RISE Comedy Festival
The RISE Comedy Festival is a nine-day celebration of improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy held across two weekends in Denver, Colorado. More than 150 performers from around the country appear at RISE Comedy's downtown venue for stand-up showcases, improv ensembles, workshops, and a stand-up competition. The festival's first weekend centers on stand-up showcases and a competition, while the second weekend focuses on improv performances, workshops, and a four-day Festival Intensive with 24 hours of training.
History
The festival was created in 2022 to fill the void left by the now-defunct Denver Improv Festival. It is produced by RISE Comedy, formerly known as Voodoo Comedy Playhouse, which was founded in 2011 and rebranded in 2021 under co-owners Nick Armstrong and Josh Nicols. The 2026 edition marks the festival's fifth annual run.
Significance
The festival serves as Denver's primary multi-day comedy event combining improv, stand-up, and sketch, and draws performers from across the country to the city's largest comedy club.
Need current dates or submissions? This is a historical archive. Visit improvfestivals.org for live festival listings.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). RISE Comedy Festival. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/festivals/rise-comedy-festival
The Improv Archive. "RISE Comedy Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/festivals/rise-comedy-festival.
The Improv Archive. "RISE Comedy Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/festivals/rise-comedy-festival. Accessed September 21, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.