall
Near HOTA, Home of the Arts
Their site ↗
Where to find material
- Open mic · FreeMiami Marketta
A street food night market in a Miami warehouse laneway, live bands and a crowd of all ages
Their site ↗
Where the locals go
- Feature · $33The Pav
The beachfront pub at Burleigh Heads, fish and chips and cold drinks looking out at the surf
Their site ↗
Updated 13 November 2026. Prices are what each place lists, per person.
More comedy festivals in Australia
- ITS Comedy Festival · 8–15 November 2026 · Sydney, Australia · Improv, Sketch, Stand-up Tickets ↗
- Just For Laughs Sydney · 9–22 November 2026 · Sydney, Australia · Stand-up Tickets ↗
- Impro INvention (Improvention) · 7–13 December 2026 · Canberra, Australia · Improv Tickets ↗
- FRINGE WORLD · 20 January – 14 February 2027 · Perth, Australia · Fringe Tickets ↗
- Adelaide Fringe · 19 February – 21 March 2027 · Adelaide, Australia · Fringe Tickets ↗
- Canberra Comedy Festival · 10–21 March 2027 · Canberra, Australia · Stand-up Tickets ↗
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival · 24 March – 18 April 2027 · Melbourne, Australia · Stand-up Tickets ↗
- Sydney Comedy Festival · 12 April – 16 May 2027 · Sydney, Australia · Stand-up, Sketch, Improv Tickets ↗
Questions
When is the Gold Coast Laughs Festival 2026?
18 December 2026 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Where do I book for the Gold Coast Laughs Festival?
On the festival's site, gclaughs.com.au, which also has the latest programme and any changes.