Best comedy shows and festivals in Toronto 2025

Comedy clubs

The Second City Toronto

Watch talented comic actors create scenes, characters and jokes on the spot at The Second City Toronto, one of the best Toronto comedy clubs and renowned for its improvisational comedy. The theatre’s unique blend of improvisational comedy and sketch performances, combined with insightful social commentary, attracts comedy lovers across the city. Not to mention, many successful comedians launched their careers at this theatre, including Dan Aykroyd, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short. 

While you’re at the show, grab a bite to eat at The Bentwood. The restaurant serves fresh salads, sandwiches and poutine.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Location: 110 Harbour Street, Toronto

Yuk Yuk’s Toronto

A well-known comedy club chain across Canada, Yuk Yuk’s has been a fixture in the city’s comedy scene for over 40 years and is one of the most famous Toronto comedy clubs. You’ll be seated in a cozy and intimate setting, close to the actors and with clear views of the stage. Many of the comedians interact with their audiences, giving you the chance to banter with them and personally connect with the show. 

The club is known for providing a platform for emerging comedy talent, so it’s a great place to support up-and-coming comedians. Catch regular comedy shows and competitions such as “Rising Stars of Comedy,” “Yuk Yuk’s Legendary Amateur Night” and “Comedy Melting Pot” for a night of endless laughter.

In addition to its central Toronto location, you’ll find Yuk Yuk’s in Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Burlington and Oshawa.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Location: 224 Richmond Street West, Toronto

Absolute Comedy Toronto

Witness the art of live stand-up comedy shows at Absolute Comedy Toronto. This classic comedy bar offers a close-up view of the stage for an electrifying comedy experience. You’ll have numerous shows to choose from, with a wide range of comedic styles ranging from one-liners to observational humour. Many of the comedians are local talent from the club’s close-knit comedy community. 

Order food to your table during the show or purchase the Dinner Show Package, which includes à la carte or buffet-style foods. Enjoy alcoholic drinks from the full-service bar and snacks like nachos, chicken wings and garlic bread.

You’ll also find an Absolute Comedy club in Ottawa, the nation’s capital city.

Location: 2335 Yonge Street, Toronto

Comedy Bar

Founded in 2008, Comedy Bar began as the meeting place for the weekly, in-house sketch comedy show “Sunday Night Live” and has since become an iconic Toronto comedy bar. Popular comedians who have performed here include Tim Meadows, Janeane Garofalo and Marc Maron. 

With the Toronto Comedy Bar open seven nights a week and about 363 days a year, over 150 shows are performed every month. Due to its popularity, they added a second theatre, the Cabaret Room, for more experimental shows and developing comics.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Locations:

945 Bloor Street West, Toronto

2800 Danforth Avenue, Toronto

The Royal Theatre

Enjoy a night of memorable, high-quality comedy at the Royal Theatre. Its state-of-the-art facilities, quality customer service and vibrant atmosphere make the live comedy shows a standout experience for both performers and audiences. Whether you’re catching a touring headliner or up-and-coming talent, this renovated venue’s comfortable seats, top-notch acoustics and historic charm help create the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening of laughter.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Location: 608 College Street, Toronto

Backroom Comedy Club

This lively comedy club was created with the mission of cultivating emerging talent and helping performers take the next step toward wider recognition. The club is also known for its “TikTok” style comedy acts, featuring shorter performances that allow more performers to take the stage, keeping the shows dynamic and diverse. Attend a show from the club’s headliner series, which ranges from local, up-and-coming talent to famous comedians who have toured all over Canada. Or come to Multilingual Comedy Hour on Saturday nights, featuring jokes in Turkish, Mandarin, French, Spanish and Desi. 

Stop by the bar downstairs for craft beer, shooters and cocktails to enjoy during the show.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Location: 814 Bloor Street West, Basement Unit, Toronto

Comedy Lab

As Toronto’s first Black-owned comedy club, Comedy Lab takes pride in the diversity of its performances and the hilarity of its acts. Catch a weekly show on Thursday, Friday or Saturday with talented comedians. If you want to test your own jokes or watch budding entertainers hone their skills, there are also open mic nights on Thursdays and Fridays. 

Order food during the show from the bar upstairs. Snack on fries, onion rings or chicken wings, then choose from a wide variety of cocktails and beer on tap.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Location: 298 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto

Comedy Nuggets

Comedy Nuggets is known for its new, fresh ideas to keep shows entertaining from comedians getting pied in the face by a clown, to “Double Take,” which involved two comedians performing at the same time. These imaginative formats break the mould of the traditional stand-up and keep fans coming back. 

Most comedy shows are held at their main location at SoCap Comedy on Danforth, but some are held at various locations across Ontario. Look out for Friday night shows at the Volt Raceway in Bowmanville and at the Lumbini Hut in Ajax.

This club also runs the popular Danforth Comedy Festival every August.

Location: 154 Danforth Avenue, 2nd floor, Toronto

Comedy festivals and events

Just For Laughs Toronto

Every year, the Just For Laughs comedy festival arrives in Toronto with a diverse lineup of established and emerging comedians. Originally based in Montreal, this internationally renowned festival showcases stand-up, sketch comedy, improv and comedy theatre, presented by famous comedians from Canada and around the world. Discover special Toronto events, Q&A sessions and workshops hosted by industry professionals that give insight into the comedy industry and allow comedy lovers to talk to their favourite comedians. 

This beloved Toronto comedy festival takes place over several days, with a variety of unique and experimental shows being held at venues throughout the city.

Date: Stay tuned for 2025 dates.

Location: Multiple venues across Toronto

Toronto Comedy Festival

A new addition to the city’s comedy scene, the Toronto Comedy Festival has quickly become one of the top Toronto festivals featuring diverse comedic talent. The festival builds on Toronto’s incredible comedy history by featuring a broad selection of comedians. Enjoy shows by Rob Bebenek, Adrienne Fish, 2SLGBTQI+ comedians and many more funny and talented performers.

Find a show and purchase tickets.

Date: Stay tuned for the 2025 dates.

Location: Multiple venues across Toronto

Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival

Founded in 2005, the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival was created to honour the city’s rich history and excellence in sketch comedy. It has since become one of the best Toronto festivals centred on comedy. Also known as TOsketchfest, the main festival is held each March and exhibits over 10 days of live, scripted comedy by comedians from all across North America. During the rest of the year, you’ll have the opportunity to see shows by local and celebrity comedians, written by comedic writer-performers. Some of these events draw thousands of comedy enthusiasts every year.

Date: Stay tuned for the 2026 dates.

Location: Multiple venues across Toronto

Whether you're a fan of stand-up, improv, or sketch comedy, the city offers countless opportunities to enjoy world-class performances and discover emerging talent. With its rich comedic history and ever-growing roster of fresh voices, Toronto continues to solidify its reputation as a place for laughter, creativity and unforgettable entertainment.