Prices and details checked on the official festival site (dubaicomedyfest.ae) and Platinumlist on 9 October 2026.
The Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 is on now, and this year it is big. For 10 days, from Friday 9 October to Sunday 18 October 2026, top comedians from around the world are performing across Dubai. Vir Das, Mo Gilligan, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg and Munawar Faruqui are all in town.
This guide gives you the full plan in one place: every show by date, ticket prices checked on the official sites, the age rules, and honest help to pick the right show for you. If you read only one page before you book, read this one.
Update – 19 October 2026: The Dubai Comedy Festival 2026 has now ended. The dates, shows and prices in this guide were for the 2026 edition and were checked on 9 October 2026. We will update this guide as soon as the 2027 dates are announced.
Quick Answer
- When: Friday 9 to Sunday 18 October 2026 (10 days)
- Where: Five venues. Most big shows are at Dubai Opera. Vir Das closes the festival at Coca-Cola Arena.
- Cheapest ticket: AED 50 (Short+Sweet shows at Pepperoni Comedy Club)
- Biggest shows: Vir Das (18 Oct), Mo Gilligan and Katherine Ryan (12 Oct), Zarna Garg (16 Oct), Munawar Faruqui (11 Oct)
- Age rule: The big headline shows are 16+. There is no single age rule for the whole festival, so check your show before you book.
- Where to buy: The official site, dubaicomedyfest.ae, and authorised sellers such as Platinumlist
The Festival at a Glance
This is the 7th year of the festival, and it is now one of the biggest comedy events in the region. Shows run every day across five venues:
- Dubai Opera Auditorium in Downtown Dubai hosts most of the headline names.
- Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk hosts one show only, the closing night with Vir Das.
- New Covent Garden Theatre inside Mall of the Emirates hosts mid-size shows.
- Pepperoni Comedy Club hosts small club shows and new talent nights.
- Emirates Theatre in Jumeirah hosts Jamie Lever on 10 October.
Most shows are in English, Hindi or Arabic, and there are also French and Russian language shows in the line-up. That mix is the best thing about this festival. Whatever language you laugh in, there is a show for you.
Prices start from just AED 50, and the biggest names start from AED 125 to AED 300. The popular weekend shows sell out fast, so do not wait until the day to book.
Planning a full day in Downtown before a Dubai Opera show? See our Burj Khalifa tickets guide.
Full Schedule: Every Show by Date
Here is the full official schedule in one table. Prices are starting prices, checked on the official festival site and Platinumlist on 9 October 2026, and better seats cost more. You will see the full seat prices when you start booking.
| Date | Show | Venue | Tickets from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 9 – Sat 10 Oct | Muhandis Al Thauq Al Aam | Dubai Opera | AED 250 |
| Fri 9 – Sat 10 Oct | Ahmed Ahmed & Friends | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 125 |
| Fri 9 – Thu 15 Oct | Pitch Them Perfect | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 125 |
| Sat 10 Oct | Jamie Lever | Emirates Theatre, Jumeirah | AED 135 |
| Sat 10 Oct | Short+Sweet Junior Finale (under 14s) | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 50 |
| Sun 11 Oct | Short+Sweet Finale (18+) | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 50 |
| Sun 11 Oct | Munawar Faruqui | Dubai Opera | AED 125 |
| Mon 12 Oct | Mo Gilligan | Dubai Opera | AED 250 |
| Mon 12 Oct | Katherine Ryan | Dubai Opera | AED 195 |
| Mon 12 Oct | Imad Kehdy | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 225 |
| Mon 12 – Sun 18 Oct | DCFxPPC: A Comedy Showcase | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 125 |
| Wed 14 Oct | Comedy Night with Mario Bassil and Friends | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Thu 15 Oct | Alexander Merkul | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Fri 16 Oct | Zarna Garg | Dubai Opera | AED 195 |
| Fri 16 Oct | Shane Todd | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 250 |
| Fri 16 Oct | Abbas Bukhari | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 195 |
| Fri 16 Oct | Sheel W Mashi | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 175 |
| Sat 17 Oct | John Achkar (also Sun 18 Oct) | Dubai Opera | AED 185 |
| Sat 17 Oct | One Year of Pepperoni | Dubai Opera | AED 175 |
| Sat 17 Oct | Neema Naz | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 195 |
| Sat 17 Oct | Rafi Bastos | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 175 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Vir Das | Coca-Cola Arena | AED 195 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Amit Tandon | Dubai Opera | AED 150 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Kings & Queens of Comedy | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 150 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Nino Arial | New Covent Garden Theatre | AED 300 |
| Sun 18 Oct | Mario Bassil (solo show) | Pepperoni Comedy Club | AED 200 |
The Biggest Shows, Day by Day
Sunday 11 October: Munawar Faruqui at Dubai Opera. One of India’s biggest stand-up stars opens the headline run at Dubai Opera. Tickets start from just AED 125, which makes this the best value big show of the festival. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show is 16+.
