(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Comedy Festival returns November 14–21, 2026 with eight straight days of stand-up, improv, sketch and musical comedy in downtown Montclair. The festival includes 12 shows and two free workshops at DiRasa House of Diversified Arts, The MC Hotel, Montclair Brewery and RecRoom in Lackawanna Station.
Comedian Myq Kaplan headlines the closing night, The BIG Show, on Saturday, November 21 at The MC Hotel.
The festival opens Saturday, November 14 with JAWS: the (very unauthorized) Musical!, a parody that turns the shark thriller into a love story. The 3:00pm performance is family- and sensory-friendly.
Montclair Comedy Festival is an annual comedy festival established 2025 and produced by Suzanne Stein and Natty Bumpercar (Sweet & Sour Comedy). It is a celebration of all things comedy: stand-up, improv, sketch, storytelling, sensory-friendly shows, family-friendly events, and hands-on comedy workshops spread throughout town, in partnership with some of Montclair's favorite venues.
Whether you're a lifelong comedy fan, a casual laugher, or someone who just wants a fun night out, there's something for everyone — and the lineup is chosen on performance quality, so every act earns its place.
The 2026 schedule
Saturday, November 14 at 3:00pm & 8:00pm — JAWS: the (very unauthorized) Musical! (3 p.m. is family/sensory-friendly), DiRasa
Sunday, November 15 at 7:00pm — 7 ate 9: eight comics, nine minutes each, DiRasa
Monday, November 16 at 7:30pm — Open Mic, free, Montclair Brewery
Tuesday, November 17 at 7:30pm — Spotlight Showcase, DiRasa
Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30pm — Wild & Wacky Wednesday stand-up competition; the winner earns a spot in The BIG Show, DiRasa
Thursday, November 19 at 7:30pm — All Mixed Up! variety show, DiRasa
Friday, November 20 at 7:00pm — Yip! Yep! Yup! Improv Showcase, DiRasa
Friday, November 20 at 9:00pm — Friday FIRE stand-up, DiRasa
Saturday, November 21 at 10:30am — Pretenderrific, a family/sensory-friendly improv show hosted by Natty B, DiRasa
Saturday, November 21 at noon & 2:00pm — Free seminars: Crowd Work with Becky Veduccio, and Social Media, RecRoom
Saturday, November 21 at 7:00pm — Hot Out of the Gate stand-up competition, The MC Hotel
Saturday, November 21 at 9:00pm — The BIG Show with headliner Myq Kaplan, The MC Hotel
Tickets are $25 per show ($15 for Pretenderrific) at montclaircomedyfestival.org. The Open Mic is free to attend.
Venues include DiRasa House of Diversified Arts (4 Lackawanna Plaza); The MC Hotel (690 Bloomfield Avenue); Montclair Brewery (101 Walnut Street); and RecRoom (1 Lackawanna Plaza - Lackawanna Station)
The festival's first year, November 13–15, 2025, ran 11 shows across four independent Montclair venues. Its spring edition, Spring Fling 2026, was headlined by Judy Gold.
The 2026 festival is supported by The MC Hotel, DiRasa House of Diversified Arts, RecRoom, Montclair Brewery, Radio Free Montclair, Eventbrite and Peanut Graphic.
Friday, Oct 30, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
Montclair, NJ
Suzanne Vega will perform a career-spanning show including favorites like “Tom’s Diner”, “Luka”, “Marlene On The Wall”, and many more, plus songs from her latest album, Flying with Angels, which was released in May 2025 to critical acclaim. She will be joined on stage by her longtime guitarist, Gerry Leonard (of David Bowie fame), and cellist Stephanie Winters. [Video Trailer]
Friday, Nov 06, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
Montclair, NJ
Saturday, Nov 21, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
Montclair, NJ
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
Thursday, Dec 03, 2026
@ 7:30pm
Outpost In The Burbs
Montclair, NJ
Friday, Dec 11, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
Montclair, NJ
