Everything you need to know about the NYC South Asian Comedy Festival, Oct 16–18, 2026.
The NYC South Asian Comedy Festival is New York City's first — and one of the largest — South Asian stand-up comedy festivals in the world. Produced by Laughing Lassi, it brings together top South Asian, desi, and brown comedians from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and across the diaspora for five unique shows across three nights in Manhattan.
The festival runs October 16–18, 2026 across three Manhattan venues: Loft 23 (22 West 23rd St) on Friday October 16, Broadway Comedy Club (318 W 53rd St) on Saturday October 17, and Top Secret Comedy Club (44 Avenue A) on Sunday October 18.
There are five distinct shows: Best of NYC (Friday, Oct 16 — opening night showcase + DJ after-party), Brown Unhinged (Saturday, Oct 17 — raw and uncensored), Roast Battle (Saturday, Oct 17 — India vs Pakistan vs Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka), Family Friendly Show (Sunday, Oct 18 — clean, all-ages comedy), and Desi Women Takeover (Sunday, Oct 18 — all-women South Asian lineup).
Headliners include Gauri B (Best of NYC), Aparna Nancherla — Netflix's The Standups, BoJack Horseman (Desi Women Takeover), and Aanchal Agrawal — Forbes, Al Jazeera, Creator of Assisted Dating (Family Friendly Show). The Roast Battle headliner is decided live — the winner of the roast earns the headline set.
Yes — the Family Friendly Show (Sunday, Oct 18, 7 PM at Top Secret Comedy Club) is completely clean, with no profanity. It's designed for all ages including kids, parents, and grandparents. The other four shows (Best of NYC, Brown Unhinged, Roast Battle, Desi Women Takeover) are recommended for mature audiences (18+).
Tickets are available on the Schedule page. Each show has its own ticket link. Early bird pricing is available — once it's gone, prices go up. Seats are limited across all five shows.
All three venues are easily accessible by NYC subway. Loft 23 (22 W 23rd St) is near the N/R/W at 23rd St and the F/M at 23rd St. Broadway Comedy Club (318 W 53rd St) is near the C/E at 50th St and the 1 at 50th St. Top Secret Comedy Club (44 Avenue A) is near the F/M at 2nd Ave or the L at 1st Ave. Street parking is limited in Midtown — subway or rideshare is recommended.
Yes. The NYC South Asian Comedy Festival reaches 640 live attendees, 5,000+ past audience members with direct contact, and 1M+ digital reach — primarily South Asian NYC professionals. To discuss sponsorship packages, email [email protected].
The NYC South Asian Comedy Festival is the only multi-night, multi-show South Asian comedy festival in New York City. Rather than a single showcase, it offers five completely different shows — each with its own format, vibe, and lineup — across three nights. It's produced by Laughing Lassi, which has a 36-month consecutive sell-out record at Broadway Comedy Club.
Yes. The NYC South Asian Comedy Festival is the first dedicated South Asian stand-up comedy festival in New York City. It is produced by Laughing Lassi, NYC's leading South Asian comedy platform, which has run a monthly sold-out South Asian comedy show at Broadway Comedy Club for over three consecutive years.
Comedian submissions for the 2026 festival are closed. The lineup was selected through a rigorous multi-judge scoring process from 76 open submissions. If you'd like to be considered for future festivals, email [email protected].
For press inquiries, review copies, or media assets, email [email protected]. See our Press page for fast facts and media information.
