Jon Mulaney. Chelsea Handler. Jay Pharoah. Marc Maron. These are some powerhouse names in comedy, and they’ll all be landing in Rhode Island in March 2026 for year two of the Lil Rhody Laugh Riot.
“We tried this last year because we’d seen such a comedy boom coming out of Covid,” said Dan Schwartz, general manager of The Vets, and part of the festival’s brain trust. “It morphed into something bigger than we could have imagined.”
In all, over 18,000 people attended events related to the festival in 2025. “We never thought we would have gotten that many. So, we said we have to keep building on this.”
Schwartz says the feedback from the artists who performed last year was nothing but positive. We’re talking about big acts like Kevin Hart, Hannah Berner, Matt Rife, Leslie Jones, and Alex Edelman, all the way down to the local comedians who participated.
Amanda Bonafine, Director of Comedy & Concerts for Professional Facilities Management, which manages both The Vets and the Providence Performing Arts Center, said the Laff Riot is “where the country’s top comics collide with the city’s sharpest locals. Providence isn’t just hosting comedy anymore – we’re setting the tone for it.”
Schwartz says there was a lot of skepticism going into the festival last year, but “everyone was blown away by what was created. So, this year, the artists’ agents came to us with a vengeance.”
This year’s announcement comes a month earlier than last year’s. “We wanted to get the word out before the holiday rush. It gives us five months to do our promotions.”
The 2026 festival will again feature many local comics who will be able to submit tapes, says Schwartz. “In the coming weeks, we will be announcing the submission process. Our review committee will make selections to do showcase events at different venues, and support spots for some of the headline acts.”
The shows will be held locally at The Vets, PPAC, the Comedy Connection, and the newly-renovated Uptown Theater – formerly the Columbus Theater on Broadway in Providence.
Schwartz says ticket sales are already strong, with sales just opening up today (Friday, November 7). Other components of the Laff Riot will be announced soon. “We’re at the finishing point of securing a few more key sponsorships,” says Schwartz.
Schwartz does admit to having a favorite comic in the line-up so far. “Zarna Garg is a former attorney turned comic. I think she’s in her early 50s. A lot of her show is about being a mom, being an immigrant. She has a lot of fun parental humor. I like when there are good stories.”
The Lil Rhody Laff Riot runs Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 29, 2026. For more information and tickets, visit www.LilRhodyLaughRiot.com.
