iO Fest

Overview

iO Fest is Chicago's largest comedy festival, hosted by iO Theater - the birthplace of longform improvisation, founded in 1981 by Del Close, Charna Halpern, and David Shepard. The festival launched in 2024 as a successor to the Bentwood Comedy Festival (2018-2019) and quickly grew from 70+ acts in its inaugural year to 120+ acts by 2025. It runs four days across four stages at iO's Lincoln Park venue.

The festival blends longform improv, sketch, stand-up, experimental shows, live podcast recordings, and specialty workshops. It draws iO alumni back alongside today's top comedic talent from across the country. Past headliners have included Tim Meadows, Chris Kattan, Neil Hamburger, The Sloppy Boys, Matt Walsh, Baby Wants Candy, and the Improvised Shakespeare Company, plus regulars like Susan Messing, TJ Jagodowski, and Dave Pasquesi.

Submissions

Submissions for the 2026 festival are closed. The lineup has not yet been announced.

Sources

• iO Fest - iO Theater
• iO Fest 2024 - iO Theater
• iO Fest Live - iO Theater (2025 lineup)
• Time Out Chicago - iO Fest
• Third Coast Review - Preview: Chicago's iO Fest Returns July 24-27
• Third Coast Review - iO Fest 2025 Closing Dispatch
• Block Club Chicago - iO Fest Kicks Off
• WBEZ - iO Fest