After a forced hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the Brantford Comedy Festival is back. Founded in 2010, our Festival has become a world-class entertainment event bringing some of the biggest names in comedy to Brantford. The 2023 Festival features three signature events; the Rising Star Competition, the Rising Star Finale and the Gala Evening with headliner Jeremy Hotz at the Sanderson Centre for Performing Arts.

The festival is known for introducing new and hidden gems in Canadian talent. The Rising Star competition offers amateur and pro-am comedians the opportunity to compete for the opening spot on our Gala stage. This is a huge opportunity for an up-and-coming comedian to perform to 1,100 people and open for one of Canada's biggest comedians.