Exclusive Premium Access to ALL Events during the Festival AND VIP Meet and Greet with Mary Walsh, John Wing, and Comedy Competition Finalists

Pass includes: 

1. VIP access to all events September 24,25,26 at Staggers, Beavers Den, and St James Hall as part of the Mary Walsh Comedy Competition

2. VIP access to the John Wing - "Go North Old Man" Tour Show - Friday, September 25 at the Sanctuary Arts Centre

3. VIP access to the Festival Finale' with Host Mary Walsh and the 6 Finalists of the Comedy Competition - Sunday, September 27 at the Sanctuary Arts Centre

4. Exclusive invite to the VIP after party in the Sanctuary Lounge following the Festival Finale' Sunday Night - Meet Mary, John Wing, and the Comedy Competitors for photos, autographs, book signing (Mary's "A Brassy Bit of Aging Crumpet" and more FUN

Access to Competition Events during the Festival - Help Select the Finalists for the Festival Finale'

Pass includes: 

 Access to all events September 24,25,26 at Staggers, Beavers Den, and St James Hall as part of the Mary Walsh Comedy Competition

You will have the power and privilege of voting for the best comics at each show to giving one lucky comic the chance to compete in the Festival Finale on Sunday, September 27 at the Sanctuary Arts Centre

⭐ The Man, The Myth, The Credits ⭐

John Wing’s resume reads like a history book of late-night television and world-renowned comedy stages. He has amassed over 350 television appearances across North America. Take a look at some of his incredible career highlights:

Late-Night Royalty: One of the rare Canadian comics to perform on The Tonight Show six times, spanning eras with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.

Prime-Time Success: Captivated millions as a standout semi-finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent (Season 8).

Festival Favorite: A certified heavy hitter on the festival circuit, including 10 appearances at the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, plus regulars at the Winnipeg, Toronto, and Halifax Comedy Festivals.

If Canadian comedy had a final boss, it would undoubtedly be Mary Walsh—the Newfoundland force of nature who spent decades terrorizing federal politicians in full warrior armor on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. As a founding member of the iconic sketch troupe CODCO and the mastermind behind "Marg, Princess Warrior," Walsh has made a career out of proving that no suit in Ottawa is safe from a sharp tongue, a plastic sword, and a relentless dose of East Coast razor-wit. Equal parts national treasure, literary voice, and fierce social advocate, she remains Canada’s unofficial, undisputed Queen of Taking Absolutely Zero Nonsense. 

Mary will be Hosting and Opening the Show where our emcee John Wing and our TOP 6 Comedians from the Sept 24-26 Comedy Competition will compete for your love and laughter to help our Judges including Mary to select a winner of "The 2026 Mary Walsh Comedy Award" which includes a gaggle of bragging rights and a trip to the 2027 Edinburgh Comedy Festival to perform on behalf of Canada 

The Mary Walsh Comedy Award Competition brings the best emerging talent in Atlantic Canada to the stage for a high-stakes comedy battle during the City of Laughs Comedy Festival in Downtown Dartmouth. Hosted across four days from September 24–27, 2026, this competition showcases premier stand-up, sketch, improv, and "fringy" acts fighting for a career-defining launchpad from across Atlantic Canada. The winner awarded on Sunday September 27th at the Sanctuary by Mary Walsh will win a trip to the Renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform on behalf of City of Laughs.

COMICS AND COMMUNITY

Our goal is to give you a great Festival experience and support local Comics and Community groups. Ticket purchases for each Competition Show will be shared 25% to the competing Comics and 25% to our Community Partner for the Show "Freedom Foundation" 

Freedom Foundation of Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping men who are recovering from addiction.

Our mission is to provide services which foster recovery from addictions and a development of a positive self-image and self-worth in a secure and caring environment.

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COMICS AND COMMUNITY

Our goal is to give you a great Festival experience and support local Comics and Community groups. Ticket purchases for each Competition Show will be shared 25% to the competing Comics and 25% to our Community Partner for the Show "Extreme Athletics" 

At Extreme Athletics we are passionate about coaching our athletes to become the best they can be. Alongside the sport of cheerleading we pride ourselves in teaching important life lessons such as; commitment, dedication, confidence and hard work :)

Extreme Athletics is one of HRM's longest running (2001) and most successful competitive cheerleading programs. With over 100 years combined coaching experience and many provincial and national titles

The Mary Walsh Comedy Award Competition brings the best emerging talent in Atlantic Canada to the stage for a high-stakes comedy battle during the City of Laughs Comedy Festival in Downtown Dartmouth. Hosted across four days from September 24–27, 2026, this competition showcases premier stand-up, sketch, improv, and "fringy" acts fighting for a career-defining launchpad from across Atlantic Canada. The winner awarded on Sunday September 27th at the Sanctuary by Mary Walsh will win a trip to the Renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform on behalf of City of Laughs.

COMICS AND COMMUNITY

Our goal is to give you a great Festival experience and support local Comics and Community groups. Ticket purchases for each Competition Show will be shared 25% to the competing Comics and 25% to our Community Partner for the Show "Extreme Athletics" 

At Extreme Athletics we are passionate about coaching our athletes to become the best they can be. Alongside the sport of cheerleading we pride ourselves in teaching important life lessons such as; commitment, dedication, confidence and hard work :)

Extreme Athletics is one of HRM's longest running (2001) and most successful competitive cheerleading programs. With over 100 years combined coaching experience and many provincial and national titles

The Mary Walsh Comedy Award Competition brings the best emerging talent in Atlantic Canada to the stage for a high-stakes comedy battle during the City of Laughs Comedy Festival in Downtown Dartmouth. Hosted across four days from September 24–27, 2026, this competition showcases premier stand-up, sketch, improv, and "fringy" acts fighting for a career-defining launchpad from across Atlantic Canada. The winner awarded on Sunday September 27th at the Sanctuary by Mary Walsh will win a trip to the Renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform on behalf of City of Laughs.

COMICS AND COMMUNITY

Our goal is to give you a great Festival experience and support local Comics and Community groups. Ticket purchases for each Competition Show will be shared 25% to the competing Comics and 25% to our Community Partner for the Show "Extreme Athletics" 

At Extreme Athletics we are passionate about coaching our athletes to become the best they can be. Alongside the sport of cheerleading we pride ourselves in teaching important life lessons such as; commitment, dedication, confidence and hard work :)

Extreme Athletics is one of HRM's longest running (2001) and most successful competitive cheerleading programs. With over 100 years combined coaching experience and many provincial and national titles