PJ Comedy Fest 2026 heralds new chapter for live entertainment scene

The Square at Jaya One is set to strengthen its position as a hub for live performances with the inaugural PJ Comedy Fest 2026, a five-day multilingual comedy festival that will bring together some of Malaysia’s best-known comedians alongside emerging talents.

Organised by DeStage in collaboration with Kam Productions, the festival will run from July 29 to Aug 2, featuring 29 comedians and 11 young performers across nine productions. The event also marks the first major showcase under DeStage’s management of the venue, signalling a renewed focus on comedy, theatre, music and cultural programming.

The festival aims to celebrate Malaysia’s multicultural comedy landscape through performances in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil, while creating new opportunities for homegrown performers to reach wider audiences.

Venue begins a new creative chapter

Since opening in 2009, the performance venue at The Square has established itself as a recognised space for theatre productions, stand-up comedy and live entertainment, hosting performances by well-known comedians including Harith Iskander, Joanne Kam, Douglas Lim and Kavin Jay.

Like many performance venues, it faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic as live events were suspended. During that period, the venue diversified its use by accommodating seminars, community activities and private functions before returning its focus to entertainment.

Under DeStage, the venue has undergone upgrades, including the installation of a new LED stage backdrop, while expanding its programming to include theatre, music, community arts and cultural events.

The transformation is supported by an integrated entertainment ecosystem involving DeStage, AFO Radio, CSS Solutions Platform and Kam Productions. Together, the organisations aim to combine venue management, production capabilities, artist development, media engagement and commercial partnerships to create sustainable opportunities for Malaysia’s live entertainment industry.

Festival showcases established and emerging comedians

PJ Comedy Fest 2026 will feature a diverse line-up spanning stand-up comedy, improvisation, storytelling and theatrical performances across the venue’s Studio and Main Theatre Hall.

Among the headline performances is the Comedy Gala, featuring Joanne Kam, Shamaine Othman, Kavin Jay, Andrew Netto, Papi Zak, Fattah Azeem, Ruoh Peng and Mad Sabah. Other performers scheduled throughout the festival include Kuah Jenhan, Farid Azmeir, K-Shao, Jasmine Rajah, Brian Tan, Prakash Daniel, Keren Bala Devan and the Pinball Monkeys improv troupe.

Beyond established acts, organisers have also allocated space for young and emerging performers, providing audiences with the opportunity to discover the next generation of Malaysian comedy talent.

The festival will conclude with a family-friendly staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by EM Drama, broadening its appeal to audiences of all ages.

Complementing the performances, Rockafellers at The Square will offer themed nightlife activities, dining promotions and a 15 per cent discount on à la carte food for PJ Comedy Fest ticket holders throughout the festival.

Visitors can also enjoy other lifestyle events scheduled at The Square during the period, including food showcases, cultural experiences and the Artsy Fartsy Marketplace, reinforcing Jaya One’s ambition to become a year-round destination for entertainment, dining and community engagement.