JUST FOR LAUGHS
Just For Laughs produces the world's largest comedy festival (Montreal, since 1983) and operates an international network of comedy festivals, content production (Gags, LOL), talent agency services, and the ComedyPRO industry marketplace, serving live audiences, broadcasters (Netflix, Prime Video, Crave), and comedy professionals globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersQuebec, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What JUST FOR LAUGHS does
Just For Laughs (JFL), legally operating as Juste Pour Divertir, is a privately held Montreal-based comedy entertainment company that produces the world's largest comedy festival (held annually since 1983) alongside an international network of festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City, Sydney, Singapore, Bermuda, Switzerland, and Belgium. The company serves three primary customer segments: live comedy audiences through festival ticketing, comedy industry professionals through its ComedyPRO marketplace and New Faces talent showcase (which has launched careers of Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Colin Jost, and Ali Wong), and broadcasters through content licensing of its owned television properties including the Gags hidden-camera series (broadcast in 100+ countries since 2000) and LOL non-verbal comedy sketches.
The company's business model is diversified across five revenue streams: (1) ticketed live event revenue from festivals across multiple cities including free outdoor shows at Place des Festivals, (2) content distribution and broadcasting licensing to 15+ Canadian and international broadcasters including Netflix, Prime Video, Crave, and CTV Comedy Channel, (3) digital platform monetization through YouTube channels and a new global FAST channel partnership with Stingray, (4) merchandise sales via the JFL BAZAAAR storefront, and (5) industry professional services through the ComedyPRO marketplace and Just For Laughs Agency talent representation subsidiary. The 2026 Montreal festival produced 61 television episodes and the company's digital properties have accumulated over 100 billion views reaching more than 100 million fans annually.
Following bankruptcy proceedings in 2024, the company was acquired by Sylvain Parent-Bédard's Just For Entertainment Group, which also operates a distribution subsidiary (Just For Laughs Distribution) handling global content sales and a talent agency connecting comedians with clients. The technology stack centers on live-event production and traditional media distribution with no AI/ML capabilities currently in evidence, and operates sub-brands including ComedyPRO, New Faces, JFL Originals, Gags, and LOL under the unified Just For Laughs / Juste pour rire / HAHAHA brand identity.
JUST FOR LAUGHS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JUST FOR LAUGHS
- Legal name
- Juste Pour Divertir
- Website
- https://hahaha.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Just For Laughs produces the world's largest comedy festival (Montreal, since 1983) and operates an international network of comedy festivals, content production (Gags, LOL), talent agency services, and the ComedyPRO industry marketplace, serving live audiences, broadcasters (Netflix, Prime Video, Crave), and comedy professionals globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JUST FOR LAUGHS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Comedy Entertainment and Content
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comedy Festivals (MPAGACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stand-Up Comedy Shows (MPAGACAA), Comedy Club & Showcase Nights (MPAGACAE), Comedy Shows & Spoken-Word Events (THAJAFAC)
Keywords
Where JUST FOR LAUGHS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Quebec
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
JUST FOR LAUGHS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Festival and Live Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales at comedy festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and international locations, including sold-out venues and free outdoor shows at Place des Festivals.
- Content Distribution and Broadcasting: Distribution and broadcasting of comedic content including films, television series, and comedy specials to international platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, Crave, and CTV Comedy Channel. The 2026 festival produced 61 television episodes distributed by 15 Canadian and international broadcasters.
- Digital Platforms and Media: Content available through digital platforms and media channels, with over 100 billion cumulative views. Partnership with Stingray to develop free ad-supported streaming TV channels globally.
- Merchandise: Sale of merchandise through the JFL BAZAAAR store, offering swag and articles inspired by the festival.
- Industry Marketplace Services: ComedyPRO industry marketplace providing networking, showcases, and deal-making opportunities for comedy industry professionals worldwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free outdoor shows included in festival experience |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
JUST FOR LAUGHS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Just For Laughs (JFL) operates the world's largest comedy festival held annually in Montreal since 1983, alongside international festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City, Sydney, Bermuda, Singapore, Belgium and Switzerland. The company produces and distributes comedy television and digital content through series such as Gags (hidden-camera format since 2000) and LOL (non-verbal sketches), reaching 100+ countries and over 100 billion cumulative views. It also runs the ComedyPRO industry marketplace, the New Faces talent showcase, and a talent booking agency.
Product overview
Just For Laughs (JFL) is a major Canadian entertainment group that operates primarily as a live comedy festival and content production company. The core offering is the Just For Laughs Montreal Festival—the world's largest comedy festival since 1983—alongside a network of international festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City, Singapore, Sydney, and Bermuda. JFL operates the ComedyPRO industry marketplace as part of the Montreal festival, which serves as a hub for comedy industry professionals with talent discovery programs like the New Faces showcase. The company's content portfolio includes Gags (hidden-camera series since 2000, broadcast in 100+ countries), LOL (non-verbal comedy sketches), and JFL Originals (podcast-style comedy albums). Just For Laughs distributes television content through 15+ Canadian and international broadcasters including Netflix and Prime Video, and has a strategic partnership with Stingray for global FAST channel expansion. The company also operates an Agency for talent representation and manages distribution operations globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ComedyPRO: The world's leading comedy industry marketplace held annually as part of the Just For Laughs Montreal Festival, helping launch and propel careers of renowned artists.
