The festival will run across two nights and be hosted by Newmarket’s own Jesse Ralph, himself a noted stand-up comedian. Both nights will also feature a lineup of four comedians, including veterans of Just For Laughs, “Canada’s Got Talent”, and more. Friday night will be headlined by Jason Allen and Tamara Shevon, while Saturday will feature Chris Robinson and Cathy Boyd.
The event will feature mature themes, with no topics off limits. The past two editions of the festival have had sold out shows and had plenty of laughs. In a festival press release, Ralph remarked on his excitement for hosting the festival and his connection to the city:
“I googled comedians from Newmarket and a tab that said famous comedians from Newmarket are Jim Carrey and John Candy … Then other comedians associated with Newmarket popped up … and there I was … The bronze medallist!”
The festival is presented by the Town of Newmarket with support from local businesses. Comedy events often use methods such as local cross-promotion, poster printing and podcast appearances to help attract an audience with the same sense of humour.
The 2026 edition of the Newmarket Comedy Festival will take place at Old Town Hall on April 17 and 18.