Athens Comedy Fest returns to the Morton Theatre

ATHENS, GA — After a highly successful inaugural year, AthensComedy Fest is officially returning as an annual festival, bringing anotherweekend 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’smost 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,” saidMorgan. “Having a comedy festival fills out the artistic range of the citywhile bringing more awareness to the Classic City — its talent, its creativity, and its potential.”

Athens Comedy Fest grew out of a grassroots comedy movement thatbegan rebuilding the city’s scene after it was nearly wiped out by thepandemic in 2020. Starting in late 2021 and early 2022, local comediansbanded together in true DIY fashion, transforming bars, small venues, andunconventional spaces into nightly comedy rooms. That effort sparked an

explosion of activity — with more than 150 shows produced in Athens in2025 alone — turning the city into one of the Southeast’s most excitingdestinations for stand-up comedy.

The momentum carried into the festival’s inaugural year in 2025, whichsaw excellent attendance across the weekend, including a nearly sold-outSaturday night and strong

crowds on both Friday and Sunday. The success confirmed that AthensComedy Fest is not just a one-time event, but a permanent fixture in thecity’s cultural calendar.

Now entering its second year, Athens Comedy Fest continues to positionAthens 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 forlineup announcements and ticket information.

More exciting updates will be announced in the coming weeks.

ATHENS, GA — After a highly successful inaugural year, AthensComedy Fest is officially returning as an annual festival, bringing anotherweekend 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’smost 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,” saidMorgan. “Having a comedy festival fills out the artistic range of the citywhile bringing more awareness to the Classic City — its talent, its creativity, and its potential.”

Athens Comedy Fest grew out of a grassroots comedy movement thatbegan rebuilding the city’s scene after it was nearly wiped out by thepandemic in 2020. Starting in late 2021 and early 2022, local comediansbanded together in true DIY fashion, transforming bars, small venues, andunconventional spaces into nightly comedy rooms. That effort sparked an

explosion of activity — with more than 150 shows produced in Athens in2025 alone — turning the city into one of the Southeast’s most excitingdestinations for stand-up comedy.

The momentum carried into the festival’s inaugural year in 2025, whichsaw excellent attendance across the weekend, including a nearly sold-outSaturday night and strong

crowds on both Friday and Sunday. The success confirmed that AthensComedy Fest is not just a one-time event, but a permanent fixture in thecity’s cultural calendar.

Now entering its second year, Athens Comedy Fest continues to positionAthens 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 forlineup announcements and ticket information.

More exciting updates will be announced in the coming weeks.

About Athens Comedy Fest

Athens Comedy Fest is an annual stand-up comedy festival held at theHistoric Morton

Theatre in downtown Athens, Georgia. The festival celebrates bothnational touring acts and the city’s thriving local comedy community, showcasing Athens as one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing hubs for live comedy.

MC