By Traverse City Today Staff
Traverse City, Mich. — The Traverse City Comedy Fest has announced its full lineup for the 2026 festival, set to run April 16–18, bringing more than three dozen comedians from 11 states to venues throughout downtown Traverse City.
Festival organizers confirmed that this year’s headliners include Saturday Night Live cast member Sarah Sherman and Hacks star Megan Stalter, alongside nationally recognized comedians Roy Wood Jr., formerly of The Daily Show, and Joe DeVito, a regular on Gutfeld! and late-night comedy stages.
The lineup also features acclaimed stand-up comic Gary Gulman, known for his HBO specials and extensive national touring, rounding out a top-tier slate of performers for the three-day event.
In addition to the headliners, the festival will showcase a wide range of comedians, including Nate Armbruster, Colleen Brennan, Jason Chatfield, Bri Giger, Amma Marfo, Brad Wenzel, Andrew Yang, Chris Young, and dozens more, offering audiences a mix of emerging voices and established performers.
The Traverse City Comedy Fest will also include specialty shows and alternative comedy formats such as Roast Battles, Comedy Rumbles, improv performances, themed showcases, open mics, and comedy karaoke, with participation from both visiting acts and local comedy groups including Full Tilt Comedy and Good on Paper.
Organizers say the festival continues its mission of blending entertainment with community impact. A portion of the proceeds from the 2026 Comedy Fest will benefit the Women’s Resource Center, supporting services for individuals and families in the region.
Tickets for specialty and improv shows are set to go on sale February 10, with many headline and showcase events already available through the festival’s ticketing platform.
More information, including schedules, venues, and ticket details, can be found on the Traverse City Comedy Fest website.
🎤 Headliners & Major Acts
- Megan Stalter (co-headliner) – star of Hacks
- Sarah Sherman (co-headliner) – Saturday Night Live cast member
- Joe DeVito – stand-up comic and Gutfeld! regular
- Roy Wood Jr. – former Daily Show correspondent
- Gary Gulman – national headliner with HBO specials and extensive touring résumé
🎙️ Company Comics & Additional Performers
The mid-level roster of performers announced for the festival includes:
- Nate Armbruster
- Diego Attanasio
- Colleen Brennan
- Ryan Brown
- Rosey Catherine
- Jason Chatfield
- Mike Cronin
- Marcus Cusic
- Ren Dawe
- Janelle Draper
- Darrick Ervin II
- Tim Finkel
- Bri Giger
- Bret Hayden
- Jason Jamerson
- Sheila Loveley
- Amma Marfo
- Mike Maxwell
- Leslie Mitchell
- Kenneth Mock
- Johnny Mocny
- Nthenya Ndunda
- Lisa Rimmert
- Patty Rooney
- Cam Rowe
- Chris Schmidt
- Pat Sievert
- Danielle Thralow
- Esteban Touma
- Wes Ward
- Brad Wenzel
- Ken Witzgall
- Andrew Yang
- Chris Young
🎭 Specialty Shows & Improv
In addition to stand-up sets, the festival will feature a variety of other comedy formats and showcases:
- Improvisational and specialty acts such as Full Tilt Comedy and Good on Paper (both Traverse City groups)
- Kamikaze Comedy — showcase featuring local and visiting comics
- Shows like Big Fun Murder, Planet Ant, and That Thing You Pull When You Want It To Stop
- Competitive and themed events including Roast Battle, Comedy Rumble, open mic events, clean and dirty showcases, and comedy karaoke
