Just for Laughs 2026 runs in Montreal from 15 to 26 July (44th edition), in the Quartier des Spectacles. This year, Jerry Seinfeld performs on 23 July at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Dany Boon opens the festival on 15 and 16 July at L’Olympia, and « Weird Al » Yankovic plays a completely free outdoor concert on 25 July at Place des Festivals. The 2025 edition generated CAD $28 million in economic spin-offs for the region, according to a KPMG study. Book paid tickets now at tickets.hahaha.com; free outdoor shows require no reservation.
Founded in 1983, Just for Laughs has grown over four decades into the world’s biggest comedy festival. Every July, Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles transforms into a 1 km² comedy playground where English-language stand-up, French-language galas and free outdoor stages all collide. Think of it as Edinburgh Festival Fringe — but laser-focused on comedy, set against a backdrop of North American French culture that you won’t find anywhere else on earth.
In 2026, the festival is back for its 44th edition following a spectacular comeback: bought out of bankruptcy for CAD $24.5 million after the March 2024 collapse, Just for Laughs returned in 2025 with one of its most acclaimed editions ever — 360,677 attendees and CAD $28 million in economic impact. Here’s everything you need to plan your trip from the UK, 15–26 July.
From bankruptcy to the world stage: Just for Laughs’ unlikely comeback
Born in 1983, bankrupt in 2024, back stronger in 2025
According to Radio-Canada, the Juste pour rire Group filed for creditor protection on 5 March 2024, carrying CAD $22.5 million in debt and leaving 478 unsecured creditors uncompensated. The 2024 festival was cancelled — the first time since the event began in 1983. Three months later, ComediHa! acquired the brand for CAD $24.5 million, drawing a line under years of turbulence that had begun in 2017 when founder Gilbert Rozon was ousted in the wake of #MeToo.
The 2025 comeback exceeded all expectations. According to La Presse, a KPMG study confirmed CAD $28 million in economic spin-offs for the Montreal region — ranking Just for Laughs as the province’s second-biggest event by economic impact, just behind the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix (roughly CAD $90 million). The festival drew 360,677 unique attendees and broadcast nearly 50 hours of prime-time content on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Canal+, France Télévisions and Radio-Canada.
Key facts to know
- Founded in 1983 by Gilbert Rozon, acquired in June 2024 by ComediHa! for CAD $24.5M
- 100 billion cumulative digital views, brand distributed in 150+ countries (PRNewswire, May 2025)
- 2nd biggest event by economic impact in Quebec in 2025, per KPMG
- In 2026, the historic creditors of the old entity will never be repaid (La Presse, January 2026)
Just for Laughs 2026 line-up: the highlights you can’t miss
Headliners and free shows: the best of the 2026 edition
According to the official 2026 programme, this edition features 250 shows across around thirty venues. Here are the unmissable moments.
Paid shows: the big headliners
| Date | Artist | Show / Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 15–16 July | Dany Boon | « Clown n’est pas un métier !! » — L’Olympia |
| 15 July | Élodie Poux | « Le papillon s’envole » — L’Olympia |
| 17 July | Gala de la Francophonie | Alban Ivanov + Marie-Lyne Joncas, Théâtre Maisonneuve |
| 18 July | Gala « La Dernière Volonté » | Élodie Poux, Jarry, Kev Adams, Alex Vizorek — Théâtre Maisonneuve |
| 19 July | Jeanfi Janssens | « Tombé du ciel » — Le Gesù |
| 20 July | Hall of Fame: La Petite Vie | Guy Jodoin + original cast — Théâtre Maisonneuve |
| 23 July | Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld Live (2 shows: 6:30 pm & 9:30 pm) — Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier |
| 24 July | English-language galas | Mike Birbiglia / Atsuko Okatsuka (sold out) — Théâtre Maisonneuve |
| 25 July | English-language galas | Gerry Dee / Gabriel « Fluffy » Iglesias — Théâtre Maisonneuve |
Free outdoor shows — Place des Festivals
The Loto-Québec stage hosts free nightly shows from 7 pm. Here are the outdoor highlights for 2026, according to mattv.ca and Timeout Montreal:
- 16 July: Kev Adams — « Bleu Blanc Rire – Les Français en fête », Place des Festivals (FREE)
- Every evening: The Stand-Up Series — 4 comedians, 8 pm, Place des Festivals (FREE)
- 25 July: « Weird Al » Yankovic — « Bigger & Weirder Tour », Place des Festivals (FREE, outdoor closing night)
- Andy St-Louis and his improvised jukebox — Rue Sainte-Catherine entertainment from 4:30 pm
Club Series and industry events
For English-language stand-up fans, the Club Series at Club Soda (The Nasty Show, The Culture Show) and Le Gesù (Brit(ish)) offer nightly line-ups from 7 pm to 11 pm. The Midnight Surprise Show (22–25 July, Studio TD, 11:59 pm) remains the festival’s most unpredictable event — past guests have included Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle and Amy Schumer. ComedyPRO (22–25 July) brings together comedy industry professionals from around the world.
Why fly from the UK for Just for Laughs?
