Our festival is joining the Just for Laughs universe.

It’s been nearly ten years since the Gatineau Comedy Festival has been a major part of our summers. Over time, it has become an annual tradition where, year after year, we see the familiar faces of regulars sitting in the front rows. And today, this small event that we’ve watched grow is taking a huge step forward: it’s joining the Just for Laughs universe, the world’s largest network of comedy festivals.

What Changes and What Stays the Same

Specifically, the Just for Laughs Group is partnering with the Festival to oversee its production and development. So starting with the next edition, the event will operate under the Just for Laughs brand, with details regarding the brand identity to be finalized in the coming months.

Otherwise, the Festival will continue to be run by the same organization. Just for Laughs is joining the organizing team, and we’ll remain actively involved, both in co-production and on the ground. Basically, the local expertise stays in place and is complemented by international clout.

Why Now?

After nine years, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built. But in all humility, the Festival had reached the limit of what it could accomplish on our own. To take it to the next level, we needed a partner with the expertise, the network of artists, and the resources to think bigger. And in that regard, it’s hard to imagine anyone better than Just for Laughs.

Oh, and the timing is perfect. The next edition, in 2027, will also mark the Festival’s 10th anniversary. So we’ll have the chance to do something special to celebrate the occasion and launch the next chapter of the FHG.

The rest of the story

The Outaouais region is becoming the fourth area in Quebec where Just for Laughs is setting up shop, after Montreal, Quebec City, and Charlevoix. And it makes sense: we’re at the heart of a bilingual market of over a million people, straddling Quebec and Ontario, with tourism and corporate potential that everyone still underestimates.

For our part, we view this with great pride. With Orkestra Alliance’s bold venture comes the responsibility to acknowledge when we need additional expertise to ensure a project’s success. For FHG, that was the case. And we went out and found the expert in person. The result: a local project that’s made it to the big leagues without losing its DNA.

Thank you to everyone for nine incredible years, and see you in 2027 for a huge 10th edition.

(To read the official press release, click here!)