John El Achkar is a Lebanese stand-up comedian who has built one of the region’s most successful independent comedy careers, taking Arabic stand-up to audiences around the world. Drawing from family, relationships, fatherhood, migration and the realities of being Lebanese, John turns deeply personal experiences into stories people recognize themselves in. Across four stand-up specials, John has sold more than 150,000 tickets and performed in over 85 cities across the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia. In 2026, he launched his fifth show, FEENA NEHKE?, kicking off his most ambitious international tour yet. That same year, John made his Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut, performing stand-up in English, his third language, for the first time. The month-long run earned multiple four-star reviews and marked a new chapter in his career. Beyond the stage, John founded Hidden Cellar, a dedicated live comedy venue in Beirut built to give comedy a home and develop the region’s next generation of talent. He also carries his experience in storytelling into the corporate world, delivering trainings and talks that help teams communicate with impact, tell better stories, and turn setbacks into growth and opportunity.