Netflix Is A Joke Festival 2026: Five shows worth checking out

Netflix Is A Joke Festival will bring a slew of comedians to various venues across Los Angeles from May 4 through May 10. With the official lineup announced yesterday, we decided to look through the schedule and showcase five shows worth checking out. Tickets for all shows go on sale to the general public this Friday (January 23). Presale tickets will go live at 10 a.m. today. More information about Netflix Is A Joke Festival can be found here.

Stand Up and Clown @ The Elysian Theater (1944 Riverside Dr.)
May 4 @ 9:45 p.m. (tickets) 18+

Chad Damiani's Stand Up and Clown brings some of your favorite comedians together to perform an electric clown show. Attendees can expect some familiar faces doing some off-the-wall things on stage to win over the crowd. Previous comics who appeared on Stand Up and Clown include Milana Vayntrub, Paul Scheer, and Riki Lindhome. With a plethora of comics in town for Netflix Is A Joke Festival, there's no telling who might show up for some clown action.

Celebrating The 40th Anniversary of Pee-Wee's Playhouse @ Greek Theatre (2700 N. Vermont Ave.)
May 4 @ 8 p.m. (tickets)

Pee-Wee's Playhouse turns 40 this year, and Netflix Is A Joke Festival is throwing a major celebration at the Greek Theatre. Hosted by Patton Oswalt, the special variety show will feature a slew of music and comedy performances from The B-52s, Fred Armisen, Puddles Pity Party, and more. The show will also include the original puppeteers and cast members from the beloved TV show.

Clowns of Color @ The Elysian Theater - Skunk Room (1944 Riverside Dr.)
May 6 @ 8 p.m. (tickets)

Clowns of Color have been turning heads in the clowning scene thanks to their residency shows at The Elysian Theater. Formed by former vets DeShawn Ball (USMC) and Jamonté Williams (U.S. Army), Clowns of Color dive into their past to deliver a show filled with antics at every turn.

Smosh Reads Reddit Stories @ The Orpheum Theatre (842 S. Broadway)
May 6 @ 9:30 p.m. (tickets)

Smosh Reads Reddit Stories' live shows sell out instantly, so be sure to get those fingers ready to purchase. The show features Shayne Topp and other Smosh members reading various stories on Reddit. The podcast recently won the Bronze Signal Award and the Listener's Choice Award for Best Comedy Podcast at the Signal Awards.

Music and Comedy with Alex Edelman and Ben Folds @ The Ford (2580 Cahuenga Blvd E)
May 5 @ 7 p.m. (tickets)

Emmy-winning comedian Alex Edelman and beloved singer-songwriter Ben Folds will join forces for a night of comedy and music over at The Ford. Edelman can currently be seen on The Office spinoff The Paper over on Peacock. The Boston native is also a writer on the show. Last year, Folds unveiled the live album Ben Folds Live with The National Symphony Orchestra.