Darwin Comedy Festival 2026 Program Guide

AANT CENTRE PROUDLY PRESENTS

yourcentre.com.au

festival planner

With theatres, bars, and all the laughs conveniently located in one buzzing (air-conditioned!) hub at AANT Centre, right in the heart of Darwin city, we’ve made it super easy to hop from show to show and fully immerse yourself in the laughter and energy of the Festival.

THURSDAY 5 MARCH STUDIO THEATRE

THE PLAYHOUSE

FRIDAY 6 MARCH LAUGH LOUNGE

STUDIO THEATRE

THE PLAY

FESTIVAL OPENING Join us for a special Welcome to Country acknowledging the custodians and country that our Festival takes place on.

5-5.30pm AANT Centre

THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS Speedmouse

AMY HETHERINGTON Gone Troppo

6-7.15pm

6-7pm 15+ REC!

TOP FLOOR COMEDY SHOWCASE

RAW COMEDY NT FINAL

7-9pm

NAT’S WHAT I RECKON Panic at the Bistro

7.30-9.30pm

7.45-8.45pm EM RUSCIANO Addicted to Love 8.30-9.30pm

18+ REC!

7.30-8.40pm

16+ REC!

15+ REC!

NAT’S WHAT I RECKON Panic at the Bistro 9.30-10.30pm

JIMMY REE One Night O

16+ REC!

JIMMY REE One Night O

9.15-10.25p

H

SATURDAY 7 MARCH

HOUSE

S Only

LAUGH LOUNGE

STUDIO THEATRE

THE PLAYHOUSE

LAUGH LOUNGE CLASS CLOWNS 2.30-3.30pm

LIZZY HOO Says Hoo? 3-4pm

14+ REC! 15+ REC!

DENISE SCOTT Tickety Boo 4-5pm

15+ REC!

KEVIN KROPINYERI Gone Talkabout 5-6pm

BEATS & LAUGHS On Fri & Sat vibe to DJs on the Balcony Bar

15+ REC!

AKMAL 6-7.30pm

HOT NIGHTS, TROPPO TALES 7-8pm

KAREN FROM FINANCE Is Out of Office 16+ REC!

7-8pm

15+ REC! 18+ REC!

m

S Only

m

PITCH PLEASE 8-9pm MEL BUTTLE Taking My Sunglasses Off to Hear You Better 8.45-9.45pm

15+ REC!

18+ REC!

NAT’S WHAT I RECKON Panic at the Bistro 9-10pm

16+ REC!

GRINNERS MULTIPACK Save 15% on 3 or more shows

THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS

KEVIN KROPINYERI

Speedmouse

Sat 7 Mar, 5pm Studio Theatre | $34-$40

Gone Talkabout

Thu 5 Mar, 6pm The Playhouse | $51-$60

Rapidly becoming a national treasure, Kev opens up the book on his colourful and checkered past, bringing his own truth, and deadly funny comedy A-game!

The beloved hit show returns! A wild, fast-paced comedy adventure packed with mind-bending physicality, surreal sound effects, and big laughs.

LAUGH

Lounge

Hit the Laugh Lounge after the show!

AKMAL Sat 7 Mar, 6pm The Playhouse | $51-$60

RAW COMEDY NT FINAL

Akmal is back with a smash-hit tour, sharing laughs from his “spiritual journey” to India. Settle in for unscripted comedy gold.

Thu 5 Mar, 7.30pm Studio Theatre | $34-$40 Get ready for the Top End’s brightest comedy talent, competing for a chance to shine at the RAW Comedy National Grand Final.

LAUGH

Lounge

EM RUSCIANO

KAREN FROM FINANCE

Addicted to Love

Is Out of Office

Thu 5 Mar, 8.30pm The Playhouse | $55.25-$65

Sat 7 Mar, 7pm Studio Theatre | $34-$40

From hot flushes to heartfelt ballads, Em Rusciano transforms midlife madness into a bold, laugh-so-hard-you-cry night of comedy and song.

LAUGH

Lounge

Hit the Laugh Lounge after the show!

Pack your calculators and save your spreadsheets! Karen delivers lip-syncs, mashups, and self-annihilation in a one-woman show full of laughs.

Hit the Laugh Lounge before the show!

LAUGH

Lounge

AMY HETHERINGTON

Hit the Laugh Lounge after the show!

Gone Troppo

MEL BUTTLE

Fri 6 Mar, 6pm Studio Theatre | $34-$40

Taking My Sunglasses Off to Hear You Better

Darwin’s favourite funny person, Amy Hetherington, has Gone Troppo in this hilarious, high-energy stand-up ride through parenting, Territory chaos, and tropical madness.

