Every Comedy Festival With Open Submissions in May

We combed the internet for comedy festivals that have open submissions during the month of May so you don't have to! We have improv, stand-up, sketch and more covered below! Just click the names of the festivals to follow their link! We'll be updating throughout the month as new info comes in so be sure to check back!

Stand-Up

Big Laughs Fest (Sedona, AZ) - Deadline mid May (show dates Sept. 17-19)

Good Karma Arts Festival (several states) - Deadline May 15th (show dates June 18-27)

Funniest Comic in the Valley (Phoenix, AZ) - Deadline May 19th (show dates starts May 20th)

Comedy Chateau International Comedy Festival (LA) - Deadline end of May (show dates June 13-20)

Laugh Out Loveland (Loveland, CO) - Deadline May 31st (show dates July 30-Aug. 2)

Latina Comedy Festival (Chicago) - Early Bird ends May 31st, overall June 30th (show dates Oct. 1-3)

NEPA Comedy Festival (The Poconos) - Deadline May 31st (show dates Oct. 8-10)

Lookout Comedy Festival (Chattanooga, TN) - Regular fee ends May. 31st, overall June 30th (show dates Oct. 14-17)

Big Diamond Comedy Festival (Bentonville, AR) - Deadline May 31st (show dates Oct. 22-24)

Saratoga Comedy Festival (Saratoga Springs, NY) - Deadline June 1st (show dates Sept. 11-12)

Mountain Fresh Comedy Festival (Breckenridge, CO) - Cheaper fee ends June 1st, overall June 30th (show dates Oct. 8-10)

Let's Fest 6 (Indianapolis) - Deadline June 15th (show dates Sept. 3-6)

HaHa Harvest Comedy Festival (Hoboken & Jersey City) - Regular Fee ends June 30th, overall Aug. 7 (Oct. 2-4)

Colorado Queer Comedy Festival (Denver) - Deadline June 30th (show dates Oct. 1-4)

Oak City Comedy Festival (Raleigh, NC) - Deadline June 30th (show dates Oct. 14-18)

Big Sky Comedy Festival (Billings, MT) - Deadline July 15th (Show dates Oct. 6-11)

Tower City Comedy Festival (Paris, TX) - Regular fee ends July 31st, overall Aug. 31st (show dates Jan. 28-30)

World Series of Comedy (Various cities) - Multiple deadlines, overall Aug. 16th (multiple dates)

Hubcap Comedy Festival (New Brunswick, Can.) - Deadline Aug. 31st (show dates Jan. 20-23)

Seattle International Comedy Competition - Deadline Sept. 6th (show dates in November)

Film

Woodstock Film Festival (Woodstock, NY) - Regular fee ends May 8th, overall June 12th (show dates Oct. 14-18)

Austin Comedy Film Festival - Cheaper Fee ends May 31st, overall June 30th (show date Sept. 19, 2026)

Portland Comedy Film Festival - Regular deadline May 31st, overall June 30th (show date Oct. 12)

Stand-Up/Film/Solo

Neurotica Fest (NYC) - Deadline May 15th (show dates Sept. 10-13)

Stand-Up/Digital Short

Bend Comedy Festival (Bend, OR) - Deadline May 15th (show dates Sept. 4-6)

Stand-Up/Improv/Short/Podcast

Tower City Comedy Festival (Paris, TX) - Regular fee ends July 31st, overall Aug. 31st (show dates Jan. 28-30)

Short Film/Animation

Short Com International Comedy Film & Animation Festival (UK) - Next deadline May 22nd, overall July10th (show dates Aug. 14-Sept. 25)

Live and Video Sketch

Denver Sketch Festival - Early Bird ends May 31st, overall July 19th (show dates Oct. 8-10)

Fringe

Greater Manchester Fringe - Brochure deadline May 15, overall June 25th (show dates July 1-31)

Stand-Up/Improv/Character/Music

Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest (New York City) - Deadline July 1st (show dates Feb. 24-28)

Sketch

Chicago Sketchfest - Regular fee ends May 13th, overall May 27th (show dates Sept. 30-Oct. 3)

Seattle Sketchfest - Deadline June 30th (show dates Sept. 24-27)

Stand-Up/Improv/Sketch/Variety/Drag/Podcast/Music

Nottingham Comedy Festival - Deadline June 26th (show dates Oct. 30-Nov. 8)

Clown

Clown Days (NYC) - Deadline unclear, submit soon! (show dates June 28 & 29)

Stand-Up/Improv/Sketch/Film/Short/Web Series/Clown/Variety

Oakland Comedy Festival - Early Bird ends May 31st, overall July 1st (show dates Oct. 15-17)

Stand-Up/Improv/Sketch

Make 'Em Laugh, OK Comedy Festival (Tulsa, OK) - Deadline May 15th (show dates Oct. 23-25)

Stand-Up/Improv

RISE Comedy Festival (Denver) - Deadline May 15th (show dates July 24-Aug. 1)

Musical Improv

Bay Area Musical Improv Festival (Oakland, CA) - Deadline June 1st (show dates Oct. 22-25)

Improv

Summer Phest (Philly) - Deadline May 19th (show dates July 31-Aug 1)

Das Improv Festival (Berlin) - Deadline May 30th (show dates Sept. 16-20)

Secret Improv Fest (Oak Ridge, TN) - Deadline June 15th (show dates Oct. 8-10)

Red Rocks Improv Festival (Cedar City, UT) - Deadline July 1st (show dates Sept. 17-19)

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