The Stand's NY Laughs Festival Returns to Union Square June 4–7 With a Bigger Lineup, New Venues, and a Free Outdoor Kickoff
The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club is bringing back the NY Laughs Festival for its second annual run from June 4 to 7, 2026, sprawling across Lower Manhattan and Union Square with expanded programming, new venues, and a stacked lineup. After last year's inaugural "Comedy in the Square" drew more than 1,000 attendees, the festival is scaling up. It opens on Wednesday, June 4 with a free outdoor show in Union Square Park that transforms the North Plaza into a concert-style open-air stage from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, complete with live music, top-tier stand-up, food and drinks, and expanded seating.
This year's roster is loaded with marquee names and rising voices, including Jeff Ross, Dave Attell, Andrew Dice Clay, Mark Normand, Big Jay Oakerson, Rachel Feinstein, Paul Virzi, Matthew Broussard, Bret Ernst, Joey Dardano, Emma Willmann, Steve Rannazzisi, Caitlin Peluffo, Usama Siddiquee, Alex English, and more to be announced. While The Stand and Irving Plaza anchor the festival, 2026 brings a wider footprint to Joe's Pub, Pier 57, and St. Marks Comedy Club, plus a special preview of The Stand West, the brand's new Chelsea Market location opening this summer. Ticketed shows range from free to $58 depending on the venue.
Produced in partnership with NYLaughs and the Union Square Partnership, the festival also debuts a new exclusive media partnership with Funny Or Die, the studio behind Between Two Ferns, Billy on the Street, and the Emmy-winning Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, alongside cultural media platform TAPE, with amplification from SiriusXM. Carnival Cruise Line signs on as Official Cruise Line Partner and AB InBev as Official Beer Partner. "What we're building reflects how comedy exists in New York, across different rooms, formats, and audiences," said Suzette Simon, Founder of NYLaughs. Full lineup and ticket details are rolling out at nylaughsfest.com.
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