Asian Comedy Fest brings 70-plus AAPI performers to NYC with proceeds supporting immigrant services

Ryan General

Sat, May 2, 2026 at 4:41 AM UTC

2 min read

The Asian Comedy Fest in New York City will feature over 70 Asian and Pacific Islander performers at Sugar Mouse in Manhattan, with proceeds supporting Immigration Social Services.
The festival will span three nights, showcasing a variety of comedy genres including stand-up, improv, puppetry, musical comedy, and alternative comedy, with tickets priced at $30 per show or $50 for a full-night pass.
Organizers of the festival highlighted the diverse lineup of performers from across the country, aiming to uplift rising stars and celebrate the Asian American community while giving back to support low-income students and older adults in immigrant services programs.

Asian Comedy Fest will return to New York City from May 5 to May 7 for its seventh year, bringing more than 70 Asian and Pacific Islander performers to Sugar Mouse in Manhattan. Proceeds from the six-show festival will support Immigration Social Services, a nonprofit that has served immigrant families in Manhattan’s Chinatown and Lower East Side for more than 50 years.

Event lineup and selection

The festival will take place over three nights, with shows scheduled at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each night. Tickets are priced at $30 per show or $50 for a full-night pass. The festival will take place over three nights, with shows scheduled at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each night. Tickets are priced at $30 per show or $50 for a full-night pass, with general admission available via Eventbrite .

This year’s lineup spans stand-up, improv, puppetry, musical comedy and alternative comedy. Featured performers include Aaron Chen, Youngmi Mayer, Sureni Weerasekera, James Tom, Kathleen Kim, Mic Nguyen, Michael Cruz Kayne, Adam Mamawala and Asian AF.

Organizers said nearly 200 performers submitted for this year’s festival, with almost half of the lineup new to the event. Co-producer Kate Lee Moran said the festival aimed to focus on “uplifting rising stars, celebrating our community, and giving back.”

Programming scope and community funding

Co-producer Edward Yoo Pokropski pointed to the mix of formats and geographic range in this year’s lineup, describing a program that pulls performers from across the country. “The thing that makes Asian Comedy Fest great is seeing all the new talent coming from all different parts of the country,” he told The Rebel Yellow, adding that “our variety show night is a mix of improv, clowning, puppeteering and more.”

At Immigration Social Services, Community Engagement Manager Judy Lei detailed how the funding will be allocated. “This support comes at a critical time and will directly benefit low-income students in our afterschool programs and supplement workout equipment for our Older Adults Exercise Program at Chung Pak Senior Housing.”

The festival’s New York roots were echoed by Sandro Roco, founder and CEO of Sanzo. “ACF has built something that reflects the best of what NYC’s Asian American community has always been: creative, proud, and refusing to be kept in the background,” Roco said.

This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.

Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we’re building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.

Subscribe here now !

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!

Entertainment: