Accessible services at the Festival

We can provide Communication Boards for patrons who would like to use them while attending the Festival. You can collect Communication Boards from our Info Booth outside Melbourne Town Hall. If you are at other Festival Managed Venues, please ask Front of House. 

Click here to download a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Communication Board. 

Sensory Backpacks containing noise cancelling headphones and school age child friendly fidget toys can be rented free of charge (subject to availability) when attending shows as part of our children's programming at ACMI and at the Melbourne Museum.

If you require sensory assistance during a children's shows, please speak to our friendly Front of House team who will be able to assist. 

Please note that these items must be returned to the Festival team on departure from the venue. 

Shows at a venue showing this symbol have step-free access and are wheelchair accessible. You can filter your search results on our website to only include these venues, or browse through show pages for more information. Once on a show page, scroll down and click the Venue Accessibility section on the right hand side. Details provided by the venue can be found here. If the wheelchair symbol is not displayed, step free/wheelchair access at that venue may be partial or unavailable.

Click here for more detailed information about step-free and wheelchair access at our Festival Managed Venues.

At select Festival venues Assistive Listening is provided either as a hearing loop where patrons can tune in using their own hearing aid device for amplified film sound directly into the ear or in the form of an assistive listening device that patrons can borrow and use for the duration of the session. Patrons can use the device provided by the venue complete with headphones to hear an amplified version of the film sound through the headphones.

Information about which assistive listening system is available is listed under the venue name on each show page and for detailed information for Festival Managed Venues, please see FMV Information.

Auslan is the sign language used by the Australian Deaf community. Auslan interpreters generally position themselves next to the performer or to one side of the stage, translating the show for the audience.

Auslan Interpreted performances are marked on show pages using a purple circle in the calendar view. You can click on the performance to see who the Auslan Interpreter is (if they're confirmed).

Click here to see a list of our Auslan Interpreted performances for this year.

Some shows may offer Relaxed performances, designed to create a more sensory friendly and comfortable environment for audiences. The style may vary depending on the show, but you could expect less intense lighting and sound, the doors may remain open, there could be access to a quiet space, the house lights may stay on, or the audience may be free to make noise and move around for the show’s duration. Sometimes, you may be provided with pre-show resources to help you prepare.  

There are many audiences that benefit from a Relaxed Performance, including but not limited to Neurodivergent people (including those who experience sensory processing differences such as Autism and ADHD), those with learning disabilities, dementia, or anxiety, as well as those who have experienced trauma. 

You can check to see if any performances are relaxed by browsing through our show pages. Information on the accessible services available to each show is found at the bottom of the page to the right-hand side if you’re on a desktop browser. The performance will also be labelled when you click into it from the show’s calendar. 

Guide dogs and assistance animals are welcome in all venues.

Some venues may have fixed chairs or crowded seating. It might help to reach out to Festival staff or the venue prior to your show to make sure you’re seated in an area that has enough space for your guide dog or assistance animal to feel comfortable.

Travellers Aid Australia will work with the Festival to provide support for people living with disabilities or experiencing other mobility challenges who wish to attend our Special Events at Melbourne Town Hall: The Great Debate, the RAW National Grand Final and Upfront. Support can be provided from Flinders Street Station and Tram Stops 6 or 11 on Swanston St, as well as at Melbourne Town Hall. Patrons needing assistance can call 0498 023 959 to speak to the Travellers Aid on-site coordinator. For more information, please download the Travellers Aid Info sheet here.