Santa Cruz Comedy Festival

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13th Annual Santa Cruz Comedy Festival (SCCF) is set to take over downtown Santa Cruz from October 12th through October 17th, 2026. Over the past twelve years, the SCCF has delivered tens of thousands of laughs to thousands of attendees, featuring hundreds of comedians from across the country.

This year’s festival marks a major milestone as many of the featured headliners are returning alumni who began their comedy careers at the festival thirteen years ago. Rising from early open mics in the bowels of the Blue Lagoon to performing on major stages across the world, these artists are returning to their roots to celebrate the festival’s ongoing legacy.

The 2026 festival will celebrate the robust weekly comedy scene that thrives in Santa Cruz Monday through Friday. The week-long buildup culminates on Saturday, October 17th, when sixty comedians will weave through ten distinct venues in downtown Santa Cruz, bringing strangers together and building community through stand-up and laughter. 

The SCCF has no sponsors and accepts no submission fees from comedians. Our only goal is to give everyone access to laughter with free shows, under 21 shows and of course our ticketed shows (we have to pay for this somehow!).

Schedule of Festival Shows:

Monday, October 12

• 7:00 PM: The Secret Garden of Abbott Square (Free)
• 9:00 PM: The Bucket List Comedy Show at Rosie McCann’s (Free)

Tuesday, October 13

• 7:45 PM: The Blue Lagoon (Free)

Wednesday, October 14

• 8:00 PM: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery (Free)

Thursday, October 15

• 7:00 PM: Gilman Brewing (Free)
• 7:30 PM: Mission West ($10 / $15)

Friday, October 16

• Special Event (TBA)

Saturday, October 17 (The Downtown Takeover)

• 2:30 PM: The Dao of Thao Screening at The 418 Project (Ticketed)
• 4:30 PM: Somatic Body Workshop with Toni Nagy at The Blue Lagoon ($30)
• 5:30 PM: Streetlight Records Comedy Showcase (Free)
• 5:30 PM: Alley Oop’s Intimate Swank Fest ($20 / $25)
• 6:30 PM: Woodhouse Blending – 23 Comics & Vendors ($15 / $20)
• 7:00 PM: Get Faded Barbershop Deep Cuts (Free)
• 7:00 PM: Abbott Square – Comedy, Mind Reading, and Hot Sauce (Free)
• 7:00 PM: Kuumbwa Jazz Center – All Headliners Show ($25 / $30)
• 7:30 PM: Pleasure Pizza – Comics By The Slice (Free)
• 8:00 PM: The Blue Lagoon – SF’s Hardcore Comedy Mirthquake ($10 / $15)
• 9:00 PM: 11th Hour Coffee – Late Night Finale ($15 / $20)

Tickets at www.santacruzcomedyfestival.com