If you think New York City’s comedy scene ever takes a week off, this week — May 7–10, 2026 — is proof that it absolutely does not. From long-form improv showdowns at UCB to a jampacked speakeasy in the East Village to Brooklyn showcase nights running all weekend, there is genuinely no excuse to stay home and scroll. Here’s where to be.
🎭 Don’t Miss: ASSSSCAT at UCB 14th Street Mainstage
If you’ve never seen ASSSSCAT, stop what you’re doing and fix that immediately. UCB’s signature improv show brings together comedians with serious film and TV credits alongside a special guest monologist who opens the evening with unscripted, off-the-cuff stories. The improvisers then spin the monologue into a wild, unpredictable series of scenes — and no two shows are ever remotely the same.
ASSSSCAT runs Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, both at 8:30 PM at the UCB 14th Street Mainstage. Tickets are affordable and it’s one of the genuinely unmissable comedy experiences the city produces on a regular basis. Just go.
The rest of the UCB weekend calendar is equally stacked. On Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM, The Prophecy performs an hour of improv built entirely around your future — which is as chaotic and funny as it sounds ($15 in advance, $20 at the door). And on Thursday, May 7 at 10:00 PM, UCB’s Match-Up series throws reigning champs Hot FM against challengers Day Trip in what the venue bills as “The World’s Most Dangerous Improv Show.” (They’re not entirely wrong.) Full schedule and tickets at ucbcomedy.com.
🎤 St. Marks Comedy Club: The East Village Speakeasy Is On Fire This Weekend
NYC’s only brickwall speakeasy comedy club is running hard from tonight straight through Saturday, and the lineups are genuinely stacked. Tonight (Thursday, May 7), the Laughing Buddha Open Mic starts at 4:30 PM — a great low-pressure way to discover emerging talent — followed by After Work, After Class Laughs at 6:30 PM featuring comedians with credits from HBO MAX, Kill Tony, Don’t Tell Comedy, and TikTok. (That combination works better than you’d think.)
Friday, May 8 escalates. The open mic runs again at 4:30 PM, “After Work” follows at 6:30 PM, and then the night really gets going. At 8:30 PM, Max Manticof (New York Comedy Festival) headlines — a name worth knowing if you don’t already. The 10:30 PM slot brings out JJ Liberman (viral social media presence turned stage force), Caroline Hanes (NY Comedy Fest), and Jarrett Campbell (Just for Laughs). That’s a serious late show for what feels like a secret location.
Saturday, May 9 keeps the energy going with early shows featuring Macy Kwok (NY Comedy Festival), Sage Sy, and Danny Metz at 4:30 PM, then Gordon Has Friends Part 2 at 6:30 PM. The main event is the Saturday Night Hottest Comedy Show — a stacked bill featuring Santi Espinosa (Just for Laughs), Max Manticof (back for more), Chris Riggins (Bay Area Comedy Fest), and Ed McGowan (Prime Video). Book early. Check stmarkscomedyclub.com for full showtimes and tickets.
🎤 New York Comedy Club: Showcases Running All Month
The New York Comedy Club’s rotating showcase format remains one of the best deals in the city — you get four to six comics per show, with names like Laurie Kilmartin, Marion Grodin, and Rachel Lenihan cycling through May. The Upper West Side location is particularly good for spontaneous late-night drop-ins after dinner. Check newyorkcomedyclub.com/calendar for this week’s specific lineup and show times — they update frequently and often surprise.
🌉 Brooklyn’s Night Out: EastVille Comedy Club
Cross the bridge this Saturday. EastVille Comedy Club in Brooklyn is running back-to-back shows on May 9 — Saturday Standup Live at 6:00 PM followed by Prime Time Comedy at 8:00 PM. The Prime Time show is their flagship format, showcasing working comedians who regularly appear on streaming platforms and late-night TV. Tickets at eastvillecomedy.com.
🎙️ Open Mics: Where Tomorrow’s Headliners Are Tonight
Want comedy in its rawest, most electric form? NYC’s open mic ecosystem is one of the best in the world. Laughing Buddha Comedy runs daily mics at multiple locations across the boroughs — check their site for tonight’s specific spots. UCB also offers its BYOT (Bring Your Own Thing) open mic that welcomes anyone in the comedy community, whether you’re a first-timer or a regular looking to try new material. Both are free or very low cost and genuinely fun to watch even as an audience member.
NYC’s spring comedy season has been building fast — last week’s roundup covered UCB’s TwoProv Tournament and EastVille’s consistent weekend energy, and the momentum is only growing. Go laugh at something this week. You absolutely deserve it.
