Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 will take place from October 9 to 18, 2026, bringing comedy performances to venues including Dubai Opera, New Covent Garden Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, Pepperoni Comedy Club and Coca-Cola Arena. The seventh edition features international, regional and local comedians performing in multiple languages, with individual shows available to book through official ticketing partners. The currently published lineup includes names such as Vir Das, Mo Gilligan, Munawar Faruqui, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg, Jamie Lever, John Achkar and Shane Todd, alongside a wider programme of comedy shows.
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Event | Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 |
| Edition | 7th edition |
| Dates | October 9–18, 2026 |
| Location | Dubai, UAE |
| Main venues | Dubai Opera, New Covent Garden Theatre, Pepperoni Comedy Club, Coca-Cola Arena |
| Languages | Multiple languages |
| Ticket prices | Vary by individual show |
| Ticketing | Official festival and authorised ticketing partners |
The festival’s official website confirms that the 2026 edition runs for 10 days from October 9 to 18. Its current venue information includes Dubai Opera, New Covent Garden Theatre, Pepperoni Comedy Club and Coca-Cola Arena.
When Is Dubai Comedy Festival 2026?
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 is scheduled for Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
The festival is the event’s seventh edition and will run across multiple Dubai venues rather than taking place in one location. Individual performances have their own dates, starting times, age requirements and ticket prices, so checking the specific show listing is important before booking.
The opening programme currently includes the Arabic comedy production Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam, which is scheduled for October 9 and 10 at Dubai Opera. Other performances continue throughout the festival period, with the programme extending through October 18.
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 Lineup
The 2026 programme brings together comedians from different countries and comedy backgrounds. Because individual shows can be added or updated during the festival announcement cycle, the official show listing should be treated as the latest reference for the programme.
Here are some of the currently published performers and shows.
Vir Das
Indian comedian Vir Das is scheduled to perform at Coca-Cola Arena on October 18, 2026. His Dubai Comedy Festival appearance is listed as an English-language performance, with tickets starting from AED 195 on the official festival listing. The show is marked for audiences aged 16 and above.
Mo Gilligan
British comedian Mo Gilligan will perform at Dubai Opera on October 12 as part of his The Mo You Know World Tour 2026. The official listing describes the show as a stand-up performance and lists tickets from AED 250, with an age restriction of 16+.
Munawar Faruqui
Munawar Faruqui is scheduled at Dubai Opera on October 11. His 2026 festival performance is in Hindi, and the official listing says tickets start from AED 125. The show is marked 16+.
Katherine Ryan
Canadian-British comedian Katherine Ryan will perform at Dubai Opera on October 12. Her show is listed with tickets starting from AED 195 and an age restriction of 16+.
Jamie Lever
Jamie Lever will perform at Emirates Theatre in Jumeirah on October 10. The show is in Hindi, with tickets currently starting from AED 145 on the official festival page. The listed age requirement is 10 years and above.
Zarna Garg
Indian-American comedian Zarna Garg is scheduled to perform at Dubai Opera on October 16. The official festival listing gives a starting ticket price of AED 195 and marks the show 16+.
John Achkar
Lebanese comedian John Achkar will bring his Feena Nehke show to Dubai Opera on October 17 and 18. The performance is in Arabic, tickets start from AED 185, and the official listing gives an age requirement of 13+.
Shane Todd
Northern Irish comedian Shane Todd is scheduled to perform at New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, on October 16. His show, Hold Me Back, is listed in English, with tickets starting from AED 195 and an age restriction of 16+.
Abbas Bukhari
Abbas Bukhari will perform at New Covent Garden Theatre on October 16 with a new stand-up special. The official festival page identifies the performance as Urdu comedy, with tickets starting from AED 125 and an age restriction of 16+.
Other Published 2026 Shows
The current festival programme also includes Alexander Merkul, Nino Arial, Rafi Bastos, Neema Naz, Imad Kehdy, Enissa Amani, Mario Bassil, Amit Tandon, Kings & Queens of Comedy, Podcast W Nos and other performances. The official listing gives different dates, venues, languages, and ticket prices for each show.
