Make ‘em laugh… The New Wave of Standup Season 7 brings together another incredible array of 14 comedians from across the country. The live show taping returns to the iconic Gastown establishment, Guilt & Co. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
A special element of Just for Laughs VANCOUVER, The New Wave of Standup (2024 Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Comedy Special) has successfully curated the best list of homegrown, up-and-coming comedians for the most discerning audiences season after season, and this year is no exception. The excitement and dynamic energy that builds in the room is undeniable, as each and every performer brings their A-game onto the stage. This one magical night of standup comedy featuring Canada’s future stars has become a fan favourite, and The New Wave of Standup will premiere its seventh season on CBC and CBC Gem later this year (date TBD).
The New Wave of Standup Season 7 artists’ lineup includes:
- ABBAS WAHAB is a New York–based, Canadian comedian and actor. He's been featured at the Just For Laughs and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, and is best known for his role as a SWAT officer in M. Night Shyamalan's TRAP. Wahab has appeared in hit TV shows including The Boys, What We Do in the Shadows, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He has opened for comedy legends Tom Green and Brian Holtzman, and has built a loyal following of over 350k fans on Instagram and TikTok: @abbaswahab_.
- ALASDAIR TREMBLAY-BIRCHALL is a Canadian/Australian with 10 years of experience writing jokes for TV, for shows such as The Roast of John Cleese and Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell. Alasdair wrote and co-hosted the science comedy quiz show The Pop Test for Australia's Radio National; hosted over 500 episodes of the comedy sketch idea podcast Two in the Think Tank with Andy Matthews, and is the voice of the comedy guided meditation podcast Shusher Guided Meditations. He loves standup, the nice Montreal comedy community and getting opportunities to work in Canadian film and TV.
- ANDREW PACKER is known for his stand out performances on the hit show Kill Tony and for Man News, his comedy news series that has attracted over 1.2 million subscribers with over one billion views on YouTube. Andrew has headlined in over 15 countries, with highlight performances on Netflix is a Joke Radio, Just For Laughs Festival and the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. His debut comedy special On Guard is available on YouTube, amassing over 100,000 views in its first year. His next special Never Call Her Crazy is scheduled for release by Dry Bar Comedy later this year.
- ANJELICA SCANNURA is a 2025 Just For Laughs New Face of standup, the first Canadian woman to win the Boston Comedy Festival, and she also won the Jersey City Comedy Festival. Her debut comedy EP with JFL Originals can be heard on SiriusXM, with a JFL Live Sessions recording set for release later this year. She’s appeared on the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and CBC’s Laugh Out Loud, and has opened for Shane Gillis, Joe List, Stavros Halkias, Rachel Feinstein, Jay Pharoah, Tom Green and Cipha Sounds. She was also featured on Roast Battle Canada at JFL Montreal.
- BITA JOUDAKI is a Toronto-based Iranian/Canadian TV writer and comedian, originally from Vancouver, and has performed standup comedy at festivals across Canada and the United States. Bita is currently writing on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and has also worked as a writer on the hit CTV series, Children Ruin Everything; the children’s animation series Caillou and Peppa Pig, as well as the adult animation series, Doomlands. Bita landed a development deal at CBC for her original tween animation series, Leila and the Zit, and is developing several half-hour scripted comedy series.
- CASS FURMAN is a standup comedian based out of Vancouver, who is thrilled to be included in the seventh season of The New Wave of Standup. She has been featured on SiriusXM, Just For Laughs Originals Album (2024), Comedy Here Often and graced the cover of the Georgia Straight. She co-hosts and produces two frequently sold out Vancouver shows, Pillow Talk and Couples Clownselling, and also hosts the comedy/advice podcast, The PodCass.
- DUSTIN SEARCY was born with a cheeky attitude and obsession for the ridiculous, and is damn fun to watch. His joke-packed storytelling feels playful yet cathartic, and has led to critical success; Dustin has appeared on the Top Comedian showcase at the Monsoon Art Festival, Just For Laughs Toronto, and Just For Laughs Northwest. Dustin has also delivered a standout performance as ‘John’, the lovable, but misguided love interest on the acclaimed Apple TV sitcom, Our Big Punjabi Family.
- EMMANUEL LOMURO is a Sudanese refugee who was born in Cairo, Egypt before embarking on a life journey that took him to the prairies of Winnipeg, Manitoba. As one of Canada’s top young talents, his comedy reflects his journey from a young refugee to seasoned performer, blending the poignant with the hilarious. Emmanuel has been featured as part of Comedy Records Top Prospects album as well as the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Just for Laughs Toronto and CBC’s Laugh Out Loud. As an actor, his skills have been showcased on CBC's hit TV series, The Porter.
- HANNAH VELDHOEN has quickly become a rising star in Toronto’s robust comedy scene. She performs at clubs and festivals throughout North America including Just For Laughs Toronto and has been featured on CBC. Originally from Oshawa, she shared the stage with Annie Lederman and Stavros Halkias and was featured as part of Comedy Records’ Top Prospects album that was released in the fall of 2025.
- MARK THOMSON is a gay ex-evangelical who loves a cream filled pastry. Mark got his start in Chicago as a regular performer at the famous iO Theater and has since performed standup across Canada and the US. His standup performances have been featured on CBC and OutTV.
