Aotearoa's stand-up has a home on Queen Street. The Classic in Auckland marks its 30th year there in October 2026 with the final rounds of the Raw Comedy Quest, its search for new comedians since 1995. In Wellington, Raw Meat Monday — the city's longest-running open mic comedy night — runs on Mondays at The Fringe Bar on Allen Street, and in Christchurch, Good Times Comedy Club calls itself the southern-most comedy club in the world. Each autumn the NZ International Comedy Festival fills Auckland and Wellington — in 2027 from 30 April to 23 May — and the Billy T Award, for comedians on the way up, turns thirty.
The short answer
D.O.C. lists 8 comedy rooms and nights in New Zealand, in 5 cities — Auckland (2), Wellington (2), Christchurch (2), Dunedin and Tauranga — each with a dated show on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026. The festivals ahead: New Zealand Fringe Festival, Friday 12 February to Saturday 6 March 2027, Dunedin Fringe Festival, Thursday 4 March to Sunday 14 March 2027 and NZ International Comedy Festival, Friday 30 April to Sunday 23 May 2027. Below: each room's nights, its open mic and how comics get on, tickets and the age rule; the comedy on the road; the festivals and awards.
Part of D.O.C.'s International section: the comedy rooms and nights in five New Zealand cities, the festivals, the awards and the routes to the stage for comics, each from its own website.
Stand-up comedy in Auckland
Auckland's stand-up runs from The Classic at 321 Queen Street, just up from the Town Hall and Aotea Square, to Basement Theatre on Lower Greys Avenue.
ShowsLocal and international acts up to five nights a week, in a 100-seat main room with cabaret seating and its own bar, and in The Classic Studio upstairs for another 40 to 60. source ↗
ListedBig Wednesday: Fresh Comedy Night — Wednesday 7 October 2026, 7.30pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micRAW Comedy, its late open mic, on Saturdays at 10pm: open to anyone keen to try stand-up, with up to six minutes of their own original comedy; NZ$10 to watch, with door sales from 7pm. The Raw Comedy Quest semi-finals take the slot on 10 and 17 October 2026. source ↗
Getting bookedNew comics email the club's Comedy Director with the Saturdays they can do (by email, not phone; the address is on its Become a Comedian page), aiming for up to five minutes the first few times. source ↗
TicketsBig Wednesday is NZ$17 at the door, or NZ$12 before 6.30pm, with tables for two, four or six bookable ahead; the bar opens at 6.15pm. source ↗
AgeRecommended 14 and over; under-18s must come with their own parent, and some shows are strictly R18 — no ID, no entry. source ↗
AlsoIts regular week: Big Wednesday, PRO NiGHT on Thursdays, the Classic Comedy All-Stars on Fridays and Saturdays, and the L8 show of eight comedians at 10pm on Fridays. source ↗
ShowsA home for independent live performance since 2008, with two spaces — the Theatre downstairs and the Studio upstairs — and more than 1,500 productions staged. source ↗
ListedDriving Me Crazy: stand-up and sketch from married comedians Mo Munn and Q Potts — Wednesday 4 November 2026, 8.30pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micNot advertised on its site
Getting bookedIts site publishes no submission route; ask the venue in person.
TicketsChoose what you pay for Driving Me Crazy, in the Studio; arrive 15 minutes before the show. The Studio is not wheelchair accessible. source ↗
AlsoIts spring 2026 season mixes comedy with new theatre: Driving Me Crazy on 4 and 6 November, and Full Puss, a maximalist alt-comedy cabaret, on 5 and 7 November. source ↗
Wellington's stand-up gathers on Allen Street in Te Aro, a short walk from Courtenay Place, where the Humorous Arts Trust runs its nights at The Fringe Bar and the Cavern Club.
ShowsOpen seven days, with comedy among its live music, burlesque and karaoke: Raw Meat Monday each week, the Wellington Roast Battle Championship on 8 October, Three Minutes in Hell on 10 October and NZ Comedy School shows on its October 2026 listings. source ↗
ListedThe Wellington Comedy Club with Joe Daymond and friends — Friday 16 October 2026, 8pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micRaw Meat Monday, 8pm on Mondays: Wellington's longest-running open mic comedy night, with a guest MC and a changing line-up of first-time acts, seasoned pros and everything in between. source ↗
Getting bookedComics book a Raw Meat Monday spot by email to the Humorous Arts Trust (the address is on the night's page); sets are six minutes, for new material or old. source ↗
AlsoThe Wellington Comedy Club runs on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October 2026, with Jamaine Ross, Lily Catastrophe, Bronson Toghill and Keegan Thomas among Joe Daymond's friends, in partnership with the community food charity WELLfed. source ↗
Cavern Club Music venue with stand-up · Wellington
22 Allen Street, Te Aro, Wellington
ShowsA little rock 'n' roll bar just off Courtenay Place, open Friday and Saturday from 7pm, that hosts regular stand-up comedy shows alongside live music. source ↗
ListedWork in Progress Laughs: new jokes from favourite comedians — Sunday 25 October 2026, 6.30pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micNot advertised on its site
Getting bookedIts site publishes no submission route; ask the club in person.
AlsoWeekend Laughs follows at 8pm the same night: a two-hour showcase of an MC and four or five comedians in what the Humorous Arts Trust calls the capital's cosiest comedy club. Seating is limited, and it often sells out. source ↗
Christchurch's comedy club is on Saint Asaph Street in the central city, and the Christchurch Town Hall on Kilmore Street brings touring stand-up to the city.
Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011
ShowsThe Home of Comedy in the South, by its own name — the only dedicated comedy club in the South Island and the southern-most in the world: Big Laughs, its premium comedy showcase, Friday Night Laughs, themed shows and the Fresh open mic on Wednesdays. source ↗
ListedBig Laughs: Premium Comedy Showcase — Saturday 10 October 2026, 8pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micFresh, its open mic, on Wednesdays at 7pm: new comedians trying their best and pros trying new material, from NZ$3. source ↗
Getting bookedThe club has a process for getting on its open mic: meet its booker on a Wednesday or Saturday night, or message the club's social media account. source ↗
TicketsBig Laughs from NZ$22.20 online; door sales are NZ$30, whatever the group size. source ↗
AgeUnder-18s come with a parent or legal guardian. source ↗
AlsoFully wheelchair and mobility-scooter friendly, with a food and drinks menu. source ↗
86 Kilmore Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
ShowsThe city's town hall, run by Venues Ōtautahi, with comedy among its concerts and shows on its October 2026 listings: Fletch, Vaughan and Hayley on 16 October and Greg Davies on 21 October. source ↗
ListedGreg Davies: Full Fat Legend — Wednesday 21 October 2026, 8pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micNot advertised on its site
Getting bookedIts site publishes no submission route; ask the venue in person.
AlsoUrzila Carlson brings her new show, Fatty On A Yacht, here on Friday 29 January 2027 at 7pm. source ↗
In Dunedin, the Regent Theatre on the Octagon brings touring stand-up to a 1928 auditorium, and the Dunedin Fringe Festival takes the city's stages from 4 to 14 March 2027.
ShowsDunedin's 1928 theatre on the Octagon, a Category 1 Historic Building since 1987, with 1,617 seats: live theatre, music, opera, dance and festivals, with comedy a category of its own on its listings. source ↗
ListedUrzila Carlson: Fatty On A Yacht — Thursday 28 January 2027, 7pm, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micNot advertised on its site
Getting bookedIts site publishes no submission route; ask the venue in person.
TicketsNZ$72.20 general admission for Urzila Carlson, plus booking fees. source ↗
AgeRecommended 15 and over for Urzila Carlson. source ↗
AlsoFlat access at the main entrance, with a lift to the stalls bar and seating. source ↗
In Tauranga, Totara Street in Mount Maunganui hosts the Mount Comedy Club, and Urzila Carlson plays two shows at Baycourt's Addison Theatre on 16 February 2027.
ShowsAn entertainment venue in the heart of Mount Maunganui since 2015 and the performance space of the Mauao Performing Arts Centre, with two licensed bars and a mezzanine floor. source ↗
ListedMount Comedy Club: Wilson Dixon and Paul Douglas, with MC Ben Hurley — Thursday 5 November 2026, on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026 source ↗
Open micNot advertised on its site
Getting bookedIts site publishes no submission route; ask the promoter in person.
Urzila Carlson's new show — about not fitting in, standing out and laughing about it anyway — tours New Zealand in January and February 2027, from Dunedin's Regent Theatre to Te Paepae Theatre at the NZ International Convention Centre in Auckland. source ↗
Thursday 28 January 2027 — Regent Theatre, Dunedin
Friday 29 January 2027 — Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch
Saturday 30 January 2027 — Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
Tuesday 16 February 2027 — Baycourt Addison Theatre, Tauranga (two shows, 6.30pm and 8.30pm)
Friday 19 February 2027 — BNZ Theatre, Hamilton
Saturday 20 February 2027 — Te Paepae Theatre, NZ International Convention Centre, Auckland
These nights have gone by; its own site has what is next.
Wilson Dixon, the country singer from Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Paul Douglas take their CABIN FEVER comedy tour to some of the coolest spots around the country, warming up with one show at The Classic Studio. source ↗
Friday 30 October 2026 — The Classic Studio, Auckland
Thursday 5 November 2026 — Mount Comedy Club, Totara Street, Mount Maunganui, with MC Ben Hurley
These nights have gone by; its own site has what is next.
