JIM GAFFIGAN, GEORGE WALLACE AND TOM PAPA JOIN THE MEO COMMEDIA A LA CARTE FEST LINEUP FOR A SPECIAL COMEDY NIGHT HOSTED BY JERRY SEINFELD

MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest was born from a desire to support and promote culture, comedy and live entertainment — a mission that has defined its identity and purpose from day one.

Created by Commedia a La Carte, co-produced by Last Tour and Aquele Abraço, presented by MEO, and with Lisbon as its main stage, the festival brings together the best in comedy across several of the city’s most iconic venues.

NEW CONFIRMATIONS

SPECIAL COMEDY NIGHT WITH JERRY SEINFELD AND HIS BEST FRIENDS: JIM GAFFIGAN, GEORGE WALLACE AND TOM PAPA

With less than a month to go until the first edition begins, MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest adds a very special comedy night conceived by Jerry Seinfeld himself to its lineup.

On October 31, at 9pm, Coliseu dos Recreios will host a one-of-a-kind night, specially created for the festival, bringing together four leading American comedians from the international comedy scene: Jim Gaffigan, George Wallace, Tom Papa and Jerry Seinfeld, who will make a very special appearance on stage.

The idea for this show came about very naturally, taking advantage of Jerry Seinfeld’s presence in Lisbon for his MEO Arena show the following day. Seinfeld brought together some of his favourite comedians for a unique night celebrating comedy and friendship, created especially for this one-off occasion.

For this unique show, Jerry Seinfeld invites some of the comedians with whom he has shared stages and projects throughout his career for a very special night, during which he will also take to the stage, meaning Seinfeld will perform twice at the festival.

Stand-up veterans Jim Gaffigan, George Wallace and Tom Papa are known for their observational humour, storytelling and an approach that appeals to broad audiences, bringing different generations and sensibilities of American comedy to the stage.

With careers spanning several decades, the four comedians have crossed paths professionally on numerous occasions, sharing stages and comedy projects. Their reunion in Lisbon therefore takes on a special significance, bringing together four performers with a shared history and a relationship built over decades of stand-up.

The night will also mark the Portuguese debut of all four stand-up veterans, in an unprecedented meeting that promises to turn Coliseu dos Recreios into a gathering place for different generations of comedy fans.

Fans of Jerry Seinfeld who have already purchased tickets for his November 1 show at MEO Arena will also have access to a special price for this night at Coliseu dos Recreios, allowing them to attend both events and experience this celebration of comedy, specially created around Seinfeld’s visit to Lisbon, in full.

Jim Gaffigan is one of the most recognised names in contemporary American comedy, known for his observational humour about everyday life. With more than three decades of experience, he has received eight GRAMMY Award nominations for “Best Comedy Album” and three Emmy Awards, while also building a successful career as an actor, writer and producer.

He created and starred in The Jim Gaffigan Show and has appeared in films including Chappaquiddick, Tesla, Peter Pan & Wendy and Unfrosted. In stand-up, he has released several acclaimed specials, including Mr. Universe, Cinco, Quality Time, The Pale Tourist and The Skinny, establishing himself as one of the most popular and consistent voices in American comedy.

George Wallace is one of the great veterans of American stand-up comedy, with around five decades of experience. Born in Atlanta, he moved to New York to pursue comedy, becoming part of the city’s stand-up scene alongside names such as Jerry Seinfeld, with whom he shared a home and has maintained a long-standing friendship.

Known for his observational humour, storytelling and ability to connect with broad audiences, Wallace became a regular presence on television, appearing on The Tonight Show, The Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. His career also includes performances with artists such as Diana Ross and Tom Jones, as well as a long-running residency in Las Vegas, where he became known as “The New Mr. Vegas”.

Tom Papa combines observational humour, storytelling and a relaxed approach to everyday life, family relationships and the quirks of contemporary society.

With more than two decades of experience, Tom has released several stand-up specials, including his most recent Netflix special, Home Free. He is set to film his upcoming Netflix special in October 2026. Papa is also the author of three books, with his fourth, You’ve Got to Giggle the Handle…Or This Family Will Fall Apart, set for release in May 2027.

On television, Tom was chosen by Jerry Seinfeld to host The Marriage Ref and has appeared in numerous comedy programmes and films.

RYAN HAMILTON

Comedian Ryan Hamilton also joins the MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest lineup for a solo show at Capitólio on October 31 at 6h30pm.

