San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival sets 2026 lineup in Arcadia

The San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival will run Aug. 23-29 at Astronaut City Comedy Club & Karaoke Bar in Arcadia, California, with headliners, nearly 60 selected comedians and a Best of the Fest finale on Aug. 29. Tickets are available now as the event returns with a broader showcase of established and emerging comics.

Why it matters: - The festival is becoming a regional comedy destination in the San Gabriel Valley, drawing performers, fans and industry professionals to Arcadia. - The 2026 format blends established headliners with emerging comics, creating more exposure for newer performers and more variety for audiences. - The Best of the Fest finale gives the week a competitive payoff and a clear closing showcase.

What happened: - The San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival announced its 2026 featured comedians on June 20, 2026. - The festival runs Aug. 23-29 at Astronaut City Comedy Club & Karaoke Bar in Arcadia, California. - Headliners include Aparna Nancherla, Brian Kiley, Ahmed Bharoocha, Kiki Yeung and PK. - The week-long event includes live comedy and networking for comedians from across Southern California and beyond. - Tickets for the festival, including Best of the Fest on Aug. 29, are available now via festival tickets. - More festival information is available at the official festival site.

The details: - Almost 60 selected comedians will perform in curated showcases throughout the week. - Festival performers will be judged on joke writing, originality, stage presence and audience response. - The highest-rated performer will earn a spot in the Best of the Fest finale showcase on Saturday, Aug. 29. - Sally Mullins will headline the Best of the Fest showcase. - Mullins hosts at The Comedy Store and The Ice House and has appeared on Lights Out with David Space and in Hustler Magazine. - The full featured-comedian lineup includes Aleesa Calaguas, Amie Lieberman, Arpit Jain, Aziza Stewart, Benjamin Jeong, Benny Blue, Chelsea Cruz, Chris Cortesi, Corinna Yee, Deja Fabro, Ellice Lin, Emily Koller, Fingers, Hannah Killian, Hermie Castillo, Holiday, Holly Starr, Isaac Cruz, Jasmine Parniani, Jessica Inserra, Jill Carty, Jimil Linton, Justin Sanchez, Kathleen Duncan, Kathleen Piche’, Lennon Hobson, Leslie Hiatt, Lindsey Crowley, Luke Sabis, Marc Tyrrell, Marita De Lara, Matt Harbert, Matt Harrington, Mazdak, Melissa Taylor, Michael Castellanos, Michael Whelan, Nathan Spina, Nick Palatucci, Nuri Halperin, Paulina Simkin, Phil Parker, Prakhar Jay, Priya Guyadeen, Rachel Walker, Ricky Lopez, Sadie C, Sam Cooper, Sara Mooney, Shankar Krishnakumar, Sharon Wong, Sharra Lou, Sid Puri, William Loufik and Zozo Zhang. - Astronaut City Comedy Club & Karaoke Bar opened in 2025 and hosts stand-up comedy, themed entertainment events, karaoke nights, comedy competitions and community programming year-round.

Between the lines: - Teresa Lo is using the festival to position Astronaut City and the SGV as a place where comedians can build relationships and move between local stages and larger rooms. - Last year’s festival was a competition with a large prize, and proceeds were donated to the Women and Children's Crisis Center in Whittier, California. - The 2025 festival featured almost 80 comedians and drew hundreds of audience members, showing the event already has a base of audience demand. - The event also helps extend the reach of a venue that was recently featured in the 2026 Netflix Is a Joke Festival.

What's next: - The festival will unfold over seven days of shows, networking and showcases in late August. - Judges will select the Best of the Fest performer during the run of the event. - The festival will close with the finale showcase on Aug. 29.

The bottom line: - The 2026 San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival is aiming to be both a talent showcase and a pipeline for the next wave of Southern California comics.