- New Faces
- JFL Originals
- Gags
- LOL
Products and services
- Just For Laughs Montreal Festival
- Just For Laughs Toronto Festival
- Just For Laughs Vancouver Festival
- Just For Laughs Quebec City Festival
- ComedyPRO Industry Marketplace
- Gags TV Series
- LOL TV Series
- JFL Originals
- Just For Laughs Agency
- New Faces Showcase Program
- Laugh List
- JFL BAZAAAR Merchandise Store
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 million fans entertained annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use JUST FOR LAUGHS
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
JUST FOR LAUGHS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration20 records
JUST FOR LAUGHS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- StingraycoreStrategic partnership to develop and expand free ad-supported streaming TV channels featuring comedy content globally. The collaboration combines Just for Laughs' comedy library with Stingray's expertise in channel creation and distribution to reach international audiences.
- SMOSHminorSMOSH returned as the Creators partner for the New Faces program in 2026, which showcases comedic creators as part of ComedyPRO programming.
- Semi-Formal ProductionsminorJoined as a new partner for the Writers program as part of the New Faces showcase in 2026.
- Electric AvenueminorPartnership with Electric Avenue to showcase select comic shorts and pilots during ComedyPRO programming at the festival.
- More BetterminorNew Faces Writers partnership with More Better for the 2026 ComedyPRO programming.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
JUST FOR LAUGHS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Comedy Store: Iconic comedy club and venue brand with operations in Los Angeles, London, and other cities. Directly comparable to JFL as a live comedy venue and showcase operator that launches and curates comedy talent through performance programming.
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The world's largest arts festival held annually in Edinburgh, including a major comedy programming strand. Directly comparable to JFL Montreal as a globally-recognized comedy festival with talent discovery, industry marketplace activity, and international touring comedians.
- Second City: Premier comedy theatre and training company operating venues, touring shows, and the world-famous improv/sketches brand. Comparable to JFL through live comedy production, talent development, and training programs.
- Laugh Factory: Major comedy club chain with locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Long Beach, and other cities. Comparable to JFL as a live comedy venue operator with a strong comedy brand and touring talent relationships.
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival: One of the world's largest comedy festivals held annually in Melbourne, Australia. Directly comparable to JFL Montreal as a flagship international comedy festival with talent discovery, industry programming, and a global touring circuit.
Emerging players
- Funny or Die: Digital comedy platform producing and distributing short-form comedy content, with a roster of comedians and creator partnerships. Comparable to JFL across content creation and distribution, though focused on digital-native rather than festival-first formats.
Others
- Just For Entertainment Group (Parent): The parent conglomerate of Just For Laughs, founded by Sylvain Parent Bédard in 1997, which acquired the JFL assets in 2024. Listed as a related-party peer given the operational overlap and shared distribution/agency infrastructure.
Regional players
- SF Sketchfest: San Francisco's annual comedy festival featuring sketch comedy, stand-up, and alternative comedy acts. Comparable to JFL as a festival operator with programming across multiple comedy formats, though smaller in scale and primarily US-West-Coast focused.
Broad incumbents
- Live Nation Entertainment: The world's largest live entertainment company promoting concerts, festivals, and ticketed events globally. Comparable to JFL as a promoter and operator of live comedy and entertainment festivals, though with a much broader portfolio spanning music and other genres.
- Netflix Is A Joke: Netflix's comedy festival and content brand, hosting live events and amplifying the platform's original comedy specials. Comparable to JFL as a comedy festival organizer and content distributor, though backed by Netflix's much larger platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
JUST FOR LAUGHS social profiles
Digital presenceJUST FOR LAUGHS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JUST FOR LAUGHS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
JUST FOR LAUGHS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
JUST FOR LAUGHS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JUST FOR LAUGHS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about JUST FOR LAUGHS
What does JUST FOR LAUGHS do?
Just For Laughs (JFL) operates the world's largest comedy festival held annually in Montreal since 1983, alongside international festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City, Sydney, Bermuda, Singapore, Belgium and Switzerland. The company produces and distributes comedy television and digital content through series such as Gags (hidden-camera format since 2000) and LOL (non-verbal sketches), reaching 100+ countries and over 100 billion cumulative views. It also runs the ComedyPRO industry marketplace, the New Faces talent showcase, and a talent booking agency.
Is JUST FOR LAUGHS a public or private company?
JUST FOR LAUGHS is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was JUST FOR LAUGHS founded?
JUST FOR LAUGHS was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is JUST FOR LAUGHS based?
JUST FOR LAUGHS is headquartered in Quebec, Canada, in the North America region.
How does JUST FOR LAUGHS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Festival and Live Event Revenue is the primary driver. The others are content Distribution and Broadcasting, digital Platforms and Media, merchandise and industry Marketplace Services.
Who are JUST FOR LAUGHS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Comedy Store, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Second City, Laugh Factory and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Funny or Die is listed as an emerging player. Just For Entertainment Group (Parent) is listed as an others. SF Sketchfest is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Live Nation Entertainment and Netflix Is A Joke.
Does JUST FOR LAUGHS have an API?
No public API is recorded for JUST FOR LAUGHS.
What industry is JUST FOR LAUGHS in?
JUST FOR LAUGHS's product category is Live Comedy Entertainment and Content. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGACAD, Comedy Festivals, with a secondary code of MPAGACAA, Stand-Up Comedy Shows. Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.