A new and improved version of the AI-powered Funny Finder tool is back again in 2026 to help comedy lovers choose shows that they – and their group of friends – will enjoy from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s programme of almost 800 shows.
New functionality in this year’s Funny Finder tool, which local tech company Datacom developed with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival team, will also mean festival-goers can use it to help plan their night out, including where to have dinner and drinks before or after their show.
In 2025, Funny Finder helped thousands of festival-goers navigate a programme of almost 700 shows and supported up to 6,000 interactions a day – totalling more than 130,000 engagements throughout the festival – as audiences used the tool to discover acts, explore the programme and plan their festival experience.
Funny Finder also won the Emerging Tech category at the 2025 ARN Innovation Awards, with the win acknowledging the tool’s innovative approach to helping audiences find gigs that matched their preferences, among a packed festival line-up, using a conversational interface.
Building on that success, Datacom and the festival team have introduced new features for 2026 that make the tool more personalised, more functional and easier to use when planning a night out.
The new functionality in the Funny Finder tool is based on learnings from last year around the sort of questions users asked and the sort of information they are seeking and need help to find.
Festival-goers can now ask Funny Finder to recommend comedians with a similar style or “vibe” to artists they have enjoyed in the past. The feature uses richer artist profiles on acts registered this year, as well as the shows they recommend, to deliver more accurate and relevant suggestions.
With many audiences attending in groups, choosing a show that works for everyone can be challenging. Datacom’s development team has enhanced the tool so Funny Finder can now factor in multiple comedy preferences at once, helping people find a show that suits diverse tastes.
Festival-goers can now ask questions like: “Some of us like X, some of us like Y – what show could we all enjoy?”
Last year it was clear from user questions that many people were looking for support with planning a night out too. In 2026, the Funny Finder tool incorporates recommendations for partner bars and restaurants, enabling festival-goers to get tailored suggestions for where to eat or drink before or after a show, or to find gigs near where they’re already dining.
“An evening at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is not just about the show you see, it’s a whole night out – grabbing a bite to eat with friends before or checking out a new bar for a post-show nightcap after,” says Denise Damianos, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Marketing & Partnership Director.
“These updates make Funny Finder more responsive to the way people really experience the festival – discovering fresh talent, visiting a new dining hot spot, coordinating group plans and helping plan a full night out filled with everything Melbourne has to offer.”
The 2026 enhancements were co-designed by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival team and Datacom, drawing on audience behaviour, real user prompts and data from last year’s festival. The collaboration builds on an approach that helped the team adopt AI safely, confidently and in ways that reflect the nuances of comedy and audience taste.
“Working alongside the festival team again this year meant we could refine the tool based on real audience needs. The new features keep Funny Finder simple, helpful and human – and they show what’s possible when AI design is grounded in genuine collaboration and user insight,” says Datacom Director of AI, Lou Compagnone.
Beyond comedy, the underlying technology that Datacom has developed opens the door to personalised discovery experiences for other major event programmes.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring this kind of personalised, conversational discovery experience to other events and programmes. The same approach can support large-scale festivals, sporting events and cultural venues such as galleries and museums – helping audiences navigate complex programmes with ease while giving organisers new ways to connect people with the experiences they’ll love.”
Funny Finder will be available throughout the 2026 Festival on the MICF website, helping audiences discover new artists, make faster decisions, and enjoy a more seamless night out across the city.
Discover how Datacom's tailored AI solutions can transform experiences and drive results. Our AI-powered 'Funny Finder' tool at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – now in its second year and supporting nearly 800 shows in the festival's 40th anniversary edition – delivered a more intuitive, natural way for audiences to get personalised show recommendations, attracting up to 6,000 daily interactions.
New for 2026, the tool acts as a full night-out concierge: matching festivalgoers with comedians similar to their favourites, helping groups with mixed tastes find shows everyone will enjoy and recommending nearby bars and restaurants to complete the evening. We blend deep local expertise with global AI capabilities to create human-first solutions for enterprises and government. We build strong foundations to help organisations harness AI effectively, accelerating their journey while enhancing, not disrupting, the workforce.
