The National Comedy Center, the United States’ museum and national archive dedicated to the art form of comedy has announced that Jerry Seinfeld, Bert Kreischer and Seth Meyers will headline its annual comedy festival, held in Jamestown, New York, August 6 – 9, 2026.
Jerry Seinfeld will headline on Thursday, August 6; Bert Kreischer will take the stage on Saturday, August 8; and Seth Meyers will perform on Sunday, August 9. A mainstage Stand-Up Showcase on Friday, August 7, and showcases throughout the festival will feature a lineup of talent from across the country.
“The National Comedy Center’s museum and archive were established to celebrate the art form’s distinct voices and contributions throughout time, and this year’s festival brings together artists who represent distinct approaches to the craft. I love that audiences can experience the best of live comedy while connecting it to the larger story we preserve and share every day in Jamestown,” said Journey Gunderson, Executive Director.
Announced headlining performances include:
Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. – Jerry Seinfeld (Northwest Arena)
Friday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. – Stand-Up Showcase (Reg Lenna Center for The Arts)
Saturday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – Bert Kreischer (Northwest Arena)
Sunday, August 9 at 5:00 p.m. – Seth Meyers (Northwest Arena)
Additional artists scheduled to appear include comedian, writer, producer and Emmy Award-winner Carol Leifer, whose credits include Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, and Hacks, plus America’s Got Talent finalist Gina Brillon (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC’s Stand up for Diversity Showcase), Ian Lara (The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, HBO MAX), Jenny Zigrino (CONAN, Comedy Central, MTV, Netflix is a Joke, HBO), and Drew Dunn (The Tonight Show, Dry Bar, Don’t Tell Comedy, Just For Laughs Comedy Festival),
The full festival lineup will be announced in the coming weeks at ComedyCenter.org/festival.
“Our festival has grown into one of the premier comedy events in the country, and this year’s lineup reflects that momentum,” said Malachi Livermore, National Comedy Center Vice President of Programming & Guest Experiences. “With three of today’s top artists and an expanded slate of performances across the city, anchored by the award-winning museum, the multi-day experience brings audiences closer to comedy’s biggest stars and rising talent.”
Tickets for headlining performances and festival events will go on pre-sale for National Comedy Center members beginning Monday, April 27 at 12 p.m. ET, with tickets on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 1 at 12 p.m. ET at ComedyCenter.org.
To learn more about National Comedy Center membership in order to gain first access to available seats during the pre-sale ticket window, visit ComedyCenter.org/membership or call the National Comedy Center at 716-484-2222.
The festival will feature more than 50 live events over four days, including late-night comedy, block parties, live music, and more – all part of a multi-day celebration of comedy’s contemporary voices and rising talent. Drawing more than 15,000 ticket buyers from over 40 states each year to Lucille Ball’s hometown, the festival will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of I Love Lucy – the iconic series that forever shaped television comedy.
“We’ve built this festival to offer something for every kind of comedy fan,” added Livermore. “From nationally touring headliners to the stand-up showcases featuring a wide range of distinct comedic voices, along with late-night shows, block parties and special events throughout the city – audiences can experience comedy in multiple ways across the entire weekend.”
Recently named the “Best Pop Culture Museum in the country” by USA Today, and home to the Carl Reiner Department of Archives & Preservation, the National Comedy Center will be open throughout the festival, offering visitors an immersive, personalized experience featuring interactive exhibits celebrating comedy’s greatest moments and creators.
Over its 35-year history, the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival has featured hundreds of artists in Jamestown, including Jon Stewart, Lily Tomlin, Nate Bargatze, John Mulaney, Trevor Noah, Bill Murray, Jim Gaffigan, Taylor Tomlinson, Jeff Foxworthy, Gabriel Iglesias, Jay Leno, Sebastian Maniscalco, Amy Schumer, Nicole Byer, David Spade, Margaret Cho, Brian Regan, Kevin Nealon, Ellen DeGeneres, Lewis Black, Michelle Wolf, Mark Normand, Sam Morrill, W. Kamau Bell, , Paula Poundstone, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, The Smothers Brothers and many more.