2026 Submissions
Winnipeg Comedy Festival is accepting submissions from Sept 15 – Oct 15, 2025
The 25th annual Winnipeg Comedy Festival runs April 20-26, 2026
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 “unlisted” and not “private” as your setting) 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:
Chip Off the Old Block – a look at parental influence, both "nature" and "nurture" - our parents, and their influence in our lives, our personalities, our viewpoints; the ways we're like them and not like them; the ways we become them as we age; and the ways we'll do the same for our children.
Crossed Wires - we live in an era of unprecedented connectedness, but how often do we really feel like we’re truly heard and understood? How often are we confident we understood another? Comics explore miscommunication in a variety of contexts – across generations, across genders, across cultures, at work, at home, out in the world with strangers, and online.
My Best Life – comics share the ups-and-downs of trying to "live their best life" - self-care, staying healthy, eating well, looking good, stress management, setting goals, and keeping up with the expectations of society and social media.
New to Town – A show of new Canadians: the immigrant experience, first and second-generation Canadians, and Canada as seen through fresh eyes.
You Had to Be There – a storytelling show. Tell us your best one-of-a-kind, can’t-believe-it-happened story.
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 is.
- 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 very limited due to Canadian content requirements.
We know putting your heart and soul into a submission is hard work. We greatly appreciate you taking the time! Good luck, and may this be your year!