2027 Submissions Now Open!
Winnipeg Comedy Festival is accepting submissions until October 31, 2026
The 26th annual Winnipeg Comedy Festival runs Apr 26-May 2, 2027
Email: submissions@winnipegcomedyfestival.com
Please tell us:
• which theme or themes you are submitting to (See themes below)
• where you’d be flying from
• your citizenship
• your contact info and if you have representation (and their contact info if applicable)
• a brief bio, including how long you’ve been doing standup, with an expectation of a minimum of 5 years’ experience
Important:
• 8-10 minutes sets are ideal
• Please ensure your audio and video are clear - those that are not will not be reviewed for consideration.
• Unlisted YouTube video links preferred (Choose the setting “unlisted” and not “private”) Written submissions, or links to websites with clips also accepted
• Please don’t send downloadable files (WeTransfer, etc.)
We receive hundreds of submissions, the files are large, and the links often expire too quickly
• Material must be new to a national audience and unaired on national TV or streaming services
(JFL, Halifax, New Wave of Standup, Comedy Night in Canada, Crave, Netflix, etc …)
Themes:
Below are six themes, FIVE OF WHICH will become our five TV shows. Feel free to submit to more than one.
Crossed Wires – comics explore miscommunication in a variety of contexts – across generations, across genders, across cultures, across social classes, at work, at home, out in the world with strangers. (If you submitted to Crossed Wires last year, you’re automatically under consideration, but please feel free to send an updated set if you wish.)
It’s Complicated – a show about the crazy, terrible, wonderful world of love and relationships, featuring comics of a variety of ages, stages, and circumstances.
Fight or Flight – a funny look at the things we’re afraid of, and the ways we face or avoid facing our fears.
No Place Like Home – comics share about their hometown/city/region. Where were you born? Where have you moved to? What do you love about it? Hate about it? What confuses you about it? How did it come to feel like home? A celebration of place, and seeing the different regions of Canada through each other’s eyes, and the eyes of new Canadians.
Scraping By – an examination of the daily grind, and all the things we do to keep our heads above water, and keep our many plates spinning. A relatable look at the illusion that everyone’s thriving, and the reality that no one’s got it figured out.
Snooze Control – a show about sleep, and all things that happen at night: insomnia, sleepwalking, sleep aids, infant sleep, sleeping arrangements, hotel bed experiences, camping on air mattresses, night terrors, sharing a bed with a difficult partner, sharing a bed with pets, time changes, jet lag, daylight saving, etc.
Some friendly advice:
• Please don’t send one 10-min set and tell us you think it could fit into any or all the themes. It won’t.
• Do your best to be polished in your delivery – try to minimize habitual “uhmms” and “ahhhs” and other verbal tics.
• Keep your set TV clean. One F-bomb isn’t a problem; a million are.
• Be mindful of not punching down. We won’t be interested in a TV set that makes fun of those less advantaged.
• Showcase your material, not your crowd work.
• Be timely while being timeless. Keep in mind our shows air a year after taping and beyond, so avoid topical jokes or references that date your material.
• Remember - we're not making a list of our 30 favorite comics; we're casting TV shows. We have six spots to fill in each of five shows. Each of those six spots is different and ought to touch on a different aspect of the theme.
• Although we occasionally book US and international acts, those spaces are rare and limited due to Canadian content requirements.
We know putting your heart and soul into a submission is hard work, and we greatly appreciate you taking the time. Good luck, and may this be your year!