how it works
1. create a free comic portal account
The Comic Portal on Comedy Finder is 100% free to join and is the best way to keep Laugh After Dark & comedy fans everywhere up to date with your comedy career. Complete your free comedian profile in the portal and update it anytime with shows, clips, photos, and more!
2. pay submission fee in the portal
Log in to your Comic Portal and pay the 2026 ComedyFest submission fee. Once your transaction is complete, your profile will be automatically queued for review by our team. Submissions close and reviews begin in July.
3. complete your portal profile
Make sure your profile is complete and up to date with your latest/best standup clips by the time submissions close on June 30, 2026.
** Pro Tip: If you previouosly had an LAD Comic Portal account, you can use your same info to login and submit on Comedy Finder! **
2026 Submissions Timeline
early bird $29
Through January 5, 2026
standard $39
Jan 6 - April 30, 2026
extended $49
May 1-June 12, 2026
last chance $59
June 13-30, 2026
notification
Via Email July 17, 2026
introducing comedyfest
comic royalties
As Laugh After Dark continues to grow, we’re expanding how we champion comedians by sharing 20% of the revenue from full ComedyFest sets selected for release on LADTV and YouTube.
The Comedy & Entertainment industries are evolving, and we believe that creators deserve to benefit from the visibility they help create. Comic royalties are our way of creating a more supportive, sustainable future for comedy, and an important addition to the opportunities we’re developing throughout the LAD ecosystem.
FAQ
{ SUBMISSIONS }
STANDUP
- 5-7 min video
- Audible sound
- Filmed within the last 18 months
- Funny.
FILM
Please see requirements on Film Freeway.
After the festival has concluded and we move into the content release phase, if your full ComedyFest set is selected for release, our team will reach out with next steps so you can get set up to receive royalty payments. Full-set releases earn 20% of the revenue generated on LADTV and YouTube. Royalties apply to full sets only and do not include clips, reels, or short-form edits.
Anyone wishing to be considered to perform at Laugh After Dark ComedyFest must submit as follows:
FILMS :
Films must be submitted via Film Freeway. If you are planning to submit for both standup and film, please note that you will submit your materials and pay fees separately.
STANDUP :
If you plan to submit for standup, all you have to do is create your free Comic Portal account on ComedyFinder.com, pay the submission fee, and make sure your profile is up to date with your preferred standup clips and info by July 1, 2026.
**Please remember to double check your links when adding to your profile. Submissions with broken, private or otherwise not viewable links will be automatically disqualified. YouTube and Vimeo links recommended.
**Please make sure your audio is clear so we can hear your material.
All material genres are welcome (Clean, Blue, Musical, Alt, Variety, etc.).
Yes! We welcome multi-talented comedians and encourage you to submit for as many categories as you would like.
*Please note that film and standup submissions are accepted separately. Film submissions and fees can be paid on Film Freeway. Standup submissions and fees can be only be paid in the Comic Portal.
Yes. All ComedyFest performances are professionally filmed as part of the festival. If you are selected to perform, you’ll be required to sign the ComedyFest Submission & Participant Terms, along with the Image Release agreement, in order to accept your nomination and confirm your attendance. These documents outline how your footage may be used and are always available on the ComedyFest Terms & Privacy page for easy review.
Yes. Anyone wishing to be considered to participate in the festival must pay the required fees.
Yes. From club owners and bookers, to directors, producers, writers, talent agents, distributors, and more! ComedyFest is bringing together industry representatives from every corner of comedy. Collectively our past industry representatives have worked on projects for Netflix, HBO, NBC, Hulu, Fuse, Comedy Central, Amazon, and many many more!
No. Royalties apply only to full ComedyFest sets that are selected for release on LADTV or YouTube. Festival participation does not guarantee that a set will be released and not every released set is guaranteed to appear on all platforms. Comics whose full sets are released will receive 20% of the revenue generated from their LADTV and YouTube releases.
“Selected for release” means your full ComedyFest set was chosen by the Laugh After Dark team to be published on LADTV, YouTube, and/or included on our ComedyFest audio album(s). Not all sets are released, and release timing varies based on programming needs. Selection for release is not guaranteed and is determined internally by our programming and editorial team. Only full sets that are selected for release are eligible for 20% comic royalties.
The royalty program started with ComedyFest 2025 and isn’t retroactive for sets recorded at earlier festivals. That said, this doesn’t limit future opportunities! Any new full ComedyFest set will be eligible for the 20% royalty program if it’s selected for release. We’d love to see you apply again.
Due to the volume of submissions, individual feedback cannot be provided.
Yes! In addition to a free pass to attend the entire festival, there will be opportunities for networking and education throughout the festival for anyone who attends.
Please review ComedyFest Terms & Conditions