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Dozens of comedy festivals take place in the United States and around the world every year.
Since comedy is experiencing a revival right now, comedy festivals are also booming.
Many comedians get their break through the New Faces showcases.
Many performers attend to solidify their U.K. fan bases or pick up U.K. management or agents.
Often the best performers from every country will attend.
Recent American performers include Janeane Garofalo, Alex Edelman, Sean Patton, Liz Miele, and Carmen Lynch.
Leicester Comedy Festival
The Leicester Comedy Festival takes place throughout every February in Leicester, England.
Where:Leicester, England When:February Website:comedy-festival.co.uk How to Submit:Contact on the website.
Established in 1987, it features more than 6,000 shows from over 2,200 comedians.
Past performers include the U.K.s Daniel Sloss, Jason Byrne, and Jim Gaffigan.
International acts must submit an Expression of Interest to the festival directorhere.
Festival Internacional de Comedia de Barcelona
Since 2008, the Giggling Guiri, a.k.a.
Shows take places in multiple languages, and the festival is accompanied by a Spanish national stand-up comedy competition.
Where:Barcelona, Spain When:November Website:barcelonacomedyfestival.com How to Submit:Contact on the website.
Where:Utrecht, NetherlandsWhen:AprilWebsite:utrechtinternationalcomedyfestival.nl How to Submit:Contact on the website.
China International Comedy Festival
The China International Comedy Festival had its third annual run in 2018.
Shows are in English and Chinese and there is a comedy competition.
Some of the English-speaking comedians whove performed there include Drew Fralick, Jennifer Wong, and Reyhaneh Rajabzadeh.
Where:Shanghai, China When:May Website:comedyfestival.cn How to Submit:Contact on the website.
The festival is a local supporter of talent and gives Phoenix comedians the opportunity to perform on bigger shows.
Past performers include Dana Gould, Sam Jay, Maggie Maye, Dave Waite, and Mishka Shubaly.
It showcases dozens of big comedians and rising talents.
Where:Austin, Texas When:May Website:atxsketchfest.comHow to Submit:On the website.
Where:Flagstaff, Arizona When:September Website:bigpinecomedyfestival.com How to Submit:On the website.
Where:Washington, D.C.
When:October Website:brightestyoungthings.com/bentzen-ball How to Submit:Curated, no submissions.
In the past, the festival has hosted appearances from Jonathan Winters, Norm Crosby, and Tom Cotter.
Where:Boston, Massachusetts When:September Website:bostoncomedyfest.com How to Submit:On their website.
Over three days, improv teams perform hundreds of shows at many venues around the city.
The festival has been around for 20 years andwill be moving to Los Angeles in 2019.
Brooklyn Comedy Festival
The Brooklyn Comedy Festival dubs itself the premier place for alternative comedy.
Over six days, comedians take over various stages in the borough.
Where:Brooklyn, New York When:September Website:bkcomedyfestival.com How to Submit:On their website.
Where:New Orleans, Louisiana When:July Website:blackgirlgiggles.com How to Submit:On the website.
It features stand-up comedy shows along with stand-up and improv workshops for performers and audience members.
The lineups are filled with promising performers like Adam Mamawala, Jules Posner, and Mary Jane French.
Where:Wilmington, North Carolina When:May Website:capefearcomedy.org How to Submit:On the website.
It mostly features up-and-comers like Jason Webb, Daniel Storrow, Chrissie Mayr, and Gabe Pacheco.
Where:Asheville, North Carolina When: EveryAugust Website:ashevillecomedyfestival.com How to Submit:On the website.
Where:Charleston, South Carolina When:January Website:charlestoncomedyfestival.com How to Submit:On their website.
Its four days long and includes more than 30 shows at six different venues around Atlanta.
Past performers include Dulce Sloan, Ron White, Adam Newman, and Mia Jackson.
Where:Atlanta, Georgia When:May Website:laughingskullcomedyfestival.com How to Submit:On their website.