A truly bilingual festival — and there’s nothing like it in North America
Just for Laughs is often compared to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and the parallel holds up. Both are sprawling city-wide festivals where you move between paid headline shows and free open-air performances. But where Edinburgh spans every art form, Just for Laughs is entirely devoted to comedy, making it the world’s deepest concentration of stand-up talent in a single city over a single fortnight. Add Montreal’s uniquely bilingual culture — the only place on earth where you can catch Jerry Seinfeld one night and Dany Boon the next without changing country — and the case for the trip becomes compelling.
According to Presseagence.fr, the 2026 edition doubles down on its Francophone identity: the Gala de la Francophonie (17 July) brings together comedians from France, Switzerland, Belgium, Francophone Africa and Quebec on a single stage — a cross-cultural comedy collision you simply won’t find elsewhere. The official partnership with Rire & Chansons further underlines the transatlantic reach of this edition.
For UK visitors, Just for Laughs makes a compelling case on five concrete grounds:
- Dany Boon in Montreal: his return to the stage after seven years away (« Clown n’est pas un métier !! ») opens the festival on 15 and 16 July
- Élodie Poux, Hakim Jemili, Camille Lellouche, Alban Ivanov: the cream of French-language comedy gathered over 12 days
- Top-tier English-language stand-up: Jerry Seinfeld, Gabriel Iglesias and Mike Birbiglia all in one festival
- Montreal in July: the city is buzzing — Festival Fantasia (genre cinema) runs 16 July to 2 August in parallel
- Value for money: dozens of hours of free outdoor shows let you keep your ticket budget surprisingly low
The 2026 edition has also been praised by the LGBTQ+ press as « the most queer programming ever » (Fugues, 18 June 2026), with artists including Jessé (« Message personnel »), Noam Sinseau (« Makoumè Superstar ») and the show Titanique (a Céline Dion musical parody at Espace St-Denis through 23 August).
Festival venues: the Quartier des Spectacles and its stages
The whole festival takes place within a 15-minute walk of Place-des-Arts metro station (Green Line). Here are the essential venues, according to the Quartier des Spectacles:
| Venue | Capacity | 2026 Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Place des Festivals | Outdoor stage, several thousand | Free nightly shows, Weird Al Yankovic, Kev Adams |
| Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier (Place des Arts) | 2,996 seats | Jerry Seinfeld (23 July) |
| Théâtre Maisonneuve (Place des Arts) | 1,453 seats | French/English galas, Hall of Fame (La Petite Vie) |
| Club Soda | ~900 seats | Nasty Show, Culture Show, New Faces of Comedy |
| L’Olympia | ~2,200 seats | Dany Boon, Élodie Poux |
| Studio TD | ~200 seats | Midnight Surprise Show (11:59 pm, 22–25 July) |
| Le Gesù | ~680 seats | Brit(ish), Jeanfi Janssens |
| Espace St-Denis | ~660 seats | Titanique (through 23 August) |
Getting to Just for Laughs from the UK: flights, entry requirements and budget
Entry requirements for Canada
According to Canada.ca, UK citizens do not need a visa to visit Canada. However, following Brexit, British passport holders are now required to obtain an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before flying — the same requirement that applies to other non-EU nationalities. The process takes just a few minutes online and costs CAD $7 (approximately £4). The eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires. Do not confuse it with a visa: it’s a quick online formality, but the absence of an eTA means you’ll be turned away at check-in. For a full overview of travelling to Canada, see our Canada travel guide.
Flights from London to Montreal
The flight from London Heathrow (LHR) or London Gatwick (LGW) to Montreal Trudeau (YUL) takes around 7 hours 30 minutes direct. Air Transat, Air Canada and British Airways operate regular services. Fares start from around £380 return on Air Transat, but prices climb sharply from mid-June as the festival approaches — booking 2 to 3 months ahead is strongly recommended.
From the airport to the heart of the festival
According to Tourisme Montreal, the 747 STM bus (runs 24/7, every 12–20 minutes) links Trudeau Airport to Berri-UQAM station for CAD $11.25, including a 24-hour pass valid across the entire STM network. From Berri-UQAM, take the Green Line one stop to Place-des-Arts — a 5-minute walk from the festival.
Estimated budget for a 5-night trip
| Item | Budget option | Comfort option |
|---|---|---|
| Return flight UK–YUL | £380–£550 | £700–£1,000 |
| Accommodation (5 nights) | CAD $150–$200 (hostel) | CAD $750–$1,000 (3-star hotel) |
| JFL tickets (3–4 shows) | CAD $0–$60 (free shows) | CAD $150–$300 |
| Food (5 days) | CAD $150–$200 | CAD $300–$400 |
| Local transport (STM) | CAD $30–$50 | CAD $60–$100 |
| Total estimate | ~£600–£800 | ~£1,200–£1,600 |
The free outdoor stages (Kev Adams on 16 July, Weird Al Yankovic on 25 July) let you enjoy several festival evenings without spending a penny on tickets.
