Questions, answered · By place
What comedy festivals are in California?
The short answer
Ten comedy festivals in California have dates ahead on the Guide. The next to open is the Bay Area Musical Improv Festival, 22–25 October 2026, in Oakland, California. On now: the Oakland Comedy Festival (until 17 October 2026) and the Black Women in Comedy Festival (until 18 October 2026), and one more. The furthest ahead is ImprovCon (26–29 August 2027). Seven put on stand-up, seven improv, four sketch.
Coming up in California, soonest first
- Oakland Comedy Festival · 15–17 October 2026 · Oakland, CA · Stand-up
- Black Women in Comedy Festival · 16–18 October 2026 · Los Angeles, CA · Stand-up, Improv, Sketch
- Diablo Improv Festival · 16–18 October 2026 · Walnut Creek, California · Improv
- Bay Area Musical Improv Festival · 22–25 October 2026 · Oakland, California · Improv
- SF Sketchfest · 14–31 January 2027 · San Francisco, CA · Stand-up, Improv, Sketch
- SLO Comedy Festival · 20 February 2027 · San Luis Obispo, CA · Stand-up
- PlayGround Comedy Festival · 12 March – 4 April 2027 · San Francisco, CA · Stand-up, Improv, Sketch
- LouddMouth Comedy Festival · 1–4 April 2027 · Temecula, CA · Stand-up
- Hi-Desert Comedy Campout · 16–17 April 2027 · Twentynine Palms, CA · Stand-up, Sketch, Improv
- ImprovCon · 26–29 August 2027 · San Diego, California · Improv
With a whole guide
SF Sketchfest has a full guide on this site: the festival, the comedians, the city around it, the way home after a late show, where to stay and a trip budget.
Sources
- Oakland Comedy Festival: oaklandcf.com ↗
- Black Women in Comedy Festival: bwicf.org ↗
- Diablo Improv Festival: diabloimprovfestival.org ↗
- Bay Area Musical Improv Festival: bayareamusicalimprov.com ↗
- SF Sketchfest: sfsketchfest.com ↗
- SLO Comedy Festival: slocomedyfestival.com ↗
- PlayGround Comedy Festival: playground-sf.org ↗
- LouddMouth Comedy Festival: louddmouthcomedyfestival.com ↗
- Hi-Desert Comedy Campout: desertcomedycampout.com ↗
- ImprovCon: improvcon.com ↗
More questions
- What comedy festivals are in the United States?
- What comedy festivals are in Canada?
- What comedy festivals are in the UK?
- What comedy festivals are on in January?
Facts as of 16 October 2026. Festivals change their plans: confirm on the festival's own site before you book. Every question