Just for Laughs returns with festival dates for 2024-2025

Who’s laughing now?

After filing for bankruptcy and canceling the last edition earlier in 2024, the respected international comedy festival Just for Laughs is making a comeback.

The celebration returns in Sydney, Australia, from November 18 to 28, 2024, under new owner ComediHa!, which acquired Just for Laughs in June after it was forced to cut its staff and sell select assets. Trevor Noah, Eric Idle and Brad Williams are among the performers in Sydney, as well as Melanie Bracewell, who will host the All-Star Gala.

JFL then moves to its 17th edition in Bermuda from January 22 to 24, 2025, followed by a stint in Vancouver from February 13 to 22.

Of course, Just for Laughs returns to Montreal, where it was founded in 1983, from July 17 to 26. In a press release, new owner ComediHa! stressed that maintaining JFL’s presence in Montreal is one of its “top priorities,” adding: “Looking to the future, the new leadership promises to combine the festival’s rich traditions with the evolving landscape of the comedy.”

The return of Just for Laughs is welcome news for comedy fans, as the festival’s future was unclear following the cancellation of its 2024 dates. In a statement to the press, festival organizers credited the pandemic and inflation with “exerting unprecedented financial strain” on the company, which had a debt load of more than $22.5 million, according to some reports.

Responsible for boosting the careers of countless comedians, from Kevin Hart to Ronny Chieng, Just for Laughs is a milestone in the entertainment industry. For decades, Hollywood executives have flocked to Montreal to chat and discover the best voice in comedy. To take just one example of its lasting legacy, Just for Laughs was recently the setting of a Season 3 episode of Max’s “Hacks,” which pitted a veteran stand-up comedian (Jean Smart) and her ambitious young writer (Hannah Einbinder) follows.

“We couldn’t be more excited to present these incredible festivals under the new leadership of ComediHa!. Each of these festivals has a long and important history that we deeply respect and cherish,” said Sylvain Parent-Bédard, President of ComediHa!. “Working with our festival partners, we are bringing a new breath and vision to these events, which we believe will resonate with long-time fans and new audiences alike. I’d also like to thank our exceptional programming team, some returning and some new programmers, who work quickly and diligently to put together some truly remarkable lineups. Their dedication and creativity are at the heart of what will make these festivals a resounding success.”

Nick Brazao, head of programming at Just for Laughs, added: “Programming these festivals is a great opportunity to innovate while staying true to the core of what has made Just for Laughs so special for more than four decades. We’re focused on curating a diverse mix of established names and emerging talent to platform and celebrate the best of comedy. We embrace the industry’s dynamic future and can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience what we are putting together.”