Comedy honoured at the 2025 Melbourne Fringe

After a huge three-weeks of new ideas across all creative expressions, another Melbourne Fringe has wrapped, and with that has come the honouring of shows across comedy, cabaret, circus, dance, kids, music, theatre, visual arts, experimental and more! A massive congratulations to the nominees and the winners of the 30+ categories at the 2025 Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards – with a particular shout out to:

Best Comedy Award: Birds, created and performed by Sarah Stafford & Alex Hines (written by Sarah Stafford, Alex Hines and David Stewart). Nominees in the Comedy category were 84BY Crash Lands on Earth, Alanah Parkin’s Garage Sale, Adam McKenzie ONE MAN SKETCH SHOW (NO Special Guests Allowed!), Janty Blair Six Deadly Decades with Aunty Janty, Man Sings The Same Song Over And Over Again For An Hour, Mel McGlensey is NORMAL and The Lady Will Have.

As part of a suite of Artist Development Awards, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is delighted to support the Comedy New Work Award, in 2025 going to curlycourtney@bigpond.com (created and performed by Courtney Smith).

Comedian Sammy J was recognised with the Melbourne Fringe Living Legend Award, presented to someone who sets a benchmark for excellence in their craft, whose artistry continues to inspire the Fringe community. Sammy J’s Fiasco: A Burke & Wills Musical was a highlight of this year’s Fringe, but his involvement with the Festival spans decades, and will continue to well into the future, with The 50 Year Show, which started in 2008, presenting one show every five years, now four shows down and finishing 2058.

Finally, a special shout out to Fringe Venue of the Year, Grouse Melbourne, who presented a stellar program at the Fringe - make sure you check out their year-round comedy and live entertainment program.

For the full list of Melbourne Fringe Award winners head to the Fringe website.