Begun in 1993 at the Watershed Theatre in Auckland with three weeks of comedy, it now runs each year in Auckland and Wellington: the 2025 festival drew more than 75,000 people to over 120 show seasons and more than 600 performances by around 200 comedians. Presented by the New Zealand Comedy Trust. source ↗
Wellington's open-access arts festival, based on Allen Street in Te Aro, where artists — Fringe veterans and first-timers alike — register their own shows; registrations for 2027 are open until 9 October 2026. source ↗
First held in 2000: an 11-day open-access arts festival in Ōtepoti of about 80 events by over 500 artists and crew, for an audience of around 15,000. It is not curated, so anyone can register and present work, whatever their experience. source ↗
Started in 1997 and inspired by Billy T James, the New Zealand Comedy Trust's award for emerging comedians with outstanding potential turns thirty in 2027. Joel Vinsen won in 2026; the 2027 nominees are Annie Guo, Evie Orpe, Joel McCarthy, Jonjon Tolovae and Richie Fa'avesi. Its winners include Rose Matafeo (2013), Guy Williams (2012) and The Humourbeasts, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (1999). source ↗
Named for John Clarke's Fred Dagg, it honours the best New Zealand show of the NZ International Comedy Festival. David Correos won in 2026; earlier winners include Rose Matafeo (2017) and Rhys Darby (2012). source ↗
A non-competitive prize for a wild card of New Zealand comedy with a unique voice, on stage, on screen or in unexpected spaces: Chris Parker (2022), Jo Randerson (2023), James Nokise (2024) and Tofiga Fepulea'i (2025). source ↗
The Classic's annual search for the funniest new comedians of the year, launched in 1995, with up to NZ$2,500 in prize money and the promise of further work as a professional comedian. The 2026 semi-finals are at The Classic on Saturday 10 and Saturday 17 October at 10pm, and the grand final on Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm. source ↗
For comics: getting on stage in New Zealand
The routes to the stage the rooms and festivals publish themselves.
Saturdays at 10pm: up to six minutes of your own original comedy. Email the club's Comedy Director with the Saturdays you can do (the address is on its Become a Comedian page), and aim for up to five minutes the first few times. source ↗
The Humorous Arts Trust's open mic at The Fringe Bar, 8pm on Mondays through to 21 December 2026: six-minute sets, booked by email to the Trust (the address is on the night's page). source ↗
Wednesdays at 7pm, new comedians and pros side by side. To get on, meet the club's booker on a Wednesday or Saturday night, or message the club's social media account. source ↗
Monthly in Auckland and several times a year in Wellington: a host and four or five comedians try new material, then take the audience's feedback in a Q&A. October's, hosted by Tim Batt at The Classic Studio on 6 October 2026, is free and full, with a waitlist. source ↗
Saturday 17 October 2026 from 10am: a free one-day event of workshops, Q&As and panels for comedians, producers, writers and content creators, in partnership with NZ On Air and Auckland Live, with catered kai and a free headshot. source ↗
Open from Wednesday 7 October to Wednesday 25 November 2026; Fringe Grant applications close on Monday 12 October at noon. source ↗
Each room's line above says whether it runs an open mic and how it books. At home in the United States,
Stage Time has open mics by night and the Gig Board has calls for comics.
Questions about stand-up comedy in New Zealand
Where can I see stand-up comedy in New Zealand?
In Auckland, The Classic and Basement Theatre; in Wellington, The Fringe Bar and Cavern Club; in Christchurch, Good Times and Christchurch Town Hall; in Dunedin, Regent Theatre; in Tauranga, Mount Comedy Club. Each had a dated show on its own listings when read on 4 October 2026; its line above has the address, the nights and the age rule.
What age do you need to be for comedy clubs in New Zealand?
Each room sets its own rule: The Classic: recommended 14 and over; under-18s must come with their own parent, and some shows are strictly R18 — no ID, no entry; Good Times: under-18s come with a parent or legal guardian; Regent Theatre: recommended 15 and over for Urzila Carlson; Mount Comedy Club: A supervised event: under-18s can attend with their own parent.
How do new comedians get on stage in New Zealand?
RAW Comedy open mic at The Classic, Auckland — Saturdays at 10pm: up to six minutes of your own original comedy. Email the club's Comedy Director with the Saturdays you can do (the address is on its Become a Comedian page), and aim for up to five minutes the first few times. Raw Meat Monday, Wellington — The Humorous Arts Trust's open mic at The Fringe Bar, 8pm on Mondays through to 21 December 2026: six-minute sets, booked by email to the Trust (the address is on the night's page). Fresh open mic at Good Times, Christchurch — Wednesdays at 7pm, new comedians and pros side by side. To get on, meet the club's booker on a Wednesday or Saturday night, or message the club's social media account. Comedy Lab, from the New Zealand Comedy Trust — Monthly in Auckland and several times a year in Wellington: a host and four or five comedians try new material, then take the audience's feedback in a Q&A. October's, hosted by Tim Batt at The Classic Studio on 6 October 2026, is free and full, with a waitlist. Comedy Sandpit, Auckland — Saturday 17 October 2026 from 10am: a free one-day event of workshops, Q&As and panels for comedians, producers, writers and content creators, in partnership with NZ On Air and Auckland Live, with catered kai and a free headshot. New Zealand Fringe 2027: artist registrations — Open until 9 October 2026 for the Wellington festival from 12 February to 6 March 2027, for Fringe veterans and first-timers alike. Dunedin Fringe 2027: registrations — Open from Wednesday 7 October to Wednesday 25 November 2026; Fringe Grant applications close on Monday 12 October at noon.
Sources
Each fact on this page is from the room's, festival's or award's own website, read on 4 October 2026; the
comedians' lines are from their SUCDb records, which carry their own sources. 14 sites, 43 pages:
