Best of the rest of the fests: Comedy Festivals for 2019-2020

We’re already two months into 2019, and if you haven’t already made use of my Comedy Festivals page, please bookmark it for your resources. If you need to know how festivals are coming in time-wise, well, please allow me to sort that information for you here now!

MARCH 2019

• Brisbane Comedy Festival Australia (NOW to March 24, 2019)
• Adelaide Fringe Australia (Feb. 15 to March 17, 2019)
• Black Women in Comedy Festival, Brooklyn, NYC (NOW to March 3, 2019) Inaugural event, headlined by Calise Hawkins and Pat Brown.
• Floodwater Comedy Fest, Iowa City (NOW to March 2, 2019)
• Michigan LGBT ComedyFest (Motor City Pride), Dearborn (March 2, 2019)
• TOSketchfest, Toronto (March 6-17, 2019) Adam Ruins Everything Live, The Grawlix, K. Trevor Wilson, Sasheer Zamata, Buddy Cole
• Gilda’s LaughFest, Grand Rapids (March 7-17, 2019). Featuring Jo Koy, Amanda Seales and more.
• SXSW, Austin (March 8-16, 2019)
• Glasgow International Comedy Festival (March 14-31, 2019)
• Cracking Up The Capital, Ottawa (March 20-23, 2019)
• ComedyFort, Boise (March 20-24, 2019)
• Burning Bridges Festival, Pittsburgh (March 20-23, 2019)
• NYC ImprovFest (March 20-24, 2019)
• Outcast Comedy Festival, Los Angeles (March 23-24, 2019)
• Dallas Comedy Festival (March 26-30, 2019)
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Australia (March 27 to April 21 2019)
• High Mud Comedy Fest North Adams, Mass. (March 29-30, 2019)
• West Virginia Comedy Festival (March 29-30, 2019)

APRIL 2019

• Memphis Comedy Festival (April 4-7, 2019)
• LAughter Comedy Fest Los Angeles (April 4-14, 2019)
• Nashville Comedy Festival (April 8-14, 2019)
• D.C. Comedy Festival (April 9-13, 2019)
• Westside Comedy Showdown, Santa Monica, Calif. (April 9-13, 2019)
• Paul Bunyan Comedy Festival, Oscoda, Mich. (April 11-13, 2019)
• Magners International Comedy Festival, China Japan Singapore Thailand Vietnam (April 12-24, 2019) headlined by Tom Green
• Perth Comedy Festival (April 22 to May 19, 2019)
• Moontower, Austin (April 24-27, 2019) Lineup features Nick Offerman, Vir Das, Jon Glaser, Anthony Atamanuik and Hari Kondabolu, Jenny Slate, David Spade, Sal Vulcano, Amanda Seales, Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, and Schitt’s Creek: Up Close & Personal, Big Jay Oakerson, Jo Firestone, Sasheer Zamata, Dana Gould, Andy Kindler, The Lucas Brothers, Kevin McDonald, Vanessa Gonzalez.

• Funniest Person in Austin Contest (April/May) Submit by March 25
• Halifax Comedy Fest (April 24-28, 2019)
• Yuck Fest, Indianapolis (April 24-28, 2019)
• The Alaska State Improv Festival (April 25-28, 2019)
• Winnipeg Comedy Festival (April 28 to May 4, 2019)
• Connecticut Comedy Festival, various cities in Fairfield County (April 25-28, 2019)

MAY 2019

• Charm City Comedy Festival, Baltimore (May 1-11, 2019) Submissions close March 9
• Women in Comedy Festival, Boston (May 2-5, 2019) Phoebe Robinson (HBO’s 2 Dope Queens), Nikki Glaser (Comedy Central’s Not Safe w/ Nikki Glaser) improv team Wild Horses (featuring Lauren Lapkus, Stephanie Allynne, Mary Holland, and Erin Whitehead), and Corinne Fisher & Krystyna Hutchinson from Guys We F**ked are confirmed to perform at separate shows Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 at The Wilbur in Boston, Massachusetts. For showtimes and tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com. Final deadline to upload content for both Frankie Shaw’s Comedy Short Challenge, The HBO Pitch Your First 5 Pages Competition and the WICF Comedy Short Contest with NBC is 11:59 p.m. (PST) March 14, 2019. Submissions to www.filmfreeway.com/WomeninComedyFestival.
• NZ International Comedy Fest New Zealand (May 2-26, 2019)
• Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival (May 8-11, 2019) Submissions closed 3/1
• KAABOO Texas. Arlington, Texas (May 10-12, 2019) Debut lineup includes Dennis Miller, Brad Garrett, Demetri Martin, Garfunkel and Oates, Whitney Cummings, Rory Scovel, Nate Bargatze, Jim Breuer, Heather McDonald, Chad Daniels, Orny Adams, Fortune Feimster, Kate Willett, Billy Wayne Davis, Chris CP Powell, MK Paulsen.
• Laughing Skull Festival/Contest (May 9-12, 2019). Announcements early March.
• Cape Fear Comedy Fest North Carolina (May 9-12, 2019)
• Cream City Comedy Festival Milwaukee (May 9-12, 2019)
• San Diego Comedy Festival (May 10-19, 2019) Submissions closed 3/1
• NY Comedy Music Festival (May 17-19, 2019) Submissions deadline 4/5
• Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, Columbus, Ohio (May 17-19, 2019)
• Tomatoes! Tomatoes! Finland (May 16-18, 2019)
• The YY Comedy Festival, Calgary (May 21-25, 2019)
• Oak City Comedy Fest, Raleigh (May 22-26, 2019) Submissions closed.
• Boston Calling (May 24-26, 2019)
• Philly SketchFest (May 29 to June 2, 2019) Submissions close March 8: https://phillysketchfest.com/2019-philly-sketchfest-application-form/
• The Onion Comedy and Arts Festival, Chicago (May 30 to June 1, 2019)
• Limestone Comedy Festival, Bloomington, Ind. (May 30 to June 1, 2019)
• Cat Laughs, Kilkenny Ireland (May 30 to June 3, 2019)
• FunnyFest, Calgary (May 30 to June 9, 2019)

JUNE 2019

• Philly’s Phunniest (The competition returns June 4, 2019! More than 200 aspiring comics will throw their hats in the ring to compete for the title of Philly’s Phunniest Person and a grand prize of $1,200! Signups begin April 1, 2019 and end on May 1, 2019.)
• MaxFunCon Lake Arrowhead, Calif., (June 7-9, 2019)
• 2nd Best Fest, Richmond, Va., (June 7-9, 2018)
• 6th Borough Comedy Festival, Jersey City, NJ (June 12-16, 2019) Final submission deadline Feb. 28!
• Bonnaroo Manchester, Tenn. (June 13-16, 2019)
• Great American Comedy Festival Norfolk, Neb. (mid June)
• Comedy Central’s Colossal Clusterfest, SF (June 21-23, 2019)
• Skankfest NYC, Brooklyn Bazaar, NYC (June 21-23, 2019) Skankfest NYC is produced in association with The Creek and Cave, Legion of Skanks, and The GaS Digital Network.
• Minneapolis Comedy Festival, Minneapolis, Minn (June 24-30, 2019).

JULY 2019

• Vodafone Comedy Festival, Dublin (July)
• Just For Laughs Montreal (July 10-28, 2019)
• Nantucket Comedy Festival (July 11-13, 2019)
• Fringe Festival KC, Kansas City (July 14-28, 2019)
• Portland Queer Comedy Festival Oregon (July 18-21, 2019)
• The Kennedy Center District of Comedy Festival (July 19-21, 2019)
• Lady Laughs Comedy Wichita, Kansas (July 20-21, 2019)
• OZY Fest NYC (July 20-21, 2019)
• Milwaukee Comedy Festival (July 31 to Aug. 4, 2019) Submit til May.

AUGUST 2019

• Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland (Aug. 2-26, 2019)
• Asheville Comedy Fest North Carolina (Aug. 7-10, 2019) Submissions close May 31
• Lucille Ball Comedy Fest Jamestown, NY (Aug. 7-11, 2019) Featuring Sebastian Maniscalco, John Mulaney
• Outside Lands, San Francisco (Aug. 9-11, 2019)
• Maine Comedy Fest (submissions open now, dates tbd)
• Burbank Comedy Festival (Aug. 11-17, 2019). Deadline for submission is 12:01pm June 1, 2019.  In addition, all comedians must fill out a Flappers Comedy Talent Profile. Submit via this link.
• Desi Comedy Fest San Francisco (Aug. 14-15, 2019)
• Ventura Comedy Festival (Aug. 19-25, 2019). Ventura Comedy Competition: $4000 in cash prizes; $2500 First Place; $600 Second Place; $500 Third Place; $100 each to the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Place Contestants. $35 Entry Fee – Click Link To Register
• The Chicago Women’s Funny Festival (Aug. 23-26, 2019) Submissions til July.
• Blue Whale Comedy Festival, Tulsa (Labor Day weekend)
• Out of Bounds Comedy Fest  Austin, Texas (Labor Day weekend) Submissions open til March 31
• Accidental Comedy Fest, Cleveland (Labor Day weekend)
• Bumbershoot, Seattle (Labor Day weekend)

SEPTEMBER 2019

• 208 Comedy Fest, Boise, Idaho (Sept. 5-8, 2019) Submissions due May 15, 2019. Cost: $20
• KAABOO Del Mar Sept 13-15, 2019 just outside of San Diego, Calif.
• Tim Northern Comedy Festival and Caravan Comedy Competition, Louisville, Kentucky (Sept. 19-21, 2019), Louisville is Funny is thrilled to announce the 2019 Tim Northern Comedy Festival and Caravan Comedy Competition, September 19-21. Submissions for the Festival and the Competition begin April 1. If you submit for the Competition ($50), you will also be considered for the Festival. If you submit for the Festival ($25), you will not be considered for the Competition. Grand Prize – $1000, 2nd – $500, 3rd – $250.

• Big Pine Comedy Festival, Flagstaff (Sept. 18-22, 2019)
• Motor City Comedy Festival, Detroit (Sept. 19-22, 2019) Submissions til May 31
• JFL 42, Toronto (end of September)
• Altercation Comedy Festival Austin, Texas (Sept. 25-28, 2019) Notifications in May.
• San Francisco Comedy Competition (September)
• Cinder Block Comedy Festival, Brooklyn (September)
• Harlem Comedy Festival (Sept. 23-30, 2019) Submit til Aug. 25.
  
• Life is Beautiful, Las Vegas (Sept. 20-22, 2019)
• The World Series of Comedy, East St. Louis, Ill. (Sept. 23-28, 2019)
• Hoboken Comedy Festival (Sept. 23-29, 2019) NON REFUNDABLE SUBMISSION FEE $30 Due Sept 1 2019
• High Plains Comedy Fest Denver (Sept. 26-28, 2019)
• Pygmalion, Urbana-Champaign, Ill. (Sept. 26-28, 2019)
• Norfolk Comedy Festival Virginia (Sept. 25-30, 2018)

OCTOBER 2019

• Red Clay Comedy Festival, Atlanta (October, dates tbd)
• Cologne Comedy Festival Germany (Oct. 31 to Nov. 9, 2019)
• Big Sky Comedy Festival Billings Mont. (submissions open May 1 for contest in October, all-expenses paid)
• All Jane Comedy Festival, Portland
• Atlantic City Comedy Festival
• ITV Fest Duluth, Minn. (Oct. 9-13, 2019)
• The Comedy Comedy Festival, Los Angeles
• New York Arab-American Comedy Festival 
• Rogue Island Comedy Festival Newport, R.I. (Oct. 3-7, 2019)
• Edmonton Comedy Festival (Oct. 16-19, 2019)
• NEPA Laughs, Scranton, Penn. (Oct. 16-19, 2019) Inaugural fest. Entry fee $25, submission deadline July 1.
• 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival Twin Cities (2019 October dates tbd)
• All Things Comedy Festival, Phoenix/Tempe
• Adult Swim Festival Los Angeles
• L.A. Podfest
• Los Angeles Diversity Festival in Comedy (Oct. 17-20, 2019)
• Sacramento Comedy Festival (Oct. 3-6, 2019)
• New South Comedy Festival Greenville, SC
• Bentzen Ball D.C.

NOVEMBER 2019

• Just For Laughs Sydney Australia (Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2019)
• Istanbul Comedy Festival, Turkey (Nov. 2-18, 2018)
• Seattle International Comedy Competition (November)
• New York Comedy Festival (Nov. 4-10, 2019) Curated.
• Joshua Tree Comedy Festival
• Boston Comedy Festival (Nov. 13-16, 2019)
• Big City Improv Festival, Toronto (mid November)
• ALT 98.7 PRESENTS BIG ADVENTURE (Orange County)
• Cleveland Comedy Festival
• Palm Springs Comedy Festival
• Flyover Comedy Fest, St. Louis (Nov. 7-9, 2019)
• Montreaux Comedy Switzerland (Nov. 28 to Dec. 7, 2019)

DECEMBER 2019

• Janelle James Comedy Festival, Brooklyn

JANUARY 2020

• Just For Laughs Bermuda (Jan. 8-11, 2020)
• SF SKETCHFEST San Francisco
• The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 
• Charleston Comedy Festival South Carolina

FEBRUARY 2020

• Impractical Jokers Cruise (Feb. 10-14, 2020) Sailing out of Miami
• JFL Northwest, Vancouver (Feb. 14-23, 2019)
• KAABOO Cayman (Feb. 15-16, 2019)
• Leicester Comedy Festival England (Feb. 5-23, 2020)
• SLO Comedy Festival San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Feb. 21-24, 2019)
• Aspen Laugh Festival Colorado (Feb. 20-23, 2019)
• Telluride Comedy Fest Colorado (Feb. 14-17, 2019)
• Sioux Falls Sno Jam (SFSJ) Comedy Fest, Sioux Falls SD

2020 or undated

• Bird City Comedy Festival, Phoenix ON HIATUS 2019, back in 2020
• Boston Improv Festival ON HIATUS 2019, back in 2020
• The Highlarious Comedy Festival, Seattle ON HIATUS 2019, back in 2020
• Pittsburgh Comedy Festival, ON HIATUS 2019, back in 2020
• Idaho Laugh Fest (nothing announced yet)
• Let’s Fest, Fort Wayne Indiana (last held August 2018)
• Brooklyn Comedy Festival (last held September 2018)
• Cincy Brew Ha-Ha (August 2018)
• Southwest FunnyFest, Albuquerque (Sept. 8, 2018)
• Woodstock Comedy Festival (September)
• Beast Village Comedy Festival Des Moines, Iowa (Oct. 4-7, 2018)
• Trill Comedy Festival, Houston (Oct. 4-7, 2018)