Montreux Comedy

What Montreux Comedy does

Montreux Comedy is a Swiss-founded media and entertainment company that produces the largest French-language comedy festival in Europe. Founded in 1989 by Grégoire Furrer and headquartered in Montreux, Switzerland, the company operates the annual Montreux Comedy Festival across two venues (Théâtre de Beaulieu in Lausanne and 2M2C in Montreux), with the 37th edition scheduled for November 11–22, 2026.

The company's product portfolio spans live event production, digital content distribution, touring shows, talent development, premium membership, and merchandise. Core products include the flagship 12-day festival featuring multiple galas, the La Tournée touring show launched in 2025 across 23 Zénith venues in France plus the Palais des Sports in Paris, the La Chaîne Montreux Comedy YouTube channel distributing free comedy sketches globally, La Relève Montreux Comedy (a talent-discovery platform) and its MACIF-backed La Relève de Ouf! casting competition across 5 French cities, the Montreux Comedy Pop Up international events launched in 2021, and Club Affaires Rire (a 5,000 CHF/year premium corporate membership). Distribution is multi-platform, combining live venue ticketing (proprietary billetterie.montreuxcomedy.com plus FNAC), TV broadcast partnerships (Canal+, Comédie+, RTS, Léman Bleu, La Télé), YouTube, and a Shopify e-commerce merchandise store.

Montreux Comedy generates revenue through five streams: direct ticket sales (transaction fees), sponsorship and partnership revenue (main partner Zurich Insurance, official sponsors ValJob and In Extenso, plus media and institutional partners), the recurring Club Affaires Rire subscription, broadcasting and media-rights licensing, and merchandise sales. The company serves French-speaking comedy audiences across the Francophonie (Switzerland, France, Belgium, Canada, Benin) and reports reaching over 5 million people annually across the Francophonie and over 20 million French viewers cumulatively. The festival is organized under the Fondation du festival du Rire de Montreux and operated commercially by GF Productions SA, with multiple sister festivals (Lillarious, Le Vous Rire, Exclam, Cotonou Comedy Festival, La Revue Vaudoise) consolidated under the Jokenation group.

Name

Montreux Comedy

Legal name

GF Productions SA

Website

https://montreuxcomedy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Montreux Comedy is a Swiss media company that produces Europe's largest French-language comedy festival, plus year-round touring shows, YouTube content, a talent discovery platform, and a premium corporate membership, serving Francophone audiences across Europe, Africa, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Festival & Entertainment Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Festivals (MPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC), Concert & Tour Promoters (MPAIAFAA)

Keywords

• Live comedy festivals
• Comedy gala productions
• Comedy content distribution
• Talent casting competitions
• Event sponsorship partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreux

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Direct sales of individual gala tickets and premium pass experiences (First Row, Backstage) through the festival's proprietary ticketing platform and third-party points of sale such as FNAC.
2. Sponsorship & Partnerships: Revenue from main partner (Zurich), official sponsors (ValJob, In Extenso), official partners, event partners, Club Affaires Rire premium memberships, and media/broadcast partners.
3. Club Affaires Rire: Annual premium corporate membership at 5,000 CHF/year offering VIP badges, reserved parking, preferential ticket pricing, cocktail dinatoire invitations, and year-round club dinner invitations.
4. Broadcasting & Media Rights: Content distributed through TV channels (Canal+, Comédie+, RTS, Léman Bleu, La Télé) generating media rights and broadcasting revenue.
5. Merchandise Sales: Online boutique (montreux-comedy.myshopify.com) selling branded merchandise including socks, beanies, hoodies, insulated water bottles, and notebooks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montreux Comedy produces and operates the annual Montreux Comedy Festival — Europe's largest Francophone comedy festival — alongside a nationwide French tour (La Tournée), international pop-up events, a year-round YouTube content channel (La Chaîne), a talent discovery program (La Relève), a premium corporate membership club (Club Affaires Rire), and a branded merchandise e-commerce store. The company monetizes through direct ticket sales, sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and B2B membership fees.

Product overview

Montreux Comedy operates as a multi-platform entertainment company centered on the annual Montreux Comedy Festival, the largest French-language comedy festival in Europe. The product portfolio consists of the core festival (featuring themed galas over 12 days in Lausanne and Montreux), a 23-venue touring show ('La Tournée') across France, the La Chaîne YouTube channel distributing free comedy content, the official Shopify-based merchandise store (La Boutique), a talent development program (La Relève) with international editions, a premium corporate membership club (Club Affaires Rire), international pop-up events (Montreux Comedy Pop Up), and a dedicated press office. The company also develops and manages related comedy festivals internationally under the Jokenation group umbrella.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Chaine Montreux Comedy: Digital content platform featuring comedic videos, sketches, and performances from festival artists on YouTube
• Montreux Comedy Pop Up
• La Relève Montreux Comedy
• Club Affaires Rire

