NY LAUGHS FESTIVAL to Return to Union Square With Jeff Ross, Dave Attell & More
The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club will present the four-day festival across multiple Lower Manhattan venues.
The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club has announced the return of the Second Annual NY Laughs Festival, taking place June 4–7, 2026, across Lower Manhattan and the Union Square neighborhood. Building on the success of its inaugural year, the festival returns with expanded programming, new venues, and strategic partnerships, continuing its development as a multi-day comedy experience. The festival is proud to welcome Carnival Cruise Line as the Official Cruise Line Partner, and AB INBev as the Official Beer Partner.
The second annual NY Laughs Festival will feature a lineup of established and emerging comedians, including Jeff Ross, Dave Attell, Andrew Dice Clay, Mark Normand, Bret Ernst, Paul Virzi, Rachel Feinstein, Big Jay Oakerson, Matthew Broussard, Joey Dardano, Emma Willmann, Steve Rannazzisi, Caitlin Peluffo, Usama Siddiquee, Alex English and more to be announced.
New for 2026, NY Laughs introduces an exclusive media partnership with Funny Or Die expanding its editorial and cultural reach. Known for redefining digital comedy and launching some of the most influential comedy franchises, Funny Or Die has produced award-winning and culturally impactful projects including Between Two Ferns starring Zach Galifianakis, Billy on the Street with Billy Eichner, and the Emmy Award-winning Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Funny Or Die will support festival content and programming initiatives through a mix of live events, and premium digital content designed to extend the festival's reach.
The festival will also collaborate with TAPE, a media platform for cultural experiences, to extend its reach beyond the live audience through creator-driven content and curated DOOH distribution, alongside amplification through The New Yorkers and SiriusXM.
With performances held at The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club and Irving Plaza, the festival expands this year to include additional venues such as Joe's Pub, Pier 57, and St. Marks Comedy Club, along with a special preview of The Stand's newest location opening this summer at Chelsea Market.
Presented in partnership with NYLaughs - a performing arts nonprofit dedicated to bringing world-class comedy to public spaces - and the Union Square Partnership, the festival continues its mission of making live comedy more accessible while building a connected, neighborhood-focused experience.
The festival opens on June 4 with its signature event, “Comedy in the Square,” a free outdoor show in Union Square Park, that transforms the park into an open-air stage from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The evening will begin with live music in Union Square Park's North Plaza, and will be handed off to a lineup of top-tier comedians.. The kickoff event builds on last year's experience, which drew more than 1,000 attendees, and returns as the festival's central public gathering. The concert-style designed main stage will include seating and ample standing room, creating an accessible, high-energy outdoor experience alongside food and beverage offerings.
Programming will continue throughout the weekend across participating venues in Lower Manhattan, with events ranging from free public programming to ticketed shows, priced from free to the public up to $58, depending on the venue and performance.
This festival is made possible through a collaborative public-private partnership bringing together cultural institutions, artists, community organizations, and civic support across New York City. Public programming support has been generously provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council, including discretionary and Speaker's Award funding. Additional support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, including support from Governor Kathy Hochul, as well as the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
At its core, NYLaughs and the NY Laughs Festival believe comedy plays an important role in civic life - bringing people together through shared public experiences and accessible cultural programming.
“What we're building reflects how comedy exists in New York - across different rooms, formats, and audiences,” said Suzette Simon, Founder of NYLaughs. “The goal is to create an experience that feels accessible, dynamic, and rooted in the neighborhood.”
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