Every year, around the time Indian cities begin oscillating between unbearable heat, biblical rain forecasts and WhatsApp messages about waterlogging, a curious migration begins. The comedians leave. The next few months will see some of the biggest names in Indian stand-up at airports around the world, heading into theatres, comedy clubs and festival venues—temporary outposts of Indian humour.
For Indians abroad, these tours are part comedy show, part cultural recharge. A chance to spend an 90 minutes hearing someone complain about relatives, weddings, bureaucracy and the unique psychological damage of growing up Indian.
For everyone else, they’re a useful reminder of just how global Indian stand-up has become. What was once a scene largely confined to a handful of cities now routinely fills rooms across continents.
Whether you’re an NRI looking for a taste of home, a student desperate to hear a familiar accent, or simply planning your summer travels around things other than museums, here’s your guide to the Indian comedians touring internationally this season and where to catch them.
1. Anubhav Singh Bassi – Kisi Ko Batana Mat (North America & Dubai, May–June)
Anubhav Singh Bassi’s humour consistently feels like the funniest college friend got access to one of the biggest stages in the world. Fresh off selling out arenas and cementing himself as one of India’s biggest stand-up draws, he’s taking Kisi Ko Batana Mat across North America and Dubai. Expect wildly escalating stories, questionable decision-making and enough “there’s no way this actually happened” moments to keep you guessing till the very end. Sab ko batao, and get your tickets here.
2. Rohan Joshi – Getting There (Europe, August–September)
Rohan Joshi’s return to standup felt like public service. In Getting There, he takes on ageing and his inevitable transformation into an Indian unc. If your sense of humour sits somewhere between existential dread, niche internet-laced tangents and the horrifying realisation that you’re becoming your parents, it’s time to buy a ticket. Catch one of India’s most distinctive comedic voices live across the UK and Europe this August.
Get your tickets here.
3. Swati Sachdeva – Swati Sachdeva Live (Australia, September)
Swati Sachdeva’s comedy operates on the principle that no thought is too personal to say out loud. Drawing from relationships, family dynamics and the messy realities of modern adulthood, she has a special talent for making audiences feel seen before making everyone in the room just a tad uncomfortable. Candid, self-aware and just the right amount of kooky, her sets often feel like scrolling through the voice notes of the funniest person in your group chat. If laughter is your preferred coping mechanism, catch her live across Australia this September.
Get your tickets here.
4. Kanan Gill – Not This Again (Australia, Europe & North America, July-November)
Kanan Gill has built an entire career out of making neurosis look charming, with jokes that feel deceptively casual till you realise he’s zooming in on all of your insecurities with terrifying precision. Fresh off What Is This?, a show that turns overthinking into an unexpected masterclass in life philosophy, Gill is taking his latest material to more than 50 cities worldwide. Expect elegantly engineered callbacks, existential spirals and observations so specific they’ll feel less like jokes and more like a personal audit. Enjoy laughing while feeling mildly attacked? Look no further.
Get your tickets here.
5. Abhishek Upmanyu – Toxic (Europe, July-August)
Having mastered the art of turning intrusive thoughts into knee-slapping comedy, Abhishek Upmanyu brings his humour to Europe once again this year. Few comedians are better at taking a perfectly ordinary observation and spiralling it into complete absurdity. Whether he’s dissecting Indian habits, social awkwardness or the chaos inside his own head, his comedy often feels like watching a meticulously managed nervous breakdown unfold in real time. Thankfully for audiences, it’s (always) hilarious.
Get your tickets here.
6. Rahul Subramanian – Live (Europe, June-July)
Rahul Subramanian has spent years proving that the modern workplace is one of comedy’s richest ecosystems. In Who Are You?, his latest special, he mines humour from workplace absurdities to the slow-moving existential crisis that is modern adulthood. Few comedians capture the peculiar frustrations of office life quite like Subramanian—whether it’s meetings that should’ve been emails, jargon masquerading as communication or the quiet dread of opening your laptop on a Monday morning. If your week is measured in deadlines, calendar invites and looking busy, Subramanian remains your most reliable comic spokesperson.
Get your tickets here.
7. Shamik Chakrabarti – Live (Europe, July)
Shamik Chakrabarti has spent the last few years quietly establishing himself as one of Indian comedy’s sharpest writers. Following acclaimed runs of Despite Appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre, he’s bringing his latest material to Europe this July. Thoughtful without being self-important and painfully funny without ever trying too hard, Chakrabarti specialises in comedy that lingers long after the punchline lands. The winner of the Next Big Thing award at the 2025 DeadAnt Comedy Awards, he is one of the most rewarding acts in Indian stand-up right now—and one well worth catching live.
Get tickets here.
8. Madhur Virli – Casual Tea (UK, May-June)
Madhur Virli has built a cult following on the strength of comedy that feels perpetually one intrusive thought away from complete disaster. Armed with a deceptively calm delivery, he ventures into territory most people would wisely avoid, mining laughs from family dynamics, relationships and the increasingly bizarre experience of existing online. Virli has a gift for articulating the kinds of thoughts that usually remain trapped between your brain and your better judgement. Catch him across the UK this summer.
