Petaling Jaya is set to become the epicentre of laughter this July as the inaugural PJ Comedy Fest 2026 makes its highly anticipated debut. Running from 29 July to 2 August 2026 at the DeStage theatre in The Square, Jaya One, the five-day multi-language comedy festival promises a showcase of Malaysia's most celebrated comedy talents alongside a new generation of rising stars.
A Landmark for Malaysian Comedy
Presented by DeStage in collaboration with Kam Productions, the festival boasts an impressive roster of 29 established comedians and 11 young performers across nine distinct productions. Performances will be staged across DeStage's Studio and Main Theatre Hall performance spaces, with shows delivered in four languages — English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil — reflecting the rich diversity of Malaysia's comedy scene.
The Square, Jaya One, has long served as a home for theatre productions, comedy showcases and cultural events. Since opening its doors in 2009, the venue has hosted major comedy events, open-mic showcases and performances by some of the country's most recognisable comedy talents, including Harith Iskander, Joanne Kam, Douglas Lim and Kavin Jay. Now operating under new curation by DeStage, the venue continues its focus on live entertainment and homegrown talent.
Comedy Gala Headliners
Among the festival's headline attractions is the highly anticipated Comedy Gala, bringing together some of Malaysia's most recognised comedy talents on a single stage. The stacked lineup includes Joanne Kam, Malaysia's celebrated Queen of Comedy who leads Kam Productions, alongside Kavin Jay, Shamaine Othman, Andrew Netto, Rizal Van Geyzel, K-Shao, Brian Tan, and the popular sketch comedy troupe Pinball Monkeys. The gala also features Farid Azmeir, Jasmine Rajah and Prakash Daniel, among others.
Supporting Emerging Talent
Beyond established names, the festival provides a platform for emerging performers and young talents, creating opportunities for audiences to discover the next generation of Malaysian comedy. The 11 young performers form a deliberate focus on nurturing new voices, giving audiences a first look at the future of the local comedy scene.
Family-Friendly Finale
The festival concludes with a family-friendly production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream by EM Drama, ensuring audiences of all ages can be part of the celebration. This theatrical finale rounds out a diverse programme that spans stand-up comedy, improv, storytelling showcases, interactive productions and theatrical experiences.
Dine and Laugh at Rockafellers
Complementing the live entertainment lineup is a renewed focus on nightlife and social experiences, led by Rockafellers, The Square's 360° F&B and Entertainment Champion. As part of its support for PJ Comedy Fest 2026, Rockafellers will offer an exclusive 15% discount on à la carte food items to ticket holders throughout the festival period, giving audiences even more reasons to extend their entertainment experience beyond the stage.
Participating tenants including La Chica, IPPUDO, Tommy Thongchai, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Bold Burger Crispy Chicken and Luckin Coffee will also offer special promotions throughout the period, adding to the diverse mix of food, culture and lifestyle experiences available at The Square.
Ticket Information
More information and ticketing is available via the DeStage Instagram page. With a packed programme across nine productions over five days, PJ Comedy Fest 2026 represents a significant milestone for Malaysia's growing comedy ecosystem — bringing together performers, producers and audiences through a shared appreciation of live entertainment and creative expression.
