Friday & Saturday: Downtown is a Punchline Thanks to the Return of the Raleigh Comedy Festival

If you hear a roar of laughter echoing down Fayetteville Street this weekend, don’t worry—it’s just the neighbors.

The Raleigh Comedy Festival is officially taking over the city’s nightlife for its second annual run. Through Saturday, March 28, 2026, comedians are descending upon seven downtown venues for a weekend featuring 16 more shows. While the Thursday kickoff set the bar high, the meat of the festival happens now with a “choose your own adventure” style lineup across local staples like Neptunes, Kings, and State of Beer.

Keep an eye out for the “Best of the Fest” showcases, which curate the weekend’s heavy hitters into single, rapid-fire sets—perfect for those who want the highlights without the homework. Most shows are 18+ or 21+, so leave the kiddos with a sitter and head to Festival HQ to grab a badge or snag individual tickets for the sets that catch your eye.

📍 Festival HQ, 213 Fayetteville St., Raleigh, NC 27601 (Plus other downtown venues)
📅 Friday, Mar. 27 & Saturday, Mar. 28, 2026 | Shows from 6:30 p.m. until late
💰 $25-150 (individual vs. all-access pass)
📎 Full Schedule & Tickets: https://raleighcomedyfestival.com/

Since many of these venues are intimate basements and dive bars, shows will sell out fast. Grab your tickets now, or prepare to tell your own jokes in the ticket line.

Author
Recent Posts

Lisa Jeffries Nobling

Founder + Principal at Raleighwood Media Group + Raleighwood Event Group

Lisa Jeffries, a 2007 graduate of N.C. State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and Poole College of Management, has been working in marketing since 2005. Her professional work experience ranges from independent, family-owned businesses to high-growth tech startups. Lisa’s specific areas of expertise include new media and experiential marketing for service-based businesses. Passionate about her clients, cheering on the Wolfpack, live music, and rescuing animals, she is also the founder of Raleigh Food & Wine and Raleighwood Wifi. Lisa completed the NC State + SKEMA Business School MSc dual master’s degree program in Global Luxury Management in 2016, publishing a thesis, Location-Based Opportunities for Brand Marketing With Emphasis on Application Within Luxury Industries.

Latest posts by Lisa Jeffries Nobling (see all)