ImprovFestivals.orgWinnipeg Improv Festival
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 21-24, 2026 |
| Location | Winnipeg, MB, Canada |
| Language | English |
| Organizer | The Improv Company |
| Website | winnipegimprov.com |
| Winnipeg Improv Festival | |
| @winnipegimprovfestival |
Overview
The Winnipeg Improv Festival (historically "Winnipeg if... Improv Festival") was founded in 2000 by Stephen Sim after he toured improv scenes in Vancouver, Edmonton, Seattle, and Chicago and set out to bring those ideas home to Manitoba. It has been hosted at the Gas Station Arts Centre on River Avenue since its earliest editions, a partnership that continues today.
The festival is produced by The Improv Company and is led by artistic directors Stephen Sim and Caity Curtis. Programming typically runs Wednesday through Saturday with a mix of ensemble shows, themed nights, and guest-directed formats. Past guests have included Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall), Tim Blair (TallBoyz), Ken Hall (The Umbrella Academy), David Shepherd (founder of the Compass Players), Rapid Fire Theatre from Edmonton, Dad's Garage from Atlanta, North Coast from NYC, and Unexpected Productions from Seattle.
Workshops
The festival regularly hosts guest-taught workshops alongside performances, and The Improv Company runs year-round classes in Winnipeg that feed into the festival's local ensemble.