Nashville is trading power ballads for punchlines from April 9 to 19, 2026, when the Nashville Comedy Festival returns for a 10-day takeover of stages across the city. The lineup stretches from arena names to club-room favorites, with Shane Gillis, Joey Diaz, Albert Brooks, David Spade, and Kevin James headlining. Zanies Comedy Club anchors the club circuit, while bigger nights land at the Ryman, Bridgestone Arena, and The Fisher Center. Specialty showcases, including Kid Rock’s Comedy Jam and a comedy-music roadshow, push the schedule beyond straight stand-up and into full-on variety mode.
According to the Nashville Comedy Festival website, the full schedule is up with individual tickets for each event. Shows are spread across Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena, The Fisher Center, EXIT/IN, and Zanies, giving fans enough options to build their own multi-venue "comedy crawl" across the 10 days.
Zanies and the club circuit
As reported by Nashville Lifestyles, Zanies will host 22 artists across the festival's more than 35 total performances, keeping the club firmly at the center of the action. The same piece highlights genre-bending showcases, including Kid Rock’s Comedy Jam, U.K. duo Shxtsngigs, and the Comedy Music Roadshow featuring Wolves of Glendale, Kyle Gordon, and On Company Time, which collectively broaden the festival beyond straight stand-up.
Big nights at Ryman and Bridgestone
Kevin James headlines the Ryman Auditorium on April 9, with David Spade set for April 17 and Joey Diaz following on April 18, according to the Ryman Auditorium calendar. Over at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Comedy Festival lineup features Shane Gillis on April 17, giving fans a one-two punch of big-stage nights and late-night club shows across the same weekend.
What it means for Music City
Organizers and city promoters point to the festival as proof that Nashville's live-entertainment calendar keeps stretching well past its country roots. A Visit Music City press release bills the event as "Nashville’s premier multi-day celebration of stand-up" that takes over many of the city's most iconic venues. The festival is curated and produced by Outback Presents alongside Zanies, a pairing that Visit Music City and festival materials credit with helping the event grow into a multi-venue spring fixture.
How to plan your comedy crawl
Tickets are sold per show and prices vary by venue, so locking in your must-see headliners early is the safe move, especially since Zanies' smaller rooms often sell out during festival nights. For the latest show times, lineups, and seating details, check the club's calendar at Zanies Comedy Club.
