Empire Comedy Classic

64 Comedians. One Champion. The Empire Comedy Classic is a multi-round stand-up comedy competition featuring 64 comedians from across New England and beyond. Round 1 consists of four qualifying nights with 16 comedians performing 5-minute sets each. The top six comedians from each show advance, leaving 24 competitors to move on to Round 2. As the competition continues, comedians perform longer sets while the field is narrowed each round. Contestants are judged on stage presence, joke writing, delivery, and crowd reaction until only three finalists remain. Competition Schedule Round 1: Four qualifying nights • 16 comedians each night • 5-minute sets • Top 6 advance from each show Round 2: August 9 & 16 • 12 comedians each night • 7-minute sets Round 3: August 23 • 8 comedians • 10-minute sets Finals: September 5 • The top 3 finalists each perform a 20-minute set to determine the 2026 Empire Comedy Classic Champion.