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- 2026 MICF opening weekend was a blast
2026 MICF opening weekend was a blast
reviews, recommendations and more
Lefa Singleton Norton
March 31, 2026
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Table of Contents
Roundup
Sold out shows, five star reviews, dashing between venues… it’s happening. As I’ve been recapping on my TikTok I have had a great start to the festival - I’ve seen six shows and I would happily recommend every one of them.
Opening week/end (I didn’t get to my first show until Friday) did not disappoint. It was a nice coincidence that I went from Meg Jager straight in to Harriet Dyer. Both shows happen to be back-to-back in the same room and share common themes. Dyer has a more hectic energy that reflected my own constant ADHD interior monologue, which I utterly loved. The pinging between topics, the need to circle back and complete a story, the joy of connecting two seemingly unrelated ideas… what a delight. Jager’s show also explored neurodiversity, but with a much more acerbic and laid-back style. Her eviceration of the unhinged (unsolicited) advice she received on a previous trial show had me doubled in laughter.
I’d been looking forward to seeing Watson return to the stage after an eight year break and I was not alone. The audience was well hyped before they even took to the stage, with many chatting about previous shows they had seen and how much they had looked forward to seeing the sketch trio again. With SNL on a great run and the launch of SNL UK it seems the sketch vibes are good all over because this show was fun from start to finish.
I went into Kiran Deol’s Assault on Reason based on the premise alone - a comedian using their own violent assault for material? I wanted to see how that was done - and I’m glad I did. The themes of justice, villans and personal ethics in action were delivered in an unexpectedly chill style for such heavy material, but it stood out for her ability to literally and figuratively draw the audience in to make their own judgements. Her background as a documentary film maker has shaped this in a great way.
As you’ll read in my review of Angella Dravid’s show, this one is for people who are happy to dive into to the darkest of dark material. If that’s you, don’t miss this. The pacing was uneven and she lost her place a fair few times (not assisted by venue staff letting late patrons in until a full 40 minutes into the show!), but some sections of this were exceptional. It’s raw and real and bitter and wonderful.
The show I will be thinking about for a long time is Helen Bauer’s Bless Her. This one is for fans of Sophie Hagan’s material, or those who love the unapologetic style of Judith Lucy. I was having a great time for the first half with no idea my heartstrings were about to mangled in the best possible way in the latter half. Beautifully done.
Some are reviewed in The Age and the full list is in my What I’ve Seen MICF 2026 section.
Keeping up with the comedy
If you’re keeping your eye out for festival coverage or other places to hunt out intel on what shows you might want to add to your wish list, I have a few recommendations for you.
Firstly, the crew at Grouse House put out a list of recommendations on their socials for shows featuring their crew or people they think fit the vibe of their various shows. Above is one of their round ups but go see their TikTok and/or Insta for more.
I’d be Richard Watts’ plus one to any show he wanted to take me to, no questions asked. Performing Arts Editor at Arts Hub and doyen of Melbourne’s arts scene all year round, his recommendations hold weight for me. Here’s 12 shows that caught his eye in the program this year.
Ryan Hamilton is doing a daily newsletter aka Gag City for the duration of the festival (imho you should be subscribed to his regular newsletter too). If TikTok is more your speed he did this great roundup of 18 non-standup shows to see.
And if you’d like to know who comedians think are worth seeing, ABC Arts published this article with recommendations from Hannah Gadsby and more.
Meanwhile, The Guardian are looking for your most memorable moments in the 40 year history of the festival. Head on over and share stories or pictures here.
Reviews - The Age
You can read the full reviews at The Age.
“Bless Her is an invitation to an inner circle where the tea is piping and the takes are hot”
“Beloved trio Watson have put the sketch-comedy band back together after eight years, and it’s worth the wait”
“Watching Dyer perform is like having your intense interior monologue spring to life. Every tangent, every unlikely link a hyped-up brain makes, every intrusive interrupting thought. Think Tassie Devil energy with a Cornish accent”
“Exorcising demons live on stage can be dangerous, though: is it therapy or comedy? In this show, comedy is the winner”
Try This
Reader request time! I’ve had fun putting these together.
Mo asks “I don’t have cash to go to many shows, how can I see some stuff?”
Cost of living crisis, I hear you. There are some free options at Fed Square - four nights of outdoor filmed offerings across Easter long weekend, or live performances The (Very) Big Laugh Out at various times on Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival (also at City Square).
As far as value for money goes, group shows like What to Watch, 5 Headliners for $25 or This is Not a Normal Comedy Gala are a good way to get bang for your buck. These artists want you to shell out to come see their solo shows so they are working hard to impress! You’ve also inspired me to put together a bit of a list on how to get some good deals during MICF. Check it out below.
Emmaline asks “I don’t want to hear anyone complain about their wife/husband/kids or things I would hear on breakfast radio”
I think I get the vibe you’re going for here. Nobody trying too hard to be relatable, nothing too mainstream. I’ve already heard good things about Lena Moon’s show Sounds Like a Brag, and Watson Underground which I saw this week definitely fits the bill. Alt-comedy thrives in this festival with artists like Sam Nicoresti, Abby Howells and Jay Wymarra. I’ll also add something fun like Late Nite PowerPoint Comedy Showcase in the mix because the format itself lends to itself to comics letting themselves get a bit loose.
If you would like personalised comedy recommendations you can email me with requests at [email protected].
How to get a good deal at MICF
Tightarse Tuesday tickets are available for most shows
Preview tickets are generally cheaper (some shows only run in the latter half of the festival so there are still plenty of preview shows happening)
Laugh pack pricing applies if you’re purchasing four or more tickets in one transaction so book with mates for a discount
Follow the official MICF socials to keep in the loop on their festival-wide promos. Just today they had a happy hour sale for two hours.
Take a punt! Turn up at a larger venue like Melbourne Town Hall or Trades Hall and hang about the boards at the front showing you what is on that day. While flyering is less common than it used to be, you will still find artists or members of their team handing out flyers for shows - if you ask they will often offer you a great deal like 2-for-1 tickets. I also noticed signs with offers of deals on tickets at The Greek and Trades Hall box offices.
What I’ve Seen MICF 2026
Happy festival to you all!
Cheers,
Lefa