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 Schedule
The festival schedule currently published by the organisers includes the following performances:
| Date | Show | Venue | Starting Ticket Price |
| Oct. 9–10 | Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam | Dubai Opera | AED 250 |
| Oct. 10 | Jamie Lever | Emirates Theatre, Jumeirah | AED 145 |
| Oct. 11 | Munawar Faruqui | Dubai Opera | AED 125 |
| Oct. 11 | Podcast W Nos | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 125 |
| Oct. 12 | Mo Gilligan | Dubai Opera | AED 250 |
| Oct. 12 | Katherine Ryan | Dubai Opera | AED 195 |
| Oct. 12 | Imad Kehdy | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Oct. 13 | Enissa Amani | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Oct. 14 | Comedy Night with Mario Bassil, Chady Maroun & Aline Ahmar | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 125 |
| Oct. 15 | Alexander Merkul | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Oct. 16 | Shane Todd | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 195 |
| Oct. 16 | Abbas Bukhari | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 125 |
| Oct. 16 | Zarna Garg | Dubai Opera | AED 195 |
| Oct. 17–18 | John Achkar | Dubai Opera | AED 185 |
| Oct. 17 | Neema Naz | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Oct. 17 | Rafi Bastos | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 175 |
| Oct. 17 | One Year of Pepperoni Comedy Club | Dubai Opera | AED 175 |
| Oct. 18 | Kings & Queens of Comedy | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Oct. 18 | Nino Arial | New Covent Garden Theatre | Price varies by listing |
| Oct. 18 | Mario Bassil | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 200 |
| Oct. 18 | Amit Tandon | Dubai Opera | AED 150 |
| Oct. 18 | Vir Das | Coca-Cola Arena | AED 195 |
These are starting prices or listed ticket prices, not a single fixed festival admission fee. Prices and seat availability can vary by show and ticketing platform.
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 Venues
Unlike a single-location concert, Dubai Comedy Festival uses several venues around the city. This makes the venue an important part of planning a particular show.
Dubai Opera
Dubai Opera is one of the festival’s main venues and is hosting performances including Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam, Munawar Faruqui, Mo Gilligan, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg, John Achkar, Amit Tandon, and the One Year of Pepperoni Comedy Club event.
The official festival directions say visitors can reach Dubai Opera via the Dubai Metro Red Line by getting off at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station, followed by roughly a 10-minute walk or a short taxi ride.
New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates
New Covent Garden Theatre is another major festival venue. It is hosting shows by comedians including Imad Kehdy, Enissa Amani, Alexander Merkul, Shane Todd, Abbas Bukhari, Rafi Bastos, Nino Arial and the Kings & Queens of Comedy show.
The theatre is located inside Mall of the Emirates. The festival’s official directions identify Mall of the Emirates Metro Station on the Red Line as the nearest Metro access point.
Pepperoni Comedy Club
Pepperoni Comedy Club is being used for smaller-format comedy events within the festival programme. Current listings include Podcast W Nos and Mario Bassil’s solo show, while the One Year of Pepperoni Comedy Club event is scheduled at Dubai Opera.
Coca-Cola Arena
Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk is hosting Vir Das on October 18. The official festival directions say the venue is accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road and can also be reached from Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa Metro Station.
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 Ticket Prices
There is no single ticket price for Dubai Comedy Festival 2026. Each performance has its own ticket categories and pricing.
Current official listings show examples ranging from AED 125 for some performances to AED 250 or more for selected shows and seating categories. For example, Munawar Faruqui starts from AED 125, Mo Gilligan from AED 250, Katherine Ryan from AED 195 and Vir Das from AED 195.
Some shows have different prices depending on the tickt category, so the starting price should not be treated as the cost of every seat.
Because availability and prices can change, check the individual show page before making a booking.
How to Book Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 Tickets
Tickets are available through the official festival’s listed ticketing partners, with individual shows directing visitors to platforms such as Dubai Opera, Platinumlist, Ticketmaster and venue-specific ticketing pages, depending on the performance.
The basic booking process is:
- Open the official Dubai Comedy Festival show listings.
- Select the comedian or performance you want to watch.
- Check the date, venue, language and age requirement.
- Open the ticketing option provided for that particular show.
- Choose an available ticket category or seat.
- Complete the booking and keep your confirmation or digital ticket.
The festival’s current Platinumlist page also lists the 2026 event as on sale now.
Can You Buy a Ticket for Just One Show?
Yes. The festival programme is made up of individual performances, and the official listings provide separate ticket options for individual comedians and shows. You therefore do not need one general ticket covering all 10 days.
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 Shows in Different Languages
One of the defining features of the festival is its multilingual programme.
The current lineup includes performances in Arabic, Hindi, English, French, German, Russian and Urdu, among other festival programming. For example, Munawar Faruqui and Jamie Lever are listed with Hindi performances, John Achkar with Arabic, Nino Arial with French, Alexander Merkul with Russian, Enissa Amani with German and Abbas Bukhari with Urdu comedy.
This means visitors can choose a show based not only on the comedian but also on the language they are most comfortable watching.
Age Restrictions at Dubai Comedy Festival 2026
Age requirements are show-specific, rather than one rule applying to the entire festival.
