Looking for a good laugh? You won’t have to search too far in Austin. The city’s growing comedy scene offers clubs, special events, festivals and even open mic nights for fledgling comedians. Buckle up for a fun night.
Comedy Clubs
Some of the best touring comedians make it a point to perform at the Cap City Comedy Club located in The Domain. The club, an Austin institution for nearly 40 years, hosts shows most Thursday through Sunday nights, in addition to special events like an annual contest to find the Funniest Person in Austin. Pub fare and cocktails round out the experience.
See improv, all-sketch comedy shows and stand-up comedians at the ColdTowne Theater. With improv, you can never predict what will happen next. Nationally known performers are among those on the calendar for shows Thursday through Sunday in the 2ND Street District. Sign up for the free Intro to Improv workshop for a taste of what it takes to do improv onstage.
Step inside the historic Ritz building on East Sixth Street to watch big-name acts bring side-splitting humor to Comedy Mothership. Headliners grace the Fat Man stage. Comedy showcases, local talent doing open mic, improv and more are performed on the Little Boy stage. Stop in Mitzi’s bar for a pre-show drink.
Up to four acts a night perform at The Creek & The Cave, which transplanted a few years ago from New York City to Austin’s East Seventh Street. Some of the biggest names bring their comedy here, and up-and-coming local comics also get time on the indoor and outdoor stages. Special events include roasts, musical comedies and podcast tapings. Arrive early and enjoy the patio bar.
For comedy, music and magic shows, Esther’s Follies is your place to go on East Sixth Street. It’s a formula for laughter that’s worked since 1977. From pop culture to politics, no revue topic is taboo for the funny sketches presented at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Feeling hungry before or after the show? Head to the courtyard and order tacos, tortas and burritos from Taqueria Las Chrismosas.
For live underground comedy shows, visit Fallout Theater in downtown Austin. This comedy venue and training center offers improv, sketch and stand-up comedy six nights a week. Offerings might include a live game show, open mic, audio drama and more. Take the free, one-hour Intro to Improv class on Mondays.
Weekends were made for improv comedy, offered Thursday to Sunday in two theaters at The Hideout on Congress Avenue. No show is alike. Audience member suggestions guide comics during the hilarious, impromptu performances. Stop by the Hideout Coffee House, open early to late seven days a week, for drinks, sandwiches, pastries and ice cream.
Revel in the live comedy, dance music and stage shows offered most nights at Vulcan Gas Company. Check the club’s calendar to see the roster of both local and well-known performers, including The Kill Tony Regulars, who always generate laughs. Vulcan Gas Company’s 9,500 square feet of space features full-service bars on each floor and East Sixth Street views from the terrace.
Open Mic Nights
On select Tuesdays, the Cap City Comedy Club in The Domain gives the stage over to amateur comedians. To participate, prepare three minutes of material and enter a lottery drawing to be selected to perform. Come see stars in the making.
Comedy fans and wanna-be comedians will want to check out several weekly open mic events at The Creek & The Cave. You never know when a comedy superstar will show up to test new material. Arrive early to sign up. Admission is free.
Get your boost of caffeine early in the day at Kick Butt Coffee, but show up Wednesday evenings for open mic comedy events. Performers get from three to five minutes of performance time on the stage. On Sundays, performers can add music and poetry to their comedy routines. Arrive early to get on the list to participate.
Comedy Festivals and Events
Each May, the Austin Sketch Fest offers five days of hysterical scripted sketches, satire and stand-up at the ColdTowne Theater. Local funny people command the stage alongside those from New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and other comedy hot spots. Besides performances, the festival includes how-to workshops on writing, improv, creating characters and more.
Laugh out loud for 11 days in April, when the Moontower Just for Laughs Comedy Festival returns to Austin. Top-tier comedians take over the stages of several downtown venues, including The Paramount Theatre, Stateside at the Paramount and the Moody Center. You can see up to 80 comics offer their best routines at the festival, plus 100 more comedians who appear over four days at 10 venues within walking distance. Check the festival website for announcements about the lineups as April nears.
During the massively popular SXSW Conference & Festivals, comedy gets its own five-day showcase in March. The SXSW Comedy Festival draws a diverse group of over 60 comedians to Austin who perform, do podcasts and participate in conversations. You’ll see your favorites and get introduced to the next comedy stars.
Find more comedy shows, open mic nights and festivals on our comedy events calendar.