After a highly successful inaugural year, Athens Comedy Fest is officially returning as an annual festival, bringing another weekend of top-tier stand-up comedy to the Classic City on May 1 and 2, 2026, at the Historic Morton Theatre.

The 2026 festival will be hosted by Karen Morgan, one of the Southeast’s most respected and beloved comedians, and produced by an expanded local team of Athens-based performers who helped build the city’s modern comedy scene. This year’s event will feature national touring comedians from across the country alongside standout local talent, with the full lineup to be announced very soon.

“Athens has always been a creative place and a great comedy town,” said Morgan. “Having a comedy festival fills out the artistic range of the city while bringing more awareness to the Classic City — its talent, its creativity, and its potential.”

Athens Comedy Fest grew out of a grassroots comedy movement that began rebuilding the city’s scene after it was nearly wiped out by the pandemic in 2020. Starting in late 2021 and early 2022, local comedians banded together in true DIY fashion, transforming bars, small venues, and unconventional spaces into nightly comedy rooms. That effort sparked an explosion of activity — with more than 150 shows produced in Athens in 2025 alone — turning the city into one of the Southeast’s most exciting destinations for stand-up comedy.

The momentum carried into the festival’s inaugural year in 2025, which saw excellent attendance across the weekend, including a nearly sold-out Saturday night and strong crowds on both Friday and Sunday. The success confirmed that Athens Comedy Fest is not just a one-time event, but a permanent fixture in the city’s cultural calendar.

Now entering its second year, Athens Comedy Fest continues to position Athens as a lighthouse for comedy, attracting performers from Austin, Los Angeles, New York, and beyond who are eager to be part of the scene.

Tickets and festival passes for 2026 will be released soon. Fans can follow @athenscomedyfest on Instagram and visit AthensComedyFest.com for lineup announcements and ticket information.

More exciting updates will be announced in the coming weeks.