Moontower Comedy Festival Announces a Packed 2026 Lineup With Badges on Sale Now

The Moontower Comedy Festival is gearing up for its 14th year in Austin, returning April 8–19, 2026 with a huge first wave of performers and plenty of reasons for comedy fans to mark their calendars. Spread across more than 10 venues downtown—including long-time hubs like the Paramount and State Theatres—the festival continues its tradition of bringing stand-up heavyweights, rising stars, and Austin’s own homegrown talent together for nearly two weeks of shows.

For anyone planning ahead, the festival has already revealed over 75 performers, with more names expected in later announcements. Badges are officially on sale now at the Moontower Comedy Festival website or through the Paramount Theatre box office, and tickets for individually ticketed headliner shows will go live at noon on Thursday.

The 2026 slate features a strong mix of big-name headliners and fan-favorite acts. Among the major highlights are Albert Brooks in conversation with Kevin Pollak, a rare live appearance that stands out even in an already stacked lineup. Other headliners include Leslie Jones, Marc Maron, Kathy Griffin, Vir Das, Jeff Arcuri, Cristela Alonzo, Brad Williams, and the wildly popular British podcast duo Shxts N Gigs. The festival is also giving significant spotlight to breakout performers such as René Vaca, Zachariah Porter, Nish Kumar, and the improvisational musical comedy group Off Book.

In addition to its marquee shows, Moontower’s Club Series—running April 15–18—continues to be a core part of the festival. These club-level performances bring together a mix of national touring comics and Austin-based performers in more intimate venues. The 2026 Club Series lineup includes well-known names such as Caroline Rhea, Debra DiGiovanni, the Sklar Brothers, Beth Stelling, and Shane Torres. Audiences can also look forward to appearances from dozens of Austin comedians, including Andrew Murphy, Angelina Martin, and JJ Curry, who earned the title of 2025’s Funniest Person in Austin.

Festival badges offer the best access for multi-day attendees. A badge grants entry into the four-day Club Series, festival after-parties, and presale access to the individually ticketed headliner shows. Prices currently start at $150, and the festival has announced that badge prices will increase on January 8, making early purchase the ideal move for anyone committed to attending. For those interested in specific performers rather than the full experience, headliner shows can be bought separately once public ticket sales open.

With a wide-ranging performer list, a mix of large and intimate venues, and nearly two weeks of programming, the Moontower Comedy Festival 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious editions yet. Comedy fans can explore badge options and updates through the official site at moontowercomedyfest.com and stay tuned as additional lineup announcements roll out in the coming months.