Cotonou Comedy Festival Returns for Second Edition

The Cotonou Comedy Festival, organized by Jokenation in partnership with the Beninese government, will take place from December 1-6, 2026. The event aims to consolidate a professional ecosystem, promote new talents, and increase the visibility of Beninese and African humor. The festival's ambitions and program were presented at a press conference in Cotonou on November 9, 2026.

The second edition of the festival builds on the success of the first edition, which brought together 48 artists from Africa and Europe and attracted over 4,500 spectators. This year's event will feature a variety of activities, including the Tremplin du Rire, a national competition to detect and support new Beninese comedians. Auditions for the competition will be held in Parakou and Cotonou on November 14 and 15, 2026.

The Tremplin du Rire will select four talents from each of the two cities, providing them with three days of training and coaching at the French Institute of Benin. The selected comedians will then perform at Abomey-Calavi and the Village du Rire in Cotonou. According to Grégoire Furrer, founder of Montreux Comedy and president of Jokenation, young talents who impress during their first participation may be invited back the following year to build their careers.

The festival's program includes six days of events, starting with the training of Tremplin du Rire winners on December 1, 2026. The 2nd and 3rd of December will feature the Rencontres de l'Humour Africain, with panel discussions and masterclasses on the challenges of African comedy clubs and artist career management. On December 3, 2026, the eight young talents from Tremplin du Rire will perform at the Espace Mayton in Abomey-Calavi.

The festival will also feature several high-profile events, including the Gala Sacrées Amazones on December 4, 2026, at the Palais des Congrès, which will showcase an all-female lineup of comedians from various countries. The following day, the Gala pour Deux will present a scripted show starring Oualas and Moussa Petit Sergent. Additionally, the Village du Rire & Panaf Comedy Club will offer free performances on the premises of the Palais des Congrès on December 4 and 5, 2026.

The Cotonou Comedy Festival has gained significant popularity, with over 400,000 followers on social media and more than 30 million views. The organizers aim to double these numbers to establish themselves among the largest comedy brands in French-speaking countries. For the Beninese government, the goal is to make Cotonou the capital of African humor and Benin a major cultural destination.

The second edition of the Cotonou Comedy Festival promises six days of entertainment and meetings, with a focus on discovering new talents, humor performances, and shows by renowned African comedians. The event will take place in Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, and Parakou from December 1-6, 2026.

Key points

• The Cotonou Comedy Festival will feature the Tremplin du Rire, a national competition to detect and support new Beninese comedians.