The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce the first local and international comedy stars heading to the 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala: Hayley Sproull, Ray O’Leary and Elouise Eftos (Aus). The biggest night in the comedy calendar, hosted by Dai Henwood ONZM, heads to Auckland on 1 May, Wellington on 2 May and for the first time since 2017, Christchurch on 3 May.
First off the rank is the multi-talented comedy force, and last year’s Gala host, Hayley Sproull. A familiar face (and voice) as host of The Great Kiwi Bake Off, and ZM’s Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley Breakfast Show, Hayley’s comedy career launched in 2012, when she won Best Newcomer at the NZ International Comedy Festival. Since then, she’s collected accolades across theatre, television, and radio, and has appeared on our screens in Taskmaster, 7 Days and Golden Boy.
Rocking his signature grey suit and trademark deadpan wit, Ray O’Leary has been tearing it up across Australia and Edinburgh, and now he’s back to bring the laughs at the Gala. A former Billy T nominee, Ray is beloved for his appearances on Taskmaster NZ, 7 Days, Have You Been Paying Attention? and the award-winning podcast, Socrates Walks Into A Bar.
Winner of Best International Debut show and Best Innovation at the 2025 NZ Comedy Fest, Australia’s Elouise Eftos is back in Aotearoa and ready to make her first appearance at the Best Foods Comedy Gala. Since her highly anticipated solo hour Australia’s First Attractive Comedian, she’s made waves, racking up awards, rave reviews and standing ovations. Across the ditch she’s been seen on Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee, The Project, The Today Show, and has made appearances in Colin from Accounts, Limitless and Paper Dolls.
More acts will be announced in mid February. The Best Foods Comedy Gala in Auckland is filmed exclusively for THREE.
Tickets for Christchurch are now on sale.
The 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo runs from 1 – 24 May, with the full programme to be announced in March 2026.
BEST FOODS COMEDY GALA
AUCKLAND
Friday 1 May
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland Central
Book Now
WELLINGTON
Saturday 2 May
The Opera House
113/111 Manners Street, Te Aro, Wellington Central
Book Now
CHRISTCHURCH
Sunday 3 May
Christchurch Town Hall
86 Kilmore Street
Book Now