Products and services

• Montreux Comedy Festival The flagship annual French-language comedy festival held over 12 days across two Swiss cities (Lausanne and Montreux), featuring themed galas with headline and emerging comedians; recognized as the largest Francophone comedy festival in Europe.
• La Tournée Montreux Comedy A touring comedy show spanning 23 Zénith arenas across France plus the Palais des Sports in Paris, featuring a curated troupe of 8 comedians led by host Jérémy Crédeville; launched in 2025 to extend Montreux Comedy's reach across French-speaking audiences beyond Switzerland.
• La Chaîne Montreux Comedy (YouTube Channel) A curated YouTube channel hosting short-form comedy sketches, gala highlights, and original content featuring the festival's artists; distributed free online to international Francophone audiences.
• Montreux Comedy Pop Up International pop-up comedy shows staged outside Switzerland in partnership with local venues and broadcast online; first launched in 2021 at the Théâtre de la Tour Eiffel in Paris.
• La Relève Montreux Comedy A talent-scouting platform and competition for emerging French-speaking comedians, with country-specific editions (Switzerland, Africa, etc.) culminating in a live gala showcase at the festival; includes the MACIF-presented La Relève de Ouf! casting competition across 5 French cities in 2026.
• Club Affaires Rire Premium business networking and hospitality club for corporate partners offering 2 permanent non-nominative VIP badges, 6 first-category seats for opening gala, reserved parking, cocktail dinatoire invitations, and year-round club dinner invitations; annual membership at 5,000 CHF/year.
• La Boutique Montreux Comedy Official merchandise online store selling branded items including socks, beanies, hoodies, insulated water bottles, and notebooks; operated via Shopify (montreux-comedy.myshopify.com) and at the festival hall.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5 million people connected through the Francophonie annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered main partner (flagship), core and minor.

• Zurich Insurancemain partner (flagship)GTM or Marketing PartnerPrincipal partner of the Montreux Comedy Festival. Zurich Insurance's logo appears prominently on the festival website and materials as the main sponsor.
• Canal+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcasting partner distributing Montreux Comedy content through Canal+ and its Comédie+ channel to French-speaking audiences.
• ValJobminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the festival.
• In ExtensominorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the festival.
• Vaud PromotioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner promoting the Vaud canton; supports the festival as a regional cultural initiative.
• DorierminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner providing sponsorship services for the festival.
• Montreux RivieracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism body supporting the festival as a key cultural event for Montreux Riviera.
• Beaulieu LausannecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConference and venue center hosting the Théâtre de Beaulieu, the main festival venue. Also supporting Swiss comedy scene through events like TRANSGRES-SUISSE.
• 2M2C Montreux Music & Convention CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestival venue host for closing galas, located in Montreux.
• TGV LyriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner offering train transport (from 39€ Paris > Lausanne/Geneva) for festival attendees.
• ibis (Accor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner providing accommodation options for festival attendees.
• RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss public broadcaster and media partner of the festival.
• Léman BleuminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional Swiss television channel broadcasting festival content.
• La TéléminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss romande television channel as a media/broadcast partner.
• SACEMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench collective society for authors and composers providing institutional support.
• MACIFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMutual insurance company co-presenting 'La Relève de Ouf!' talent casting competition with Montreux Comedy across 5 French cities in 2026.
• Lillarious (Lille)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComedy festival in Lille, France. The international final of La Relève Montreux Comedy will be held in February 2027 at Lillarious. Both festivals are part of the Jokenation group.
• Cotonou Comedy FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Jokenation group portfolio of comedy events spanning three continents.
• La Revue VaudoisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Jokenation group; annual comedy review show in Montreux.
• Exclam (Montréal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Jokenation group; comedy festival in Montreal, Canada.
• Le Vous Rire (Liège)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Jokenation group; comedy festival in Liège, Belgium.
• GF Productions SAcoreOthersProduction company (registered in Montreux) that produces the Montreux Comedy Festival and is the contracting entity for ticket purchases. VAT: CHE-460.578.670.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Just For Laughs: Montreal-based comedy festival founded in 1983, operating galas, a touring circuit, and a talent discovery platform across the Francophone and Anglophone markets. Closest direct analog to Montreux Comedy in scale, format, and positioning as a flagship comedy festival brand.
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival: One of the world's three largest comedy festivals, running a multi-week program of galas, stand-up showcases, and televised specials. Comparable to Montreux Comedy as a flagship Anglophone comedy festival with touring, broadcast, and talent development operations.
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The world's largest arts and comedy festival, with a multi-week program, thousands of performances, and global media reach. Comparable to Montreux Comedy in operating a major annual comedy showcase with broad international audience and broadcaster engagement.
• Netflix Is A Joke Festival: Netflix's flagship comedy festival in Los Angeles aggregating global stand-up talent for live audiences and streaming content. Comparable to Montreux Comedy as a modern festival-plus-streaming content platform monetizing both ticket and media rights.

Broad incumbents

• AEG Presents: Global live entertainment promoter operating festivals, venue networks, and touring productions. Comparable to Montreux Comedy's La Tournée model of multi-venue comedy tours, but as a diversified incumbent across genres and geographies.
• Live Nation Entertainment: Global live entertainment conglomerate producing concerts, tours, and festivals at scale, including comedy tours. Comparable to Montreux Comedy as a touring-event operator with multi-venue reach, but at vastly greater scale and breadth across music, comedy, and other genres.
• Canal+ (Comédie+): French premium broadcaster operating the Comédie+ channel, a key distribution partner for Montreux Comedy and a producer of its own comedy specials. Comparable as a monetized distributor and producer of Francophone comedy content with overlapping sponsor relationships.

Emerging players

• Funny Or Die: Digital-first comedy media platform producing original sketches, series, and short-form video distributed online. Comparable to La Chaîne Montreux Comedy as a digital comedy content platform competing for the same online comedy audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/montreuxcomedy
• Facebookfacebook.com/Montreux.Comedy.Festival
• Instagraminstagram.com/montreuxcomedy
• Xx.com/MontreuxComedy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montreux Comedy