Giving Malaysian comedy the spotlight it deserves
KUALA LUMPUR
The irony is not lost on comedians, many of whom honed their craft in the theatre.
Actress and comedian Joanne Kam is determined to change this. If comedians are rarely invited to the party, she reckons it’s time to throw one of their own.
That vision has become PJ Comedy Fest 2026, a five-day, multilanguage celebration of laughter presented by DeStage Theatre
“We comedians do so much, but sometimes it feels like we’re the orphan child of the arts festival scene. We’re rarely featured and there are no award shows for us. Not like we need one lah,” Kam told FMT Lifestyle.
“I want to change that. I’ve always felt caught in the middle because comedy is my life but the arts are my passion. So I like figuring out ways comedy and art can speak to each other.”
Taking place from July 29 to Aug 2, the festival brings together 29 comedians and 11 young performers across nine productions, showcasing some of Malaysia’s best-known comedy acts alongside rising stars.
Audiences can expect performances in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil, reflecting the country’s multicultural voices and storytelling traditions.
DeStage CEO William Lim said the event will be the first major showcase under his company’s stewardship. “Malaysia has such a rich and wonderful selection of comedians, so we’re delighted to bring them together for this festival.”
All shows are for audiences aged 18 and above except for the finale, “A Rendition of Shakespeare’s: A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, performed by the young cast of EM Drama on Aug 2.
Opening the festival is the raunchy “Jokes Against Humanity”, a no-holds-barred variety show inspired by the wildly popular party game “Cards Against Humanity”. Expect to be left gasping and belly-laughing in equal measure.
Hosted by Nat Kang, who first introduced the format to Malaysian audiences in 2023, the show features “berak girl” Marissa Wong
“It’s definitely not for the faint of heart – maybe not even for the average comedy audience in KL. It’s much more international in style than local in flavour,” Kang told FMT Lifestyle.
“I’d say it’s one of Malaysian comedy’s more delightfully acquired tastes.”
Other highlights include “Azmeir”, in which popular Malay-language comedian Farid Azmeir shares intimate, heartfelt stories about his late father.
Mandarin-speaking audiences can also catch “Prone to Hell”, an energetic stand-up special headlined by BBK Network’s K-Shao.
July 31 belongs to improv troupe Pinball Monkeys, whose members will rely on audience suggestions and razor-sharp wit to create an unpredictable mix of scenes, games and comic mayhem.
Running concurrently is “The Good, The Bad and the Funny”, featuring Brian Tan, Prakash Daniel and Keren Bala Devan. Blending a talk show with comedy, expect lively debates, hilarious anecdotes, quickfire banter and plenty of audience interaction.
Tamil-speaking fans are also in for a treat on Aug 1 as Piravina Raghunathan presents her acclaimed special “Kanni Raasi”. Heartfelt, funny and culturally rich, this solo show celebrates the Tamil-Malaysian experience.
The festival’s biggest night comes with the eagerly anticipated Comedy Gala, featuring an all-star lineup that includes Kam, Shamaine Othman, Kavin Jay, Andrew Netto, Papi Zak, Fattah Azeem, Ruoh Peng and Mad Sabah.
Aug 2 also features “Just Stories: My Villain Origin Story” featuring comedienne Jasmine and guest performers, as well as the aforementioned Shakespeare send-up.
Kam hopes the inaugural edition of the festival will pave the way for even bigger and bolder versions in the future, with ideas such as comedy workshops and international performers already on her wishlist.
“Get ready for five days of gut-busting laughter. With all the crazy things going on in the world nowadays, it’s good to let it all out with a good laugh,” she said.
“Plus, it’s cheaper than therapy.”
PJ Comedy Fest 2026
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For more information and to book your tickets, click here