Headliners, dates, and all you need to know about the Dubai Comedy Festival
Ready for infinite rounds of side-splitting shows?
The much-loved Dubai Comedy Festival is back again for another round of non-stop jokes and hilarity. From 12-21 April, the 10-day event promises an uproarious blend of wit, humour, and unforgettable performances.
This year, the Dubai Comedy Festival will be hosted at various venues in the city, including the prestigious Dubai Opera and the incredible Coca-Cola Arena.
For the first time, the Dubai Opera opera venue will have a central walkable setup to allow festival goers to hop from show to show or hang out within one space.
The first confirmed lineup boasts some of the most hilarious artists from the region and across the globe. With a countless number of stand-up shows, live podcasts, and other comedy events, there’s sure to be something to get you chuckling.
While we wait for the full list, check out the line-up reveal for Dubai Comedy Festival thus far.
Gad Elmaleh
12 and 13 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Gad Elmaleh, a French-Moroccan stand-up comedian and actor is bringing his global appeal to Dubai Opera Main Hall on Friday, 12 April and Saturday, 13 April at 9.30pm.
With a stellar career that dates back to 1997, Gad is an entertainment icon in the French-speaking world. He has starred in several films, including Coco, Priceless, La Doublure, and Midnight in Paris. He also hosted a series of shows over the years, including “L’autre c’est moi”, “Papa est en haut”, and much more. Voted the funniest person in France, he was named ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters ’by the French Minister of Culture and was also titled ‘Knight of the National Order of Quebec ’in Canada.
Al Murray
15 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Al Murray, the renowned English comedian, actor, musician, and writer, is set to enthrall audiences this April. Graduating from the University of Oxford, Al Murray’s comedy journey started back in the early ‘90s and he is best known for his ‘Pub Landlord’ persona, described as a “know-all know-nothing blowhard”. Murray has gained acclaim through projects like the Sky One sitcom Time Gentlemen Please and the ITV chat show Al Murray’s Happy Hour.
Recognised as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy by The Observer in 2003 and voted the 16th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups in 2007, don’t miss out!
Anubhav Singh Bassi
20 April, Dubai Opera Mail Hall
Anubhav Singh Bassi, the acclaimed Indian actor and YouTuber, is set to take the stage at with his new show- ‘Kisi Ko Batana Mat’. A stand-up comedy career that took off after an epic open mic performance in 2017, Bassi has since become a YouTube sensation, accumulating over 200 million views globally.
Beyond his online success, Bassi has showcased his comedic talents in various mediums, delivering a monologue for Amazon Funnies and making a cameo appearance in ZEE5’s Comedy Couple (2020). Having toured in more than 35 cities across India, Bassi marked his Bollywood debut in Luv Ranjan’s ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’ alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, further establishing his presence by launching his first stand-up special, ‘Bas Kar Bassi’, on Amazon Prime Video. Can’t wait!
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Frank Skinner
15 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Frank Skinner, the seasoned English comedian, actor, presenter, and writer, is set to grace for a truly not-to-be-missed show. With a career that spans nearly four decades on the comedy circuit, Christopher Graham Collins MBE, professionally known as Frank Skinner, has become a maestro of observational humour.
From his iconic television shows like Fantasy Football League, The Frank Skinner Show, Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned, to hosting The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio since 2009, Skinner’s versatile talent has earned him widespread acclaim, culminating in his appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for his significant contributions to entertainment.
Chris Distefano
16 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Boasting 15 years of experience of spreading laughs in a variety of ways, Chris Distefano is coming to ignite the stage at Dubai Opera Main Hall. Known for his distinct comedian prowess on MTV’s reality shows “Guy Code” and “Girl Code”, Chris has everything needed for a night of unstoppable hilarity.
His Netflix specials, “Size 38 Waist” and “Speshy Weshy”, skilfully merge a charming charisma with a distinguished comedic style, while his co-hosting podcasts “Chrissy Chaos” and “Hey Babe”, add a dynamic and interactive dimension to his comedic repertoire. With sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, Chris continues to entertain audiences on a grand scale, showcasing his ability to connect with everyone watching his shows.
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Amer Zahr
17 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Amer Zahr is a Palestinian-American comedian, speaker, writer, and academic who will bring his over 10 years of comedy experience to the heart of Dubai Opera Main Hall during the festival. Amer is set to deliver a night of laughter infused with thought-provoking humour. In 2013, he founded the “1001 Laughs Dearborn Comedy Festival”, which continues to be hosted annually to this day. He also wrote “Being a Palestinian Makes Me Smile” and made a documentary called “We’re Not White”, which was released in August 2017.
Spencer & Vogue
19 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams are two media personalities who will bring to you their unfiltered live show and unlike their hit podcast ‘Spencer and Vogue’, there will be no edits or re-dos! The couple welcomes you in for a hilarious evening which lifts the curtain on their lives, from Spencer’s obsession with James Blunt, to their shared competitiveness that has been the basis of their relationship.
To date, the show has sold out 3 nights at the 3Olympia in Dublin, with a recent announcement of their UK and Ireland tour. The live shows are all launching off the back of their chart-topping podcast, which has reached heights of over 25 million downloads.
Mo Gilligan
19 April, Dubai Opera Main Hall
Mo Gilligan is a British stand-up comedian known for his unique brand of comedy that will be a unique addition to the Dubai Comedy Festival. After several years of uploading comedy clips to social media as a hobby, Mo found global success in 2017, and became a co-host of a chat show called “The Big Narstie Show”, which debuted in 2018. With a distinct take on British culture mastering various genres such as grime comedy, physical comedy, and musical comedy, Mo promises to bring a multifaceted range of humour to the stage.
Alfred Adriaan
19 April
Alfred Adriaan has a few things to say…or rather, a few complaints to make. Get ready to erupt in peals of laughter as he takes to the stage on Friday, 19 April at Roxy Cinemas in Dubai Hills Mall. Brace yourself as he performs his uproariously funny show, Unfit & Forty, the trials and tribulations of navigating his own daily life as a middle-aged, married man with children. We can’t wait!
Riaad Moosa
20 April
Loved by local and international audiences, South Africa’s favourite doctor-turned-comedian, Riaad Moosa, heads to Roxy Cinemas in Dubai Hills Mall the next day for yet another memorable evening. He certainly seems to have the remedy for the nation’s ills – a healthy dose of laughter, straight up – and hold the aspirin. Moosa’s performances are as thought-provoking as they are side-splitting, using observational and opinion-based humour on his daily experiences, adventures – and misadventures – as a father of four, husband and entertainer.
For more information, visit dubaicomedyfest.ae
Date
12-21 April
Location
Dubai Opera, Coca-Cola Arena
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