The New York Comedy Festival 2026 runs November 6 to 15. It opens with Dave Chappelle at Madison Square Garden on November 6 and 7, then spreads more than 100 shows across a 42-stage venue list. The festival’s home club, Carolines on Broadway, closed four years ago, so the 22nd edition plays out in rented venues around the city.
Key Takeaways
- Dave Chappelle headlines two shows at Madison Square Garden on November 6 and 7 to open the festival.
- The official venue list names 42 stages, including Brooklyn rooms such as Kings Theatre, The Bell House and Union Hall, and QED Astoria in Queens.
- Stand Up for Heroes marks its 20th anniversary on November 9 at David Geffen Hall, with Bruce Springsteen and Jon Stewart.
- Battle for the Funniest Borough puts one comedian from each of the five boroughs on a single stage on November 11 at The Stand West.
- Carolines on Broadway closed its Times Square club on New Year’s Eve 2022, and the festival has used venues across the city since then.
Dave Chappelle Opens the Festival at Madison Square Garden
The New York Comedy Festival opens with its largest room. Dave Chappelle brings his “Karmageddon” set to Madison Square Garden on Friday, November 6. A second show on Saturday, November 7, was added after the first date was announced.
Smaller shows start the same night. Opening night also includes Gayme Show! with Matt Rogers and Dave Mizzoni at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, and Ms. Pat at The Venue on Music Row at Hard Rock Hotel New York.
A Festival Without a Home Club Books the Whole City
For most of its history, the New York Comedy Festival had a home base. Caroline Hirsch co-founded the festival in 2004, and it grew out of the four decades she spent running Carolines on Broadway. In December 2022, Hirsch announced she would not renew the club’s lease, and she said she would keep growing the festival. The Times Square club closed on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Carolines still produces the festival, but there’s no flagship room anymore. The 2026 edition runs on a list of 42 venues, from Madison Square Garden down to small rooms like the KGB Bar Red Room and The Tiny Cupboard. The 10-day schedule is set by those stages instead of by one club’s calendar.
The Beacon and Town Hall Anchor Manhattan’s Schedule
The festival’s evening shows are mostly in Manhattan. The Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side hosts Marc Maron on November 8, Jordan Jensen on November 12, Ilana Glazer on November 13, Daniel Sloss on November 14 and Mojo Brookzz on November 15.
Town Hall on West 43rd Street hosts more festival shows than any other single venue. Joanne McNally tapes a special there on November 7. Sarah Sherman and Patti Harrison follow on November 8, Ben Bankas on November 12 and Adam Friedland on November 13. On November 14, Town Hall hosts The Moth x Comic Relief Present: Funny Story and a show hosted by Jordan Klepper. Town Hall’s comedy run started before the festival, when it staged a live table read reuniting the cast of Difficult People at The Town Hall on November 3.
Stand Up for Heroes Marks 20 Years at Lincoln Center
The festival’s charity night is on Monday, November 9, at 8 p.m. at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Stand Up for Heroes celebrates its 20th anniversary with music from Bruce Springsteen, The Resilient and Alex Warren, and comedy sets from Josh Johnson, Hasan Minhaj and Jon Stewart. The event benefits the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which supports veterans, military families and caregivers.
Brooklyn and Queens Stages Extend the Map
Kings Theatre in Flatbush hosts the festival’s largest Brooklyn show. Dropout Improv plays there on Friday, November 13. The venue list also includes Brooklyn rooms such as The Bell House, Union Hall, Littlefield, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Brooklyn Improv, Brooklyn Art Haus and Greenpoint Comedy Club. QED Astoria represents Queens on the list.
The festival bills itself as covering all five boroughs. Its venue list doesn’t include a stage in the Bronx or on Staten Island, so those two boroughs show up through the lineup instead.
Battle for the Funniest Borough Brings All Five Together
Battle for the Funniest Borough puts the five-borough idea on one stage. Five comedians, each representing Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island, compete on Wednesday, November 11, at 7 p.m. at The Stand West inside Chelsea Market.
New Talent and Free Panels Fill the Second Week
The New York Comedy Festival also gives time to comedians early in their careers. The Breakouts runs November 12 and 13 at The Stand NYC. New York’s Funniest Stand-Ups, a showcase of 10 local comedians, runs Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. at The Stand West.
The festival’s final weekend includes free events. NBC100 Presents: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins runs November 14, and NBC100 Presents: The Next Great NBC Comedy runs November 15. Both are free RSVP panels at The Venue on Music Row at Hard Rock Hotel New York. The festival ends there on November 15 with a screening and Q&A for Dane Cook’s documentary “Funny Money.”
FAQs
When is the New York Comedy Festival 2026?
The New York Comedy Festival runs November 6 to 15, 2026. It is the festival’s 22nd year.
Where is Dave Chappelle performing during the New York Comedy Festival?
Dave Chappelle performs at Madison Square Garden on November 6 and 7 to open the festival.
Who founded the New York Comedy Festival?
Caroline Hirsch co-founded the festival in 2004. Carolines, the company tied to her former club, still produces it.
What happened to Carolines on Broadway?
Carolines on Broadway closed its Times Square club on New Year’s Eve 2022 after Hirsch decided not to renew the lease. The festival has continued since then using venues across the city.
When is Stand Up for Heroes 2026?
Stand Up for Heroes is Monday, November 9, 2026, at 8 p.m. at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. This year marks its 20th anniversary.
Are there free shows at the New York Comedy Festival?
Yes. Two NBC100 panels on November 14 and 15 at The Venue on Music Row at Hard Rock Hotel New York are free with an RSVP.
