Artist FAQs
Interested in applying for the Sydney Comedy Festival but need a bit more info? CLICK HERE to check out our 2026 Artist Info Kit which has a detailed breakdown of exactly what goes into a Festival Application, what you can expect, and how it all runs!
Had a look through the kit but still have questions? Look no further than our handy FAQ below, the one stop guide to everything you need to know about Sydney’s biggest month of comedy!
Q: What are the dates?:
A: The 21st season of the Sydney Comedy Festival will be running from Monday 13th April – Sunday 17th May in 2026. We are so excited for all the amazing shows and laughs that are going to hit stages all across the town!
Q: Who can apply?
A: Anyone! If you are an artist (or aspiring) and have a great concept for a comedy show, whatever style of comedy it may be, then we would love to hear from you!
Q: Can I apply for multiple shows?
A: Yes! We would love to hear about all the amazing show ideas you have. Please note however that the Festival is highly competitive, so we may not be able to accept all ideas that come through.
Q: How are applications reviewed?
A: Once your application is submitted, our team of comedy-connoisseurs will go through and review all the details of each submission. It is crucial that you provide us with as much information as possible, if your submission is sparse, it may be hard for the team to recommend it without enough detail provided.
Q: What venues can I perform at?
A: The list of all the venues that feature as part of the Festival can be found on the link below. We do have a number of additional venues that are utilised within the Festival for special one off events.
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ALL VENUES.
Q: Can I submit my own venue?
At this stage, no.
The Festival is a curated event, meaning that once your application is received and reviewed, then if successful, you will be sent an offer for a venue deemed the most suitable for your show.
Q: What is the financial model of the festival?
A: The Festival works on a percentage split model. This means that for every ticket sold to your show, a percentage of this is taken, in lieu of any venue hire fees.
Q: So I don’t pay a standard venue hire rate, then what do I get included with the percentage split model?
A: Included in the percentage split model, you will get access to a room, one technical staff member to oversee your rehearsal (60 minutes), as well as each of your shows. It also goes towards the tireless efforts of the staff that work at the venue you are performing at; including but not limited to, the box office team, FOH team members & ushers, bar staff, tech team, security guards and more!
Q: Is there a registration fee?
A: Yes, there is a one time registration fee which goes towards the admin of including your event as part of the Festival.
Q: What other fees do I need to account for?
A: Things you may need to consider include, travel, accommodation, ticketing provider fees (i.e. booking fees), marketing your event and any additional production requirements you have for your show.
Q: Do I need to pay for anything up front?
A: No! The Festival proudly does not charge any upfront fees, meaning you can work on your event without the stress of having impending expenses before you have even set foot on the stage! All our fees are deducted from your ticketing sales at the conclusion of your run of shows.
Q: When will I hear back regarding my application?
A: The team reviewing the applications endeavours to get back to all participants AFTER the application close date has passed. This does not mean that you may not hear from us before hand, just please note that it does take time given the sheer number of submissions we receive.
Q: What happens if I am successful?
A: If successful, you will receive an offer from our team. This will include the specifics regarding your venue, dates, times and financials.
Q: What happens if I am unsuccessful?
A: We encourage you to ask us for feedback, which the team would be happy to share. Once again, we receive a large number of applicants and unfortunately can’t facilitate all events, but we would still love for you to apply in following years.
Q: I have a question that hasn’t been answered above?
A: No worries! Make sure you have a look through our Artist Info Kit (available HERE), and if you still can’t find an answer, please drop us a line on our email address and one of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. You can reach us on [email protected].