The Madrid International Comedy Festival was not built by a company or an events agency. It was built by comedians, with very little money and a lot of stubbornness. Two editions in, here is what it took, and what I have learned.
Why I started it
I am a comedian and producer based in Madrid. For years I watched this city’s comedy scene grow, in Spanish, in English and in many other languages, and I kept thinking the same thing: a city this big and this international deserves a real comedy festival. Nobody was building one, so I decided to try.
The first edition happened in October 2025. Four days, six venues, 23 shows, more than 50 comedians from over 20 countries. Every show sold out. That told me the audience was there.
No big budget, a lot of people
We started without a big budget or a safety net. What we had was people: comedians who perform in Madrid’s bars and theatres every week, venue owners who trusted us with their rooms, volunteers who gave up their evenings, and partners who believed in the idea early. In 2025 that included support from the Comunidad de Madrid.
In 2026, Alberto Closas and Santiago Iturralde agreed to be the godparents of the second edition. Partners like Artizanale, who hosted the Closing Gala, and Monologamía helped us reach more people. None of this happens alone.
The hard part nobody sees
From the outside, a festival looks like a list of shows. From the inside, it is a puzzle. Every show needs a venue, a time, a host, sound, someone at the door and an audience. Comedians fly in from different countries and need to know exactly where to go and when.
Being multilingual makes the puzzle harder. We try to avoid putting two shows in the same language at the same time, so people do not have to choose between them. With shows in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Italian and Portuguese across several venues, that takes a lot of planning. And it is worth it, because that mix is what makes this festival different.
What two editions taught me
First: the audience comes back if you treat them well. Many people from 2025 came back in 2026, often with friends. Second: comedians talk. When artists have a good experience, other artists hear about it, and that is how a young festival gets bigger names. Third: you cannot do it all yourself, even if you try. The team is everything.
Where we want to go
Our goal is simple: to make MCF the home of international comedy in Southern Europe. Every year, more shows, more comedians, more languages and more venues. I believe Madrid can host one of the best comedy festivals in Europe, and I explain why in that article.
Want to be part of it?
There are many ways to get involved. Comedians can apply to perform. Brands and businesses can look at our sponsorship options. Journalists can find everything they need on our press page. And you can read more about me on the founder page.
Thank you to everyone who made 2026 happen. On to 6–9 October 2027.
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Mehdi Mahtaj, Founder, Madrid International Comedy Festival
