Historically, the festival began in 2022 with hundreds of shows and high ticket demand, returning in 2024 with marquee moments like the Tom Brady roast.

Fan excitement centers on a bold, star-studded program, with Lizzo anticipated to be a festival highlight thanks to her dynamic stage presence.

Festival programming features a red-carpet premiere for the Martin Short documentary Marty, Life is Short, plus reunions for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and other exclusive events, podcasts, and screenings.

Other marquee moments include screenings of The Princess Bride and The Naked Gun with Q&A sessions, and special experiences like The Not Inappropriate Show with Bob Odenkirk.

A special fundraising Night of Too Many Stars for NEXT for Autism, hosted by Jon Stewart, will feature Bill Burr, Tiffany Haddish, John Mulaney, Adam Sandler, and more.

The Netflix Is a Joke Festival 2026 runs May 4–10 in Los Angeles, delivering more than 350 live events across venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, and Intuit Dome, plus multiple comedy clubs.

Highlights include Flight of the Conchords’ return after eight years and a Pee-wee Herman tribute hosted by Patton Oswalt, with a star-studded lineup that features The B-52s, Danny Elfman, Fred Armisen, Patti Harrison, and many others.

Festival organizers and WWE-adjacent coverage from WrestleZone help contextualize crossovers between comedy and wrestling-related appearances.

Beyond stand-up, the festival includes special screenings, charity-oriented events, and a mix of musical and multimedia performances, with more shows to be announced.

WWE RAW moments spill into the broader festival coverage, as AJ Styles confronted Gunther over a controversial finish, with Gunther proposing a career-on-the-line stipulation for a rematch at Royal Rumble 2026.

The lineup is subject to change, with additional announcements anticipated as the festival progresses.

ABC Audio is cited as a source for several lineup confirmations and festival details.