Known for his observational humour, storytelling and a particularly light and accessible approach to comedy, Ryan hails from a small rural community in Idaho and moved to New York, where he became a regular presence on the city’s stand-up comedy scene.

Named by Rolling Stone as one of its “Five Comics to Watch” in 2012, Hamilton has appeared on shows including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan and The Late Late Show. He is also a regular performer at comedy festivals such as Just for Laughs.

In 2017, he released his first Netflix special, Happy Face, followed in 2026 by This Just Hit Me. Throughout his career, he has also joined Jerry Seinfeld and Nate Bargatze as a guest on their US tours, while performing to sold-out audiences in theatres and arenas.

“MAIS À LARGA” WITH CÉSAR MOURÃO, MIGUEL ARAÚJO AND ANTÓNIO ZAMBUJO

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António Zambujo, César Mourão and Miguel Araújo come together for an unexpected concert.

“Mais À Larga” came about because the three friends — António Zambujo, César Mourão and Miguel Araújo — decided to go on holiday to the Algarve. Amid the intimacy of their conversations and songs, they felt the need to be… “Mais à Larga” — to have a little more room to breathe.

To do so, they chose the stage of Cinema São Jorge to share an evening of complicity with the audience. With no script and no setlist, they promise plenty of songs, improvisation and a night full of entertainment and good humour.

Three of the most prominent contemporary Portuguese artists, songwriters and performers in music and culture come together on the stage of Cinema São Jorge on October 29 at 7pm, as part of MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest.

RIMAS AO MINUTO ASSOCIATION:
MIRO VEMBA + SCAITT BORRABEU AND VITOR COSTA + CÁSSIA RODRIGUES

The Rimas Ao Minuto Association was born from the creative energy of Lisbon’s social housing neighbourhoods and the vision of local entrepreneurs. Since 2014, it has promoted the LX Comedy Slam, a project dedicated to comedy and the development of new talent, which has established itself as a platform for discovering, developing and promoting emerging artists.

More than a cultural project, Rimas Ao Minuto represents a space where different identities, backgrounds and experiences meet and interact. The multiculturalism that characterises Lisbon’s neighbourhoods is reflected in its activities, creating opportunities for young people and artists from different backgrounds to share stories, develop skills and build bridges between communities.

At MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest, they will present two unique shows. On October 29, at Cineteatro Capitólio, Miro Vemba and Scaitt Borrabeu will take to the stage. On October 30, at the same venue, it will be the turn of Vitor Costa and Cássia Rodrigues.

Miro Vemba is an Angolan comedian, actor and former dancer on the rise internationally. With infectious energy and deep roots in entertainment, Miro has built a solid career in both Angola and Portugal, standing out for his versatility and stage presence. Born into a family of comedians, he discovered his passion for performance at an early age: he began as a Kuduro and Afro House dancer before finding his true calling in comedy. Today, he shines not only in stand-up comedy, but also in film, television and digital projects that reach millions across the Portuguese-speaking world.

Scaitt Borrabeu is an Angolan comedian living in Portugal, known for his stage presence and for creating humorous content for social media. With a distinctive identity, Scaitt transforms everyday situations, personal experiences, relationships, immigration and social observations into comedy material, seeking to establish a direct connection with different audiences.

Vitor Costa, born in Rio de Janeiro, has been a comedian since 2011, when he began writing sketches and material for other comedians. With a strong stage presence and sharp humour, Vitor combines intelligent sarcasm with observations on everyday life, connecting with a wide range of audiences. He has been a regular cast member at Lisboa Comedy Club since 2021, is part of the Portuguese version of Comédia em Pé, and has performed at venues including Clube do Minhoca, Comédia Ao Vivo, My Fucking Comedy Club and Rio Retrô. He has shared the stage with names such as Rafinha Bastos, Maurício Meirelles, Thiago Ventura, Bruna Louise and Rodrigo Marques, among others, including performances at The Laughter Lounge in Dublin.

Cássia Rodrigues is a Brazilian comedian known for her spontaneous, irreverent style and ability to turn everyday experiences into comedy. A mother with an outspoken personality, Cássia has an authentic and relatable approach, using humour to explore everyday situations, relationships, motherhood, cultural differences and the experience of living between two realities. Her charismatic presence and humorous perspective make her a distinctive voice in the Portuguese comedy scene.