Monday 12 October: Mo Gilligan and Katherine Ryan at Dubai Opera. This is the biggest double night of the festival. Mo Gilligan plays first, with doors at 6:00 PM and tickets from AED 250. Katherine Ryan plays later the same night, with doors at 9:00 PM and tickets from AED 195. Both shows are 16+. If you love British and Irish comedy, this is your night.
Friday 16 October: Zarna Garg at Dubai Opera. Zarna Garg’s family and culture jokes are loved all over the world, and her shows sell out quickly. Doors open at 6:30 PM, tickets start from AED 195, and the show is 16+.
Saturday 17 October: John Achkar and One Year of Pepperoni at Dubai Opera. John Achkar plays two nights, 17 and 18 October, with tickets from AED 185. The same night, One Year of Pepperoni celebrates the club’s first year with a special show from AED 175.
Sunday 18 October: Vir Das closes the festival at Coca-Cola Arena. This is the biggest single night. Vir Das in Dubai is always a huge draw, and this is his only festival show, so expect it to sell out first. Tickets run from AED 195 to AED 350. Door times are listed differently in different places (6:00 PM and 6:30 PM both appear), so check your ticket and arrive early.
Tickets and Prices
Buy tickets only from the official festival site, dubaicomedyfest.ae, or from Platinumlist, the authorised ticket seller. Prices below were checked on both sites on 9 October 2026.
Most shows show a “from” price. That is the cheapest seat. Better seats cost more, and for most shows you only see the full seat prices when you start booking. Here is the honest picture:
- The cheapest tickets in the festival are AED 50, for the Short+Sweet shows at Pepperoni Comedy Club (the Junior Finale on 10 October and the 18+ Finale on 11 October).
- Big Dubai Opera shows start from AED 125 (Munawar Faruqui) to AED 250 (Mo Gilligan).
- Club shows at Pepperoni and shows at New Covent Garden Theatre mostly start between AED 125 and AED 300.
The Vir Das show at Coca-Cola Arena is the one show where we could check every seat price. These are the official categories, checked on 9 October 2026:
| Vir Das, Coca-Cola Arena, 18 Oct | Price |
|---|---|
| Floor Gold | AED 350 |
| Floor Silver | AED 295 |
| Lower Tier Gold | AED 250 |
| Lower Tier Silver | AED 195 |
Two simple tips. First, book early, because the big names sell out and “from” prices go up as cheap seats finish. Second, if a show looks sold out, check again on Platinumlist, as small numbers of seats sometimes come back.
Which Show Is Right for You?
If you want Hindi comedy: Munawar Faruqui (11 Oct, from AED 125) is the big one. Amit Tandon (18 Oct, from AED 150) is famous for clean, family-friendly Hindi jokes that parents and grandparents enjoy too. Jamie Lever (10 Oct) is a great pick for Bollywood-style impressions and voices.
If you want English comedy: You are spoiled for choice. Mo Gilligan and Katherine Ryan (12 Oct) are the biggest international names. Zarna Garg (16 Oct) is perfect if you like jokes about family life. Shane Todd and Rafi Bastos (16 and 17 Oct) are strong picks at New Covent Garden Theatre. And Vir Das (18 Oct) performs in English and is the festival’s biggest night.
If you want Arabic comedy: Start with Muhandis Al Thauq Al Aam at Dubai Opera on the opening weekend. John Achkar plays Dubai Opera on 17 and 18 October, with tickets from AED 185. Imad Kehdy (12 Oct, from AED 225) and Mario Bassil (18 Oct, from AED 200) are also strong Arabic picks.
If you want another language: There are also French and Russian language shows in the line-up. Nino Arial performs in French (18 Oct, from AED 300).
If you are going with family: Short+Sweet Junior Finale on 10 October is made for young comedy fans, is suitable for all ages (children go with an adult), and at AED 50 it is the cheapest ticket in the festival. Its adult Finale on 11 October is 18+. For older teens, remember the headline shows below are 16+.
