International ComedyArts Festival Moers

One of Europe's most important comedy festivals — since 1976

When Moers opens its enni.eventhalle in September, artists come from all over Germany: the International ComedyArts Festival Moers has been a must-attend event for the German cabaret and comedy scene for decades. Founded in 1976 as an experimental fringe art forum, it has developed into the oldest festival for comic arts in Germany — and in 2026, it celebrates its 50th anniversary with an accordingly ambitious program. In international comparison, ComedyArts ranks alongside the Vienna Stand-Up Festival, the Mont-de-Marsan Festival in France, or the Dutch Cameretten — and is at the same time firmly anchored in its city: Moers is Moers, and Moers is ComedyArts.

Three Main Evenings, Two Preview Events

The main program in 2026 runs on the weekend of September 18–20, supplemented by two preview dates in May and August:

May 17, 2026 — Bollwerk 107 — Preview Evening “Back to the Roots”

The symbolic start to the anniversary year is made by Nessi Tausendschön at Bollwerk 107 with “30 Jahre Zenit — Operation Goldene Nase”. A preview evening that deliberately references the festival's past: “Back to the Roots”.

August 29, 2026 — Street Theater Day in the City Center

Just under three weeks before the main weekend, street theater artists transform the Moers city center into an open-air stage. The motto: “Back to the Fools”. Free and accessible during the day.

Friday, September 18, 2026 — enni.eventhalle

Herr Schröder — “the longest-serving jungle teacher and human overhead projector” — opens the main program with his new solo show “Der Rest ist Hausaufgabe”. Schröder has been among the top tier of the German comedy scene for years and, with his pedagogical-satirical program, exemplifies the festival's profile.

Saturday, September 19, 2026 — Comedy Gala

The central evening of the 50th edition is a gala with a top-class lineup, hosted by Duo Diagonal:

• Torsten Sträter — Bottrop stage star, stand-up class
• Sarah Hakenberg — Berlin singer-songwriter and satirist
• Barbaren Barbies — Comedy duo
• Felice & Cortes — Italian-German artist duo
• Ulan & Bator — Political cabaret duo
• Yllana — Spanish mime/visual comedy group

Sunday, September 20, 2026 — Women's Edition

The finale is a program night featuring only women, curated and hosted by Frau Jahnke, with:

• Anka Zink — First-league Düsseldorf cabaret artist
• Patrizia Moresco — Italian-German comedy powerhouse
• Tina Teubner — Singer-songwriter and stage multi-talent

50 Years of Festival History

The festival was founded in 1976 as a small cabaret forum — a pilot project that grew into a nationwide branded event over time. Many currently established comedy stars had their early stage experiences in Moers. The 50th edition will be celebrated accordingly — with the programmatic double “Back to the Roots” / “Back to the Fools,” connecting the past and future of comic arts.

enni.eventhalle Moers — The Main Venue

The enni.eventhalle (Filder Straße 126) is Moers' central concert hall, which has been re-profiled in recent years. With its capacity for several thousand visitors, it is the ideal venue for the comedy gala. In addition, the Bollwerk 107 (fringe art venue) and the city center serve as open-air stages for supplementary programs.