Dubai Comedy Festival returning as a 10-day event in May

Although the line-up has not yet been revealed, the popular festival has announced its dates

Multilingual stand-up sets and variety shows from local and international comedians are expected to form the line-up Sarah Dea / The National

Get ready for some laughs as the Dubai Comedy Festival is set to return for another year.

This time, the event will be a 10-day affair, running from May 13 to 22, across various locations in Dubai.

Although the line-up has not yet been revealed, expect multilingual stand-up sets, variety shows, activations and more from local and global comedians.

"We welcome the return of the much-awaited Dubai Comedy Festival after a triumphant 2020 edition, which saw a diverse mix of comedic talent bring communities together," said Ahmed Al Khaja, chief executive of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

“As one of the first cities in the world to resume live events under strict safety guidelines, the latest comedy carnival reaffirms the city’s position as a global events destination.”

The event is presented by Dubai Calendar and produced by Brag, Live Nation and DXB Live.

Despite the pandemic, last year's festival, which was held over four days in October, comprised sold-out shows. Mo Amer, Michelle Wolf, Vir Das and Nemr were among the comedians who took to the stage.

In the past, other festival headliners have included American comedians Dave Chappelle and Gabriel Iglesias, South African comedian, writer and host of The Daily Show Trevor Noah, and Australian comic Adam Hills.

Even though the line-up is yet to be announced, organisers have promised a “bigger, better, and funnier” festival with new elements to look forward to.

Ticket prices and venues will be announced in the near future, while each gig will have social distancing and safety measures in place.

More information is available at dubaicomedyfest.ae