Jimmy Carr returning to NZ: UK comedian to tour the country in 2026

British comedian Jimmy Carr's new 13-date tour of New Zealand will take place in January 2026. Photo / Supplied

He poked fun at New Plymouth and called Central Hawke’s Bay folk inbred last time he was here, and now controversial British comedian Jimmy Carr has announced he’s coming back for more with a 2026 New Zealand tour.

The 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown host, who has made headlines in the past for his boundary-pushing dark comedy, will perform 13 dates in regional and metropolitan centres across the country in January.

Touting “fast-paced, edgy one-liners” with his trademark brand of in-your-face humour, Carr’s new Laughs Funny tour (likely named after his distinguishable donkey-like laugh) aims to expand on the success of his previous outing, Terribly Funny, which was seen by more than 1.2 million people in 45 countries, including New Zealand.

“Some people are repelled by Jimmy’s dark brand of comedy. This show is not for them. But if it’s the kind of thing you like, then this is the kind of thing you’ll like,” an official press release for the tour said.

His 2023 New Zealand tour brought widespread success, with additional shows added and many dates selling out.

In New Plymouth the last time he was here, Carr took to Twitter/X with a picture of a knitted doll of himself and the caption: “I’m in New Zealand. First gig of the tour is in New Plymouth, which is frankly no improvement on the original”.

The gag simultaneously took aim at New Plymouth and the British city of Plymouth, with some taking offence to the tweet and biting back.

“Woah woah woah Jimmy I’m a big fan of you but don’t go dissing my city,” one said.

Hawke’s Bay Today editor Chris Hyde, in reviewing Carr’s Hastings show in 2023, noted how a number of the jokes were centred around vulnerable people and local community members.

“They’re just jokes, [Carr] implores as he mocks transgender issues and domestic violence victims, describes Central Hawke’s Bay residents as products of incest, and even laughs at gypsies, again,” Hyde said.

“Carr would argue that his constant jabs are designed to slowly bring down any of the politically correct walls his crowds bring into the theatre with them. But it just doesn’t feel necessary. ‘I’m going down swinging,’ he proclaims, as he hits his already weak opponents below the belt.”

Carr told podcaster Joe Rogan in 2023 about his experience involving a patched Hells Angels gang member while he was in NZ.

“I met a guy in Hamilton in New Zealand where they have biker gangs... I met him on stage. I’m chatting to a guy in the front row. ‘What do you do?‘” the comedian recalled asking the man.

The 2026 Laughs Funny tour will kick off in Invercargill on Wednesday, January 7, before finishing in Auckland on Wednesday, January 28.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, April 7, at 2pm from bohmpresents.com.

Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny 2026 NZ Tour dates

Invercargill – Civic Theatre – Wednesday, January 7 (Two shows)

Dunedin – Town Hall – Thursday, January 8

Queenstown – Events Centre – Friday, January 9 (Two shows)

Christchurch – Wolfbrook Arena – Saturday, January 10

Nelson – Trafalgar Centre – Tuesday, January 13

Wellington – TSB Arena – Wednesday, January 14

Palmerston North – Regent on Broadway – Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18

New Plymouth – TSB Stadium – Tuesday, January 20

Hawke’s Bay – Toitoi Events Centre – Wednesday, January 21 and Thursday, January 22

Rotorua – Sir Howard Morrison Centre – Saturday, January 24 (Two shows)

Tauranga – Mercury Baypark – Sunday, January 25

Hamilton – Globox Arena – Tuesday, January 27

Auckland – Spark Arena – Wednesday, January 28

Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.