Where to See Comedy Shows in Austin Tonight
Austin runs comedy shows every single night of the week. That wasn't true five years ago. Today you have a dozen venues competing for your attention, which means more shows, better lineups, and cheaper tickets than almost any other comedy city in the country. Here's how to find the right show for any given night.
Nightly Comedy Shows by Venue
East Austin Comedy Club
Shows run every night at 8pm, with additional late shows on weekends at 10pm. The room is small enough that every seat feels like front row. BYOB means no drink minimum and no $14 cocktails. Tuesday is new material night where comics test fresh stuff. Thursdays through Saturdays are the tightest lineups. Food truck out back (Sheesh) if you want kebab rolls before the show.
Comedy Mothership
Joe Rogan's club runs shows in both the main room (big names, touring headliners, occasional surprise drop-ins) and the Fat Man room downstairs (grittier, more experimental). Main room shows tend to be Thursday through Saturday. Fat Man has a more regular schedule. Tickets sell fast for big names, so check their site early in the week.
Cap City Comedy Club
Austin's longest-running comedy club books touring headliners Thursday through Saturday. Two-drink minimum. Weeknight shows are more affordable and often feature regional acts or showcase formats. The Domain location means easy parking and nearby dinner options, which makes it the most "traditional comedy club night out" option in Austin.
The Creek and The Cave
NYC transplant that brought East Coast comedy energy to Austin. Multiple rooms mean multiple shows on any given night. Their open mic nights (typically Tuesdays) are some of the best-attended in the city. The back room hosts indie shows and new comic showcases. If you want to see what Austin comedy actually looks like beyond the headliners, this is ground zero.
Esther's Follies
Not stand-up, but Austin's most iconic comedy show. Running since 1977 with topical sketch comedy, musical numbers, and a stage window that opens onto 6th Street. Shows Thursday through Saturday. If you're visiting Austin and want something you literally cannot see anywhere else, this is it.
The Hideout Theatre
Long-form improv shows most nights of the week on Congress Ave. The cheapest comedy tickets in Austin. House teams perform regularly and the quality is genuinely high. Different show formats rotate through the week, so Wednesday's show will be completely different from Friday's. If you've never tried improv, the low ticket price makes it zero risk to find out.
Open Mics and Free Shows
Austin's open mic scene is where comics get built. If you want to see raw, unpolished comedy (some brilliant, some rough, all real), these are your spots:
Creek and the Cave open mics draw the biggest crowds. Comics sign up early and the quality skews higher than most open mics because the stage time is competitive.
East Austin Comedy runs new material nights where established local comics workshop bits. Not technically an open mic, but the same energy of seeing something being built in real time.
Bar shows pop up constantly across East Austin. Free entry, tip the comics, and you might catch someone who headlines clubs on weekends trying out five minutes of brand new material on a Tuesday.
Special and Touring Shows
Brown Noise Comedy
A touring show produced by Raza Jafri featuring brown and South Asian comedians. Monthly shows in Austin plus tours to Houston, Chicago, NYC, and Toronto. These shows sell out because they fill a gap nobody else is filling. The energy in the room when an audience finally sees their own experience reflected on stage is something you don't forget. Check the tour schedule.
Beyond Brown Noise, keep an eye on one-off shows at venues like Vulcan Gas Company, The Paramount Theatre, and various bars and event spaces around town. Austin attracts touring acts constantly, and many of them play non-traditional venues.
How to Pick a Show Tonight
You want a sure thing: East Austin Comedy or Cap City. Both have shows tonight and both will deliver a solid lineup. EACC if you want intimate and cheap. Cap City if you want the full comedy club experience.
You want to see someone famous: Check Comedy Mothership first. Then Cap City. These are where the nationally known names play.
You want something cheap and spontaneous: Hideout Theatre improv ($5-$15) or a Creek and Cave indie show. Walk up, pay at the door, and see what happens.
You're on a date: We wrote a full guide to comedy date nights in Austin. Short version: EACC with takeout from Sheesh is the move.
You want to try performing: Creek and the Cave open mic. Show up early, sign the list, bring five minutes of material and thick skin.
Austin Comedy Shows FAQ
How much do comedy shows in Austin cost?
Anywhere from free (bar shows, some open mics) to $75+ (Comedy Mothership headliners). Most stand-up shows at mid-size venues run $10-$25. East Austin Comedy is consistently $10-$15. Cap City runs $20-$50 depending on the headliner.
What night has the best comedy in Austin?
Thursday through Saturday are the strongest lineups everywhere. But the secret is Tuesday through Wednesday. Fewer people, same quality comics testing new stuff, cheaper tickets, and easier to get a seat. Weeknight comedy in Austin is seriously underrated.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
For Comedy Mothership and Cap City headliner shows, yes. They sell out. For East Austin Comedy, strongly recommended on weekends (82 seats go fast). For Creek and Cave, Hideout, and weeknight shows elsewhere, you can usually walk up.
Can I bring my own drinks?
East Austin Comedy and The Hideout are both BYOB. Everyone else has a bar, and Cap City has a drink minimum. BYOB is a huge perk if you don't want to pay bar prices.
Is there comedy in Austin on weeknights?
Every single night. Austin has comedy seven days a week across multiple venues. Monday might have fewer options, but Tuesday through Sunday you'll have at least 3-4 shows to choose from across the city.
See a Show at East Austin Comedy
82 seats. BYOB. $10-$15 tickets. Shows seven nights a week on East 6th.
Get TicketsOther Austin Comedy Guides
Best Comedy in Austin - Detailed breakdown of every venue, capacity, pricing, and vibe.
Comedy Date Night in Austin - Where to take someone for comedy and dinner.
Last updated February 2026. Written by the team at East Austin Comedy.