This LA comedy festival is packed with queer talent and a tribute to Pee-Wee Herman
The ‘Netflix Is A Joke’ festival features over 300 shows - tickets go on sale this Friday.
Mark
Netflix has just announced the line-up for its third ‘Netflix is a Joke’ comedy festival. This year’s event will take place in 35 venues around Los Angeles from May 4-10, 2026.
Tickets go on sale this Friday (Jan. 23), and many shows are sure to sell out quickly. Venues range from the large to intimate: The Hollywood Bowl, The Greek Theatre, the Intuit Dome, The Comedy Store, and Laugh Factory, among others.
The extravaganza — produced by Netflix in partnership with Live Nation — will feature over 350 live events. This includes stand-up performances, variety shows, comedy podcasts, tapings, exclusive events, and screenings.
Some of the biggest names in comedy are taking part, and that includes some LGBTQ+ favorites.
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Names includes Fire Island and Loot star Joel Kim Booster, Jerrod Carmichael, Margaret Cho, Meg Stalter, Jonathan Van Ness, Guy Branum, Patti Harrison, Wanda Sykes, Julio Torres, and drag superstars Bob The Drag Queen, Trixie & Katya.
Tim Dillon will be hosting a special recording of The Tim Dillon Show with the cast of Selling Sunset and Selling the OC. Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin, Tig Notaro will host a recording of their ‘Handsome’ podcast.
Remembering Pee-Wee Herman
Another evening that will definitely be of interest to some of our readers is ‘A Tribute to Pee-Wee’s Playhouse’, which will celebrate 40 years of iconic TV show. Pee-Wee creator Paul Reubens is sadly no longer with us, but this event promises a “once-in-a-lifetime variety show with music and comedy performances from The B-52s, Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of DEVO, Danny Elfman, Fred Armisen, Sheng Wang, Bob The Drag Queen, Patti Harrison, Julio Torres, Michael Carbonaro and Puddles Pity Party.” You can also expect special guest appearances from David Arquette, Cheri Oteri, Natasha Lyonne, and original Playhouse puppets. Patton Oswalt will host.
“What makes this fest so special is the sense of community — it’s a rare moment where the comedy industry and the fans come together in one place,” said Tracey Pakosta, Netflix Vice President of Comedy Series, in a press statement. “We’re not just putting on shows; we’re creating one-of-a-kind experiences that celebrate the range, depth, and sheer brilliance of the comedy world right now.”
As we say, tickets go on sale on Friday at netflixisajokefest.com so be sure to book early.
Coming to Los Angeles in early May?
The Netflix is a Joke festival is not the only reason to consider a trip to LA this spring.
• The TCM Classic Film Festival runs for four days in the heart of Hollywood from April 30 – May 3. Enjoy classic movies the way they were intended to be seen: on the big screen. Confirmed presentations include a 75th restoration of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, and Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus. The event always attracts special guests, but names were still to be confirmed for 2026.
• On May 2-3, 2026, electronic dance music festival Core, a spin-off from Europe’s Tomorrowland, will make its US debut. Expect lavish production standards and a roster of top DJs.
• Beach Life Festival hits Redondo Beach from May 1-3. Performers include Duran Duran, Chainsmokers, the Offspring, Ben Harper, Joan Jett, and Sheryl Crow.
And don’t forget…
If you’re heading to Los Angeles, some of our favourite gay venues host regular entertainment or drag shows, including the Abbey WeHo, Micky’s WeHo, and Precinct DTLA.
The Abbey Food & Bar
The place to be seen in WeHo 692 N Robertson Blvd · West Hollywood, CA 90069(310) 289-8410
Website
Micky’s Weho
Iconic WeHo dance club 8857 Santa Monica Blvd · West Hollywood, CA 90069(310) 657-1176
Website
Related
The Abbey in West Hollywood hosted a celebrity-studded party for National PrEP Day
Dua Lipa, Cardi B, Matt Bomer and Tom Daley were among those to attend.
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