If your budget is small: Pitch Them Perfect runs almost every night at AED 125, and the DCFxPPC showcase at Pepperoni runs from 12 to 18 October. Club shows give you the real stand-up comedy Dubai feel for less money. Pitch Them Perfect also has a Pitcher + Pitchee ticket at AED 250 if you want to get on stage yourself.
Age Rules and Good to Know
The age rule is the one thing that confuses many people, so here it is clearly. There is no single age rule for the whole festival. Each show sets its own rule. The big headline shows we checked are all 16+:
- Munawar Faruqui, Dubai Opera: 16+
- Mo Gilligan, Dubai Opera: 16+
- Katherine Ryan, Dubai Opera: 16+
- Zarna Garg, Dubai Opera: 16+
- Vir Das, Coca-Cola Arena: 16+
For the smaller club and theatre shows, the age rule is shown on each event page on Platinumlist, so check before you book if you are going with children.
Doors open well before each show. Door times we checked: 6:00 PM for Munawar Faruqui and Mo Gilligan, 9:00 PM for Katherine Ryan, and 6:30 PM for Zarna Garg. For Vir Das, the door time is listed as 6:00 PM in one place and 6:30 PM in another, so check your ticket. Arrive at least 30 minutes early for big venue shows, as entry lines can be long.
How to Reach the Venues
Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai. The easiest way is the Metro. Take the Red Line to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall station, then it is a short walk or a quick taxi ride to Dubai Opera. Paid parking is also available near the venue.
Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk. The nearest Metro stations, Sobha Realty and Business Bay, are a short taxi ride away, so a taxi is the easiest option for most people. Allow extra time on the closing night.
New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates. This one is easy. The mall has its own Metro station, Mall of the Emirates, on the Red Line. The theatre is inside the mall, and there is plenty of parking if you drive.
Emirates Theatre, Jumeirah. The theatre sits inside Emirates International School on Al Thanya Street in Jumeirah. A taxi or your own car is the best way to reach it.
Pepperoni Comedy Club. Check the exact address on your show’s page on Platinumlist before you travel, as club nights are listed per event.
In Dubai for the whole festival week? Global Village Season 31 opened on 14 October too. See our Global Village tickets and timings guide.
We do not sell tickets. We only check and share the details, so always book on the official pages.
FAQs
When is the Dubai Comedy Festival 2026?
The festival runs for 10 days, from Friday 9 October to Sunday 18 October 2026. Shows run every day across five venues in Dubai.
Where is the Dubai Comedy Festival held?
Most headline shows are at Dubai Opera in Downtown Dubai. Vir Das plays at Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk. Other shows are at New Covent Garden Theatre in Mall of the Emirates, Pepperoni Comedy Club, and Emirates Theatre in Jumeirah.
How much do Dubai Comedy Festival tickets cost?
Tickets start from AED 50 for the Short+Sweet shows at Pepperoni Comedy Club (the Junior Finale on 10 October and the 18+ Finale on 11 October). Big shows start from AED 125 to AED 300. Vir Das tickets at Coca-Cola Arena run from AED 195 to AED 350, based on the seat category. Prices were checked on the official festival site and Platinumlist on 9 October 2026.
What is the age limit for the shows?
The big headline shows, including Vir Das, Mo Gilligan, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg and Munawar Faruqui, are 16+. There is no single age rule for the whole festival, so check the rule on the event page for smaller shows.
Where can I buy tickets?
Buy from the official festival site, dubaicomedyfest.ae, or from Platinumlist, the authorised ticket seller. Avoid random resale pages, as prices there are often much higher.
Which show should I pick for Hindi, Arabic or English comedy?
For Hindi, pick Munawar Faruqui or Amit Tandon. For Arabic, pick Muhandis Al Thauq Al Aam or Imad Kehdy. For English, Mo Gilligan, Katherine Ryan, Zarna Garg and Vir Das are the biggest names.
Final Word
The Dubai Comedy Festival is the easiest fun night out in Dubai this month. Pick your language, pick your night, and book early, because the best comedy shows in Dubai this October will not have seats left at the door. Start with the schedule table above, choose one show, and go and laugh.
Prices and show details in this guide were checked on dubaicomedyfest.ae and Platinumlist on 9 October 2026. Shows can sell out and details can change, so confirm on the official pages before you travel.
The Dubai Tours and Safari editorial team researches and updates our Dubai and UAE travel guides, checking prices, timings and facts against official sources.
