The Boston Comedy Festival returns November 10–14 for five days of live stand-up comedy at venues across Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville.
This year, 96 comedians will compete for a $7,000 grand prize and the chance to become the next Boston Comedy Festival champion.
Past festival competitors have included Nate Bargatze, Marc Normand, Joe List, Myq Kaplan, Morgan Jay, Ryan Hamilton, Learnmore Jonasi, Drew Dunn, Brad Upton, and Tom Cotter.
This week, you can see tomorrow’s comedy stars before everyone else discovers them.
Five Nights of Live Comedy
Preliminary and semifinal rounds will take place at:
The Comedy Studio
City Winery Boston
The Rockwell
Somerville Theatre
Every competition show brings together comedians with different styles, perspectives, and one shared goal: earning a place in Saturday night’s Championship Finals.
VIEW THE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE AND GET TICKETS
Saturday Night: Two Big Comedy Events
Emo Philips at The Rockwell
Comedy legend Emo Philips brings his unmistakable voice, brilliant writing, and wonderfully strange perspective to The Rockwell on Saturday, November 14 at 7:00 PM.
This is a separately ticketed performance.
GET EMO PHILIPS TICKETS
Championship Finals at Somerville Theatre
On Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 PM, the festival’s top finalists take the stage at the historic Somerville Theatre.
Tony V will host as the finalists compete for the $7,000 grand prize and a new Boston Comedy Festival champion is crowned.
The evening will also honor comedy legend Steven Wright with the Boston Comedy Festival Lifetime Achievement Award—20 years after the festival named him Comedian of the Year.
This is a separately ticketed performance.
GET CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS TICKETS
Join Us This Week
For more than 25 years, the Boston Comedy Festival has brought together rising talent, national headliners, comedy fans, and entertainment-industry professionals.
Come see the next generation of great comedians—and help us celebrate one of Boston’s most original comedy legends.
NOVEMBER 10–14, 2026
VIEW THE FULL SCHEDULE AND GET TICKETS
