Madrid is known for art, music, food, and nightlife. Mehdi Mahtaj saw an opportunity to add something else to that list: a major international comedy festival.

Instead of creating another comedy night or small local event, he set out to build a festival that could bring together different styles of humor under one banner. The goal was simple: create a space where audiences could discover comedians from different countries and comedians could connect with new audiences.

What began as a project driven by passion has grown into Madrid Comedy Festival, an event that welcomes performers working in different languages and comedy traditions.

Building more than a comedy event

For Mahtaj, the festival has never been just about booking comedians.

From the beginning, his focus was on creating a meeting point for comedy. Stand-up, improvisation, storytelling, and experimental formats all have a place within the festival.

This approach reflects Madrid itself: international, diverse, and constantly evolving.

By bringing together performers from different backgrounds, the festival creates something that goes beyond a traditional comedy show. Audiences are exposed to new voices, different perspectives, and styles of humor they may never have encountered before.

A producer with a passion for live entertainment

Before launching Madrid Comedy Festival, Mehdi Mahtaj developed experience in production, events, and audiovisual projects. Those skills became essential when building a festival from scratch.

Creating a successful festival requires much more than artistic vision. Venues, logistics, partnerships, marketing, programming, and audience development all have to work together.

As founder, Mahtaj has been involved in every stage of that process, helping shape the festival’s identity while continuing to expand its reach.

Why Madrid?

The answer seems obvious once you experience the city.

Madrid is one of Europe’s most international capitals. People from every corner of the world live, work, and travel there. That diversity naturally creates an audience for comedy in multiple languages and styles.

Mahtaj recognized that potential and built the festival around it.

Rather than focusing on a single market, Madrid Comedy Festival embraces the city’s international character, welcoming performers and audiences from across Europe and beyond.

The future of Madrid Comedy Festival

With each edition, the festival continues to grow in size and reputation.

The second edition brings together established comedians, emerging talent, and international guests, including Dzimis, who serves as president of the 2026 festival.

For Mehdi Mahtaj, however, the mission remains the same as it was from the beginning: create a place where people can come together, laugh together, and discover comedy without borders.