ALREADY CONFIRMED

JERRY SEINFELD

Comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld will perform live in Portugal for the first time, and exclusively in Europe, as the headliner of MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest on November 1 at MEO Arena.

Jerry Seinfeld’s career took off following his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what would become one of the most successful comedy series in television history: Seinfeld. The series ran on NBC for nine seasons, winning multiple Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and People’s Choice Awards. In 2009, it was named the greatest television programme of all time by TV Guide and, in 2012, was voted the greatest sitcom ever in a poll conducted by 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair.

Among his most recent Emmy-nominated Netflix projects are Jerry Before Seinfeld and 23 Hours to Kill, as well as the acclaimed online series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Seinfeld also starred in, wrote and produced films such as Comedian and Bee Movie, directed and produced the successful Broadway show Colin Quinn: Long Story Short, and is the author of three bestselling books (Is This Anything?, The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book and Seinlanguage), as well as the children’s book Halloween. He also starred in the Emmy-nominated comedy film Unfrosted, which he directed, co-wrote and produced. Jerry Seinfeld continues to perform regularly, both in the United States and internationally.

HERMAN & OCTETO

Herman José’s shows are like fingerprints: no two are ever the same. At a relentless pace, he revisits more than four decades of his career through his iconic characters — Feliz & Contente, Serafim Saudade, Tony Silva, Maximiana and Nelo — combined with behind-the-scenes stories, stand-up moments and a strong musical component. From “Saca o Saca Rolhas” to “Canção do Beijinho”, from “Serafim Saudade” to “És tão boa”, the show spans several generations. Herman José is an essential name in Portuguese comedy and could never be missing from the first edition of MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest.

THE UMBILICAL BROTHERS

The Umbilical Brothers are an international comedy phenomenon. Named by Entertainment Weekly as two of the “100 Most Creative People in Entertainment”, David Collins and Shane Dundas have appeared on The Tonight Show with Stephen Colbert, taken the stage after James Brown at Woodstock ’99 and performed for the Queen of England. Their unique fusion of physical and vocal comedy has taken them to more than 40 countries, including iconic venues and arenas such as the Sydney Opera House. In 2026, they return to Portugal for a one-off performance at MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest.

SEPARADOS DE FRESCO WITH DAVID CRISTINA + ANA GARCIA MARTINS

70% of couples in Portugal get divorced. Ana Garcia Martins and David Cristina separated. Not from each other, as they were married to other people. They created a podcast to talk about what it means to be an adult and newly single. Because after only a few days of separation, they already consider themselves experts. At MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest, they bring the podcast to the stage to talk about children, finances, dating and whatever else they feel like discussing.

JJ BÓÇE — LIVE

PARESSE FÁCILE! Portugal’s most enigmatic Instagram page is appearing LIVE for the first time. Just to be safe, Bóçe asked us to leave this “P.S.” here in Spanish: “Buenas notxés, nó será permitidá lá entráda dé carecas. Gracias, tenkiu.” The live debut of Internet phenomenon JJ Bóçe will therefore take place at MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest.

COMMEDIA A LA CARTE KIDS

Curated by César Mourão and Carlos M. Cunha and directed by Gustavo Miranda, an all-female cast — Filipa Duarte, Joana Castro and Rita Cruz — accompanied by a live band featuring Mariana Rosa (guitar), Maria Campos (drums) and Ana Roque (bass), will take to the stage to entertain and have fun with younger audiences. Through wordplay games and direct interaction with children invited onto the stage, they create a show that promises fun and entertainment for both kids and adults!

COVENT GARDEN IN LISBON

Lisbon will come alive with the arrival of several artists from the world-famous street theatre scene of Covent Garden, London, at MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest. Laughter, applause and plenty of fun will take over the streets of Lisbon, as a group of world-class performers present a show filled with talent and energy.

CHAPITÔ À SOLTA

Chapitô brings traveling street entertainment to the MEO Commedia A La Carte Fest, drawing on its renowned approach to physical theater and audience interaction. With visual, dynamic, and participatory performances, the artists move through the festival’s various spaces, creating moments of surprise and connection. Each performance adapts to the urban context, transforming squares, gardens, and streets into improvised stages. An experience designed to enhance the festive atmosphere and engage the audience in a spontaneous, inclusive, and memorable way.