The World Series of Comedy (WSOC) is North America’s largest touring comedy festival — a year-long stand-up comedy competition and industry event that connects hundreds of comedians with comedy clubs and bookers across the U.S. and Canada.

Now celebrating its 17th year, the WSOC features over 500 registered comedians each season who compete in a series of live “Satellite” events held at professional comedy clubs nationwide from February through July. The season culminates in The Main Event in Las Vegas every September, where the Top 101 comics perform for a week of shows, seminars, networking, and industry showcases that help comedians advance their careers.

Founded by comedian Joe Lowers, the WSOC was created to fill a gap in the comedy industry — giving talented comics a real opportunity to be seen by decision-makers, agents, and club owners. The festival has since grown into a hybrid of a contest, convention, and comedy career conference, with prizes including paid club work, WSOC Records releases, and potential management opportunities.

Alumni of the WSOC include Josh Blue, Kabir Singh, Beth Stelling, Kiry Shabazz, JR De Guzman, Ryan Neimiller, Alex Elkin, Ellis Rodriguez, Zoltan Kaszas, Willie Macc, James Schraeder, Mia Jackson, and hundreds more working comedians. Past contestants have been featured on America’s Got Talent, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night, Conan, Ellen, @midnight, The Pete Holmes Show, and The Late Show.

The WSOC’s 2026 tour begins in Las Vegas and travels to cities like Sacramento, Indianapolis, Youngstown, Atlanta, Waterford, Myrtle Beach, Sarasota, Bristol, Tacoma, Little Rock, and Tulsa before returning to Las Vegas for The Main Event — an unforgettable week celebrating stand-up comedy.