- NIKI MOHRDAR is a standup comedian based out of Vancouver. She has been featured at Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, YVR Funny Season 2, OutTV's KillJoy, Just For Laughs Originals, Comedy Here Often and the South Rock Comedy Festival. In 2025, she hosted the new reality TV show, Fade Masters, featured on Telus Optik. She is also a co-host of Pillow Talk, which has been featured on Just For Laughs' Best of the West and Vancouver Fringe.
- SAM BURNS is an electrifying standup comedian whose performances are a blend of off-the-cuff silliness, and relatable humor. Having toured across Canada, he has opened for the renowned Michelle Wolf and has been featured on SiriusXM and Just for Laughs. Sam’s comedic journey reached new heights with his debut standup special, LMNOP, now available on YouTube. Audiences everywhere can’t get enough of his unique brand of comedy!
- SAVANNAH ERASMUS is an Indigenous comedian and writer based in Vancouver, from Kikino Metis Settlement and Cold Lake First Nation, in Treaty 6 Territory. Her Indigenous perspective, awkward confidence and storytelling creates a unique standup persona that audiences adore. Savannah co-hosts and co-produces Camp Comedy and Millennial Line and has appeared at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs Toronto, and Just For Laughs VANCOUVER and the JFL Originals comedy compilation album.
- VIZA is Toronto’s Queen Of Mean & Curator Of Chaos, VIZA is an experience unlike any other. Originally from Hamilton, ON, VIZA’s career spans over 17 years, and has been featured on CRAVE, CBC Gem, SiriusXM and the JFL Toronto 2025 lineup, where she recorded a standup comedy set during the festival's "Sessions". She has had the privilege of opening for several major touring acts including Caroline Rhea and Tim Murray, and last spring, released her debut comedy album VIZA: A (Semi) Legend In The Making.
Sylvain Parent-Bédard (President and CEO, Just For Laughs): “The New Wave of Standup is where it all begins. You discover these comedians here first, and then suddenly they’re everywhere — across our festivals, on our platforms, and in front of millions of comedy fans around the world. That journey is what makes this series so exciting.”
Heather Wallace (Partner and Festival Director, Just For Laughs VANCOUVER): “Celebrating its seventh season, The New Wave of Standup continues to cultivate connection through comedy – an incredible opportunity for our performers to shine, and a chance for audiences to discover some new favourites in the standup circuit!”
For decades, Just For Laughs has been a supportive platform for emerging comedy talent and is thrilled to join forces yet again with CBC to give these comedians, as well as their audiences, the night of their lives. Even better still, The New Wave of Standup is actually filmed at a Just For Laughs festival. Across all of its events, Just For Laughs has welcomed tens of millions of fans over more than 40 years, and as an entity has now amassed over 70 million subscribers on its digital platforms.
Sylvain Parent-Bedard (President and CEO, Just For Laughs), Heather Wallace (Owner, NorthWest Comedy), Nick Brazao (VP of Talent and Programming, Just For Laughs), and Spencer Griffin (Executive Producer and VP of Television and Creative Strategy, Just For Laughs) serve as the Executive Producers for The New Wave of Standup Season 7; with Trish Neufeld as Director.
To Follow on Social Media:
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@justforlaughs
@jflvancouver
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ABOUT JUST FOR LAUGHS Founded in 1983 and led since 2025 by Sylvain Parent-Bédard and his team, which brings over 25 years of industry expertise, the Just For Laughs Group is a major Canadian-Québec cultural institution with a simple and universal mission: spreading laughter across the globe. A global leader in comedy, we produce ComedyPRO, the international industry hub, as part of the world’s two largest comedy festivals, in Montréal and Québec. We also present festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, Singapore, and Bermuda.
The “Just For Laughs” is internationally recognized and has helped launch the careers of many renowned comedians. Driven by innovation and inclusion, and guided by a deep passion for our craft, we collaborate with top talent and partners to create, produce, broadcast, and distribute comedy in all its forms; films, television series, theater, musicals, solo performances, multi-artist shows, and festivals. Each year, nearly 100 million fans engage with our content across our platforms and digital channels, which to date have generated more than 100 billion views.
ABOUT NORTHWEST COMEDY - NorthWest Comedy has been a cornerstone of Vancouver’s vibrant comedy scene for over a decade. The company has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality events, and excels in event production, management, business development, and strategic partnerships. The company is behind Western Canada’s largest comedy festival Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, offering a platform for both local and international talent to shine. NorthWest Comedy’s comprehensive expertise has been integral to the festival’s success, ensuring it continues to grow year after year.
NorthWest Comedy’s influence extends beyond live events. In recent years, the company has expanded into TV and audio production, with six seasons of the critically acclaimed and award-nominated series The New Wave of Standup for CBC Gem, as well as the production of 9 standup comedy albums. This expansion into digital and broadcast content underscores NorthWest Comedy’s forward-thinking approach and its dedication to shaping the future of comedy in all its forms. At the heart of NorthWest Comedy’s continued success is its organic growth and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the comedy industry, ensuring that both established and emerging talent have the opportunity to perform on some of the biggest stages in the province all year round.
ABOUT CBC/RADIO-CANADA - CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