Fun fact: Rory Scovel filmed his 2016 Netflix special there!
Performers for 2018 include Janeane Garofalo, Kate Willett, Robby Slowik, and Will Copeland.
Where:Atlanta, Georgia When:September Website:redclaycomedy.com How to Submit:On their website.
Past winners include Dulce Sloan, Chris Cope, Tommy Pope, Nick Guerra, and Byron Bowers.
Where:Billings, Montana When:October Website:bigskycomedy.com How to Submit:On their website.
Seattle International Comedy Competition
The Seattle International Comedy Competition dubs itself the realLast Comic Standing.
It happens over 26 days, includes 22 shows, and features more than 30 international comedians.
Managers, producers, and executives swing by to watch the comedians battle it out for the top spot.
Past performers have included Matt Donaher, Maria Herman, and Ed Hill.
Where:Seattle, Washington When:November Website:seattlecomedycompetition.org How to Submit:On their website.
The festival organizers do a professional recording of each set for the performers.
In the past, artists have included Laurie Kilmartin, Barbara Gray, Emma Willmann, and Jenny Zigrino.
It is a big supporter of local acts, like the improv teams Kooky Pants and Lady Business.
Where:Sacramento, California When: October Website:saccomedyfest.com How to Submit:On their website.
Desi Comedy Fest
Desi Comedy Fest is the largest South Asian comedy festival in the United States.
Where:San Francisco, California When:January Website:sfsketchfest.com How to Submit:On their website.
There were also live podcast recordings fromDoughboysandLast Podcast on the Left.
Just check out the packed open mic at Acme Comedy Club.
So its no surprise that the Twin Cities have their own annual festival, 10,000 Laughs.
Shows take place in venues like Sisyphus Brewing and Comedy Corner Underground.
Where:Twin Cities, Minnesota When:October Website:10000laughs.com How to Submit:On its website.
High Plains Comedy Festival
Denver-based comedian Adam Cayton-Holland founded High Plains Comedy Festival in 2013.
Since then, local and national headliners have graced the citys stages.
Gildas LaughFest
Gildas LaughFest, which began in 2011, celebrates laughter for the health of it.
Where:Grand Rapids, Michigan When:March Website:laughfestgr.org How to Submit:On its website.
Where:Milwaukee, Wisconsin When:August Website:mkecomedyfest.com How to Submit:On their website.
Comedians who have performed at the fest include Lizz Winstead, Jason Earl Folks, and Lauren Faber.
Where:Memphis, Tennessee When:March Website:memphiscomedyfestival.com How to Submit:On their website.
The eight-day festival includes nearly 200 shows.
Where:Chicago, Illinois When:January Website:stage773.com/sketchfest How to Submit:On their website.
In 2018, attendees got to see ClickHole Live!
and A Conversation With the Onion at venues like Lincoln Hall and the Annoyance Theatre.
Where:Chicago, Illinois When:May Website:onioncomedyfest.com How to Submit:Curated by the festival.
Up-and-comers and headliners from Cleveland and around the U.S. perform stand-up and do live podcasts.
It also gives emerging performers the chance to submit for a spot.
Past performers include Rachel Bloom, Bob Odenkirk, Bonnie McFarlane, Amy Schumer, and Jonah Ray.
Where:Austin, Texas When:March Website:sxsw.com/festivals/comedy How to Submit:On their website.
Where:Allston, Massachusetts When:May Website:bostoncalling.com How to Submit:On their website.
It was started in 2002 and many attendees come from outside of the U.S. to see the shows.
The 2018 comedy lineup includes Brandie Posey,The Chris Gethard Show,and Anya Volz.
Where:Gainesville, Florida When:October Website:thefestfl.com How to Submit:Curated, no submissions.
Harris, and Ari Mannis.
Where:Manchester, Tennessee When:June Website:bonnaroo.com How to Submit:Curated, no submissions.
The lineup in 2018 includes Michelle Wolf, Phoebe Robinson, Chelsea Peretti, and Rhys Darby.
