Austin is nationally known as a comedy hotspot and frankly, its comedic identity is all over the place. One massive festival brings it all together: the Moontower Comedy Festival will offer something for just about everyone from April 8-19, 2026, at more than 10 venues. Every year, the lineup is announced in waves, and this year’s first wave of 75 performers is out now.
A press release promises “stand-up sets, unhinged podcast recordings, musical comedy, and sketch madness[, plus] midnight hangs after whatever brilliance the comics cooked up that night.” This is the festival’s 14th year, and even if comedy lovers haven’t attended, they’ve likely seen clips or heard comedians reference running into each other in Austin during its run.
There are tons of ways to introduce and organize this long list of comics, but the most important delineations are headliners, Club Series performers, and locals. Headliners are as described: well-known comics who lots of people are going to want to see. Anyone can purchase tickets to a headlining show. The Club Series offers a four-day comedy buffet for badge-holders April 15-18, with more than 100 comics within walking distance downtown.
Local acts so far include the following comics: Andrew Murphy, Angelina Martin, Caleb Elliott, Carlton Wilcoxson, Danny Goodwin, Dylan Carlino, Fast Ronald, Genivive Clinton, Jon Carden, Kandace Medina, Katie Felton, Lukas McCrary, Mathew Mitchell, Mimi Meier, Pat Dean, Rafael Cruz, Roxy Castillo, and 2025’s Funniest Person in Austin winner JJ Curry.
The rest of the lineup so far is as follows, with headliners bolded:
Aidan McCluskeyAn Evening with Albert BrooksAndrea PopovaAndrew MurphyAndy HugginsAngelina MartinBeth StellingBrad WilliamsBrendan SagalowCaleb ElliottCarlton WilcoxsonCaroline RheaCristela AlonzoDanny GoodwinDebra DiGiovanniDoug BensonDrew DunnDvontre ColemanDylan AdlerDylan CarlinoEmil WakimEmily WilsonFast RonaldGenivive ClintonGod Damn Comedy JamGreg WarrenHassan PhillsIvan DeckerJason SklarJay JurdenJeff ArcuriJeremiah WatkinsJesus SepulvedaJJ CurryJoe DombrowskyJohn GoblikonJon CardenJon RudnitskyJosh Adam MeyersKandace MedinaKatherine BlanfordKathy GriffinKatie BoyleKatie FeltonKeegan TindallLeslie JonesLukas McCraryMaggie WintersMarc MaronMarie FaustinMathew MitchellMatt BraungerMike FalzoneMike FeeneyMike VecchioneMimi MeierNick MurphyNish KumarOff Book – The Improvised MusicalPat DeanPat ReganPink FoxxRafael CruzRandy SklarRené VacaRicci ArmaniRoxy CastilloShane TorresShxts N GigsSydnee WashingtonTom RhodesVal ParkerVince CalderaVir DasZach ZuckerZachariah Porter
Even though anyone will be able to attend headliner shows, a badge helps by giving pre-sale access. The festival is also running a “Bestie Badge promo” that offers $25 off each badge in a group of two or more. Headliner pre-sales run from Tuesday, November 11, to Wednesday, November 12. The rest will go on sale to the general public Thursday, November 13. More lineup announcements will be made in the coming months.