One stage. Every voice. Every accent. Every story.
South Asia isn't one accent or one story, and neither is its comedy. The NYC South Asian Comedy Festival exists to give this community the kind of room it has always deserved: not one act on someone else's lineup, but five full shows built entirely around South Asian voices. Each one has its own room, its own tone, its own audience, from family-friendly to roast battle to fully unhinged. Taking place October 16–18, 2026 across three of New York's most iconic comedy venues, the festival brings together standup talent from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the wider diaspora: comedians building careers in New York, across America, and around the world, all on one stage at last.
This is a chance for hardworking artists to perform real material, in full, for a crowd that gets it, and to laugh and celebrate together as a community. And while the festival is built by and for the South Asian community, it isn't only for South Asians. Great comedy travels, and every show is open to anyone in New York City looking for a night of sharp, original, unfiltered standup, South Asian or not. NYC South Asian Comedy Festival. This is us. This is our story.
Laughing Lassi has a 100% sell-out rate for 36 consecutive months. We have a 5,000+ person email list of South Asian NYC professionals, and a projected digital reach of 1M+ for this festival.
Comedians were selected through a rigorous, multi-judge scoring process from 76 open submissions — ensuring the highest-quality, most diverse lineup possible across four countries and all experience levels.
The NYC South Asian Comedy Festival is produced by Laughing Lassi, New York City's leading South Asian comedy show. For four consecutive years, Laughing Lassi has sold out its monthly shows, building a loyal audience and becoming a home for South Asian stand-up comedy in New York. Over the years, we have featured more than 200 comedians from New York, across the United States, and around the world. Every comedian who performs at the festival is selected through a multi-judge review process that evaluates submissions based on the quality of their material and performance. The final lineup brings together acclaimed headliners, rising stars, and standout new voices who have been making audiences laugh across New York and the U.S. comedy scene.
The festival celebrates the full diversity of South Asia by featuring comedians from different countries, cultures, languages, and comedic styles. From clean to edgy, every show offers a unique experience. Held in the heart of New York City across multiple venues over several days, the festival also includes after-parties every night, with an opening night celebration featuring a live DJ and dance party. We keep ticket prices as affordable as possible so more people can experience the festival while ensuring comedians are fairly compensated. This is our stage, our stories, and our community. When you join us, you'll feel right at home.
