ImprovFestivals.orgiO Fest
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 23-26, 2026 |
| Edition | 3rd Annual |
| Location | Chicago, IL, USA |
| Language | English |
| Organizer | iO Theater |
| Website | ioimprov.com/io-fest |
| iO Chicago | |
| @iochicago |
Overview
iO Fest is Chicago's largest comedy festival, hosted by iO Theater - the birthplace of longform improvisation, founded in 1981 by Del Close, Charna Halpern, and David Shepard. The festival launched in 2024 as a successor to the Bentwood Comedy Festival (2018-2019) and quickly grew from 70+ acts in its inaugural year to 120+ acts by 2025. It runs four days across four stages at iO's Lincoln Park venue.
The festival blends longform improv, sketch, stand-up, experimental shows, live podcast recordings, and specialty workshops. It draws iO alumni back alongside today's top comedic talent from across the country.
Headliners
The 2026 festival features 135+ acts, including Baby Wants Candy, Improvised Shakespeare Company, 3Peat, Armando, Astronomy Club, Claire + Kim, Comedy Dance Chicago, Escandalo, James Conklin Memorial Scholarship Show, Parker Callahan, SAND, UCB Soundtrack, and Unmuted. Workshops led by headliners and special guests are forthcoming.