Get your tickets here.
9. Gaurav Kapoor – Live (Singapore, UK & North America, June-October)
Few comedians make stand-up look as effortless as Gaurav Kapoor. Whether he’s recounting family anecdotes, navigating fatherhood or bouncing off an audience member, Kapoor’s comedy feels remarkably unforced—as though the punchlines are simply finding him along the way. Part storyteller, part crowdwork assassin, he’s built a loyal following on the strength of sheer likeability and consistently funny observations. Catch him in Singapore, the UK and North America this year.
Get tickets here.
10. Rahul Dua – Allow Me! (Australia, June-July)
Rahul Dua’s comedy thrives in the gap between how life is supposed to work and how it actually does. With sharp observations and a deceptively relaxed stage presence, he turns everyday annoyances into potent laugh-out-loud material. Somehow, the older he gets, the more he sounds like a man who has read the terms and conditions of adulthood and would like to file a complaint. He’s bringing that signature blend of exasperation and hilarity to Australia over the next two months.
Dua Squad, get your tickets here,
11. Gaurav Gupta – Live (Australia & North America, May-June)
Few comedians commit to a bit quite like Gaurav Gupta. Whether he’s talking about family, baniya culture or the peculiar habits of Indian communities, every observation is delivered with maximum volume and absolute conviction. Watching Gupta live often feels like being yelled at by the funniest person in the room. Fortunately for audiences in Australia and North America, he’s bringing that trademark energy on tour this year.
Get your tickets here.
12. Aditya Gundeti – Oversmartgiri (United Kingdom, July)
Aditya Gundeti has become one of the most relatable voices for young Indians navigating the chaos of adulthood. Through his sketches and stand-up, he finds humour in everything from college life and corporate culture to the increasingly difficult task of pretending you know what you’re doing. Add a growing roster of memorable characters to the mix, and you’ve got a comedian who really understands his audience. Catch him in the UK this July.
Get your tickets here.
13. Ravi Gupta – Kal Ki Chinta Nahi Karta (Europe, May-July)
Ravi Gupta has an eye for detail that perfectly captures the absurdity of everyday life. Whether he’s documenting his travels through vlogs or dissecting the quirks of modern Indian life on stage, he consistently finds humour in the small moments most people barely notice. Armed with trademark sarcasm and an impeccably straight-faced delivery, Gupta has a way of making the mundane impossible to ignore. He’s bringing his latest material to audiences across Europe this summer.
Get your tickets here.
14. Amit Tandon – Halwa (Europe & USA, September-October)
Amit Tandon has spent years proving that everyday family life is full of you-couldn’t-make-this-up moments. Marriage, parenting and the countless negotiations required to keep relationships functioning are all fair game in his comedy. Rooted in sharp observation and effortless storytelling, Tandon’s humour mines a rich vein of experiences audiences recognise instantly but rarely stop to examine on their own. Warm, relatable and consistently funny, he remains one of the safest bets for a great night of stand-up.
Get tickets here.
15. Kaneez Surka – Live (USA & Europe, June – October)
Kaneez Surka has spent the last few years rebuilding her life—and her comedy—in New York. The result is some of her most personal work yet, exploring identity, belonging, relationships and the awkward realities of starting over from scratch. Fresh off touring India with Foreign Return, Surka returns to the US with the same warmth, vulnerability and sharp storytelling that made I Found My People such a memorable debut special. There are a few stops across the pond along the way, too.
Get your tickets here.
16. Harsh Gujral – Harsh ‘O’ Ullas (Australia & Europe, June-September)
Harsh Gujral has built one of the most dedicated fanbases in Indian comedy by making audiences part of every show. Armed with high-energy storytelling, quick-fire improvisation and a willingness to say what everyone else is thinking (a quality that has occasionally landed him in hot water), his performances feel delightfully unpredictable from start to finish. His crowd work clips regularly rack up millions of views, and anyone who’s seen him live knows exactly why. Catch him bringing that controlled chaos to Australia and Europe this year.
Get tickets here.
17. Varun Thakur – Bollywood Post Mortem (Amsterdam & London, July)
Varun Thakur has spent years giving off the energy of a man who should have been in Bollywood by now. Between his alter-ago Vicky Malhotra and a career-long fascination with Indian pop culture, he’s remained a devoted student of the industry’s peculiar logic. In Bollywood Post Mortem, he finally channels that obsession into a full show, unpacking everything from cinematic clichés to the gloriously irrational choices that keep Hindi cinema running. If you’ve ever loved Bollywood and been deeply confused by it at the same time, this one’s for you. Catch him live in Amsterdam and London this July.
Get tickets here.
18. Tarang Hardikar – If I’m Not Wrong (Europe, June-August)
Tarang Hardikar’s comedy feels like someone weaponised overthinking. Armed with bizarre observations, hyper-specific spirals and questions nobody else would think to ask, he’s quickly built a reputation as one of the most distinctive new voices in Indian stand-up. Following the success of If I’m Not Wrong, he’s taking the show across Europe, culminating in a solo run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.
Tickets for the EU tour here, and the festival here.
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