Current listings include shows marked 3+, 10+, 13+, 16+, 18+ and 21+, depending on the performance. For example, Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam is listed as 3+, Jamie Lever as 10+, John Achkar as 13+, and several international stand-up shows as 16+. Podcast W Nos is currently listed as 21+.
If you are attending with children or teenagers, check the age requirement on the specific ticket page before booking.
Which Dubai Comedy Festival Show Should You Choose?
There is no single type of comedy on the 2026 programme, so your choice can depend on language and performance style.
| If you are looking for… | Current options to explore |
| Hindi comedy | Munawar Faruqui, Jamie Lever, Amit Tandon |
| Urdu comedy | Abbas Bukhari |
| Arabic comedy | John Achkar, Imad Kehdy, Mario Bassil and others |
| English stand-up | Vir Das, Mo Gilligan, Shane Todd and others |
| French comedy | Nino Arial |
| Russian comedy | Alexander Merkul |
| German comedy | Enissa Amani |
| South African comedy | Kings & Queens of Comedy |
This is a guide by language and programme type, not a ranking of the performers. Individual show descriptions and age restrictions should be checked before purchasing tickets.
What to Know Before Attending Dubai Comedy Festival 2026
A little planning can make the evening easier, particularly because the festival is spread across different venues.
First, check the individual show date rather than only the overall festival dates. Dubai Comedy Festival runs from October 9 to 18, but each comedian performs on a specific date.
Next, check the venue and language before booking. A show at Dubai Opera, New Covent Garden Theatre, Pepperoni Comedy Club or Coca-Cola Arena will have different access and transport considerations.
The age restriction is also important. The festival does not have one universal age policy, and individual performances can have significantly different requirements.
Finally, use the ticketing route shown on the official festival listing rather than relying on an unofficial seller. This also makes it easier to verify the current price, available seats and event details.
How to Get to Dubai Comedy Festival Venues
Public transport can be useful for several of the festival venues.
For Dubai Opera, the official festival directions recommend the Dubai Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station, followed by a walk or short taxi journey.
For New Covent Garden Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, visitors can use the Red Line and get off at Mall of the Emirates Station. The theatre is on Level 2 of the mall.
For Coca-Cola Arena, the official directions identify Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa Metro Station as a public-transport option, while drivers can approach the venue from Sheikh Zayed Road via the City Walk area.
For all venues, allow extra time around show start times, particularly for evening performances and busy weekend dates.
Final Thoughts
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 brings 10 days of comedy to Dubai from October 9 to 18, with a programme covering international, regional and local performers across multiple languages. The current lineup includes major names such as Vir Das, Mo Gilligan, Munawar Faruqui, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg and Jamie Lever, alongside Arabic, Urdu, French, Russian, German and other comedy performances.
Because dates, ticket availability and prices are tied to individual shows, the most useful way to plan your visit is to choose the comedian or type of comedy you want first, then check the official listing for its venue, age requirement, starting price and booking option. With performances spread across Dubai, checking these details before travelling can help you choose the right show and avoid surprises on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dubai Comedy Festival 2026
When is Dubai Comedy Festival 2026?
Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 is scheduled from October 9 to October 18, 2026. It is the festival’s seventh edition.
Who is performing at Dubai Comedy Festival 2026?
The published programme includes Vir Das, Mo Gilligan, Munawar Faruqui, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg, Jamie Lever, John Achkar, Shane Todd, Abbas Bukhari, Alexander Merkul, Nino Arial, Rafi Bastos, Amit Tandon and many other comedians and comedy productions.
How much are Dubai Comedy Festival tickets?
Ticket prices vary by performance. Current listings include starting prices from AED 125 for some shows, while other performances start at AED 145, AED 150, AED 175, AED 195 or AED 250 and above.
Where can I buy Dubai Comedy Festival tickets?
Tickets can be booked through the official festival’s listed ticketing partners. Depending on the show, these include Platinumlist, Dubai Opera, Ticketmaster and other official venue ticketing channels.
Is Dubai Comedy Festival suitable for children?
Some performances are suitable for younger audiences, but age restrictions vary by show. Current listings range from 3+ to 21+, so check the individual event before booking.
Are there Hindi comedy shows at Dubai Comedy Festival 2026?
Yes. Current listings include Hindi-language performances by Munawar Faruqui, Jamie Lever and Amit Tandon.
Are there Arabic comedy shows at Dubai Comedy Festival 2026?
Yes. The current programme includes Arabic-language performances such as Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam, John Achkar, Imad Kehdy and Mario Bassil.
Where is Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 held?
The festival is spread across several Dubai venues, including Dubai Opera, New Covent Garden Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, Pepperoni Comedy Club and Coca-Cola Arena.