Where to stay: the best neighbourhoods
For the festival, Pixidia recommends Downtown / Centre-Ville for immediate proximity (3-star hotels: CAD $150–$200/night in July), Plateau-Mont-Royal for local atmosphere and softer prices (Airbnb studios from CAD $80), and Mile End for great food within 15 minutes on foot. In all cases, book 2 to 3 months ahead — July is Montreal’s peak season and hotels close to the Quartier des Spectacles fill fast. See also our complete Montreal guide.
Travel essentials: Canada eSIM and travel insurance
Stay connected the moment you land in Montreal — no roaming charges. Essential for festival apps, Google Maps and digital tickets. Activate before you leave home.
From ~$5 for 1 GBCanada is not covered by the NHS when you travel abroad, and medical costs in North America can be eye-watering. Nomad Insurance from SafetyWing covers you globally from $56 per 4 weeks — 10% off via our link.
From $56 / 4 weeksFrequently asked questions about Just for Laughs 2026
Is Just for Laughs 2026 really free?
Partly. Outdoor shows at Place des Festivals are completely free: Kev Adams on 16 July, « Weird Al » Yankovic on 25 July, and The Stand-Up Series every evening at 8 pm. Galas, solo shows and Club Series events are ticketed (CAD $15 to $100+ per ticket). You can absolutely enjoy 3 to 4 full festival evenings without spending anything on tickets. Source: hahaha.com.
Do UK citizens need a visa to visit Canada?
No visa is required for UK citizens visiting Canada. However, following Brexit, British passport holders must obtain an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before flying. You apply online at canada.ca in a few minutes for just CAD $7 (around £4). The eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires. Missing it means you’ll be turned away at check-in.
Is Just for Laughs really the world’s biggest comedy festival?
Yes — by attendance and economic impact. At its historical peak, Just for Laughs attracted 2.5 million visitors (2016) and generates over CAD $28 million in a single city. Edinburgh Festival Fringe is larger in total number of shows across all disciplines, but Just for Laughs is unquestionably the world’s biggest festival dedicated entirely to comedy and stand-up. Source: Tourisme Montreal.
Are there English-language shows at Just for Laughs?
Absolutely — roughly half the programme is in English. The 2026 edition includes Jerry Seinfeld, Gabriel « Fluffy » Iglesias, Mike Birbiglia, Atsuko Okatsuka, Gerry Dee and the full Club Series (Nasty Show, Culture Show, New Faces of Comedy, Brit(ish)). The Midnight Surprise Show (Studio TD, 11:59 pm, 22–25 July) is also English-language and famously unpredictable. Source: hahaha.com.
When did Just for Laughs go bankrupt and who runs it now?
The Juste pour rire Group filed for creditor protection on 5 March 2024, carrying CAD $22.5 million in debt. ComediHa! (led by Sylvain Parent-Bédard) acquired the brand in June 2024 for CAD $24.5 million. The old entity was definitively wound up in December 2025. Since then, the festival has been run under the name Groupe Juste pour Divertir. Source: Radio-Canada.
How do I get from Trudeau Airport to the Quartier des Spectacles?
The 747 STM bus runs 24/7 between Montreal Trudeau Airport (YUL) and Berri-UQAM station. The fare is CAD $11.25, which includes a 24-hour pass covering the whole STM network. From Berri-UQAM, take the Green Line one stop towards Montmorency to Place-des-Arts station — the Quartier des Spectacles is a 5-minute walk away. Source: Tourisme Montreal.
What else is there to do in Montreal outside the festival shows?
Montreal in July is buzzing. Festival Fantasia (genre cinema) runs 16 July to 2 August simultaneously. Mont-Royal offers an exceptional panorama of the city (Kondiaronk Belvedere). Old Montreal, the Lachine Canal (great for cycling), Marché Jean-Talon (Mile End), Schwartz’s Deli (smoked meat, Boulevard Saint-Laurent since 1928) and the terraces of Plateau-Mont-Royal are the essential stops between shows. Source: Tourisme Montreal.
- hahaha.com — Official Just for Laughs 2026 programme
- mtl.org — Tourisme Montreal: Just for Laughs 2026 guide
- placedesarts.com — Official ticketing and venues
- Timeout Montreal — Jerry Seinfeld and Weird Al Yankovic headline 2026
- Hollywood Reporter — 2026 headliner announcement (15 April 2026)
- La Presse — CAD $28M economic impact JFL 2025 (KPMG study, 28 April 2026)
- Radio-Canada — ComediHa! acquires Just for Laughs (June 2024)
- Radio-Canada — The JPR Group bankruptcy (March 2024)
- Presseagence.fr — French comedy at JFL 2026: Dany Boon, Élodie Poux, Alban Ivanov
- Canada.ca — eTA: Electronic Travel Authorisation for Canada
- Tourisme Montreal — 747 STM bus: Trudeau Airport to downtown
- Fugues.com — Just for Laughs 2026: most queer programme ever (18 June 2026)
- Sors-tu? — Galas and Roasts at JFL 2026
- PRNewswire — 100 billion digital views announced (May 2025)
- quartierdesspectacles.com — Festival map and calendar 2026
Research completed on 21 June 2026. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Planning a trip to Montreal this summer?
Explore our Montreal itineraries to organise your stay around the festival — accommodation, restaurants, transport and shows, all mapped out for you.
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