Sat 7 Mar, 8.45pm Studio Theatre | $37.40-$44

LAUGH

Lounge

Serving sharp comedy, mum-life chaos, “Lyn” energy and clever observations, in an unforgettable night of laughter.

Hit the Laugh Lounge after the show!

JONATHAN VAN NESS

JIMMY REEES

Hot & Healed

One Night Only

EVENT CANCELLED

Fri 6 Mar, 7.30pm & 9.15pm The Playhouse | $75.65-$110

Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness is bringing his brand-new show to Australia straight from the US, and Darwin – it’s our turn! A show of unfiltered comedy, wildly entertaining and fun!

Viral comedy sensation, Jimmy Rees, brings his sharp wit, iconic characters, and laugh-out-loud social satire to Darwin for one unforgettable night!

LAUGH

Lounge

Hit the Laugh Lounge before the show!

NAT’S WHAT I RECKON Panic at the Bistro Fri 6 Mar, 7.45pm & 9.30pm Studio Theatre Sat 7 Mar, 9pm The Playhouse | $41.65-$49 Australia’s favourite sweary comedian and viral sensation brings live comedy chaos and outrageous laughs. Grab your tickets and come party, champignons!

LAUGH

Lounge

Hit the Laugh Lounge before the show!

CLASS CLOWNS Sat 7 Mar, 2.30pm Laugh Lounge | $10-$15 Join the search for Australia’s funniest teens! Come see the next generation of Australian comedians hit the stage in this special teenage comedy bash.

THE HUB FOR LAUGHS, DRINKS, AND LOCAL COMEDY! GRAB YOUR FRIENDS, SOAK UP THE CITY’S VIBRANT COMEDY SCENE, AND CATCH ALL THE ACTION BEFORE AND AFTER SHOWS ON THE BIG STAGES. Laugh Lounge (The Gallery)

TOP FLOOR COMEDY SHOWCASE Thu 5 Mar, 7pm | All tix $28 Witness Darwin’s sharpest, sassiest comedians delivering bold stories, big energy, and uniquely Territory humour. Absolutely unmissable.

LIZZY HOO Says Hoo?

HOT NIGHTS, TROPPO TALES

Sat 7 Mar, 3pm Studio Theatre | $34-$40

Fri 6 Mar, 7pm | $20-$25

From shared-custody dogs to cake-shop breakups and big second-wife energy, Lizzy Hoo serves a hilarious new hour of stand-up.

Top End yarns that are hilarious and straight from the heart. Big laughs, riveting adventures – this is storytelling turned up to tropical.

DENISE SCOTT Tickety Boo

PITCH PLEASE Sat 7 Mar, 8pm | $20-$25 Forget boring polished lectures, this is Pitch Please, where comedy collides with the unexpected. It’s fast-paced, visual, and packed with ridiculous surprises.

Sat 7 Mar, 4pm The Playhouse | $42.50-$50 Famous for her razor-sharp wit and unflinching honesty, this is Scotty at her authentic best, blending observational comedy with reflections on sanity, resilience, and the truly unexpected.

Get your tix today!

yourcentre.com.au

UNLEASH YOUR INNER COMEDIAN WORKSHOP & SHOW Sat 7 Mar from 12pm Brave and hilarious women and non-binary emerging comics will take the stage for the very first time, following an empowering comedy workshop with Danielle Andrews!

Top Floor Comedy, 35 Cavenagh St

SNAP UP A DEAL SAVE BIG WITH THE GRINNERS MULTIPACK DISCOUNT! Save 15% on full-priced tickets when you add the Grinners Multipack ticket type to three or more eligible events in a single transaction.

It’s the perfect way to experience the best of the Festival while keeping your wallet happy! *Excludes the Em Rusciano, Jimmy Rees and Jonathan Van Ness Premium Ticket Packages, and Top Floor Comedy Showcase.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS Online Phone In person

yourcentre.com.au 08 8980 3333 AANT Centre one hour prior to events

Email enquiries boxoffice@yourcentre.com.au BOOKING FEES A one-off service fee of $5.50 per transaction applies on all purchases online, by phone and at the Box Office. All ticket prices include GST.

FOLLOW THE LAUGHS Follow the Festival at AANT Centre’s Facebook and Instagram @aantcentredarwin #darwincomedyfestival Subscribe to our e-news at yourcentre.com.au for the latest updates and offers.

VENUE INFO Darwin Comedy Festival takes place at AANT Centre 93 Mitchell St, Darwin City.

Fuel up with onsite bars, bites and nearby dining.

ACCESS For access requirements please contact the Box Office.

AANT Centre respectfully acknowledges the Larrakia people, the traditional owners of the land on which we hold our Festival. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present, and recognise all First Nations peoples as the original storytellers of these lands.