Important information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and RAW events across the country

3pm, Saturday 14 March 2020 (updated Wednesday 18 March 2020)

RAW Comedy events will proceed across the country, including; NSW State Final on Tuesday 17 March; TAS State Final on Wednesday 18 March; and Howler Preliminary Final on Sunday 15 March.

The ACT State Final on Monday 16 March, the QLD State Final on Sunday 22 March and the VIC State Final on Monday 23 March in Melbourne will not go ahead and will be rescheduled to a date later in the year. It is anticipated that the 2020 RAW Comedy National Grand Final will be held during the 2021 Festival.


You will no doubt have seen our announcement that regretfully the 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is not going ahead. We took this action to support the community’s efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). With many hundreds of thousands of audience members about to descend on the city this was a difficult but necessary decision.

Currently, Australia does not have widespread community transmission of COVID-19 and the Australian Government advises that, effective from Wednesday 18 March, organised, non-essential gatherings should be limited to 100 people.

The future RAW events noted above are limited to under 100 attendees. We encourage all participants and audiences to practice good hygiene habits.

As per current health advice regarding COVID-19, the following people are advised not to attend and instead self-isolate and seek medical advice:

  • Anyone who has a fever or acute respiratory infection and has been in mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy or transited through on or after 1 February 2020 until 14 days after they were last in a listed country.
  • Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the past 14 days prior to onset of illness.

If you are uncertain about attending or participating in RAW Comedy this year please don’t feel that you have to. The competition will be back in 2021.

Our first priority is the care and safety of our community.

For all event details and to purchase tickets click here.