Buffalo Comedy: Where to find comedy every night this week

By Jason Pomietlasz
(Image above: Kam Patterson)

In numerology, 2026 is a Universal Year 1, marking the start of a new nine-year cycle characterized by new beginnings, leadership, innovation and bold action after the completion phase of 2025. What that means is you still won’t master that second language or learn that instrument, but you will go see live comedy.

Thursday, Jan. 1

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo.
Improv Mixer, a relaxed environment to try out improv or just to watch. Sign-ups at 6:45 p.m., 7 start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Friday – Sunday, Jan. 2 – 4

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $31.99 – 43.99.
Kam Patterson was discovered on the “Kill Tony” podcast in the summer of 2023 where he quickly became a fan-favorite and joined the cast of Saturday Night Live’s 51st season as a featured player. Patterson was on Netflix’s “Introducing’ list,” and will make his film debut in “72 Hours”, starring Kevin Hart and Marcelo Hernandez. 

Friday – Saturday, Jan. 2 – 3

Fallsview Casino, 6380 Fallsview Blvd. Niagara Falls, Ontario. 9 p.m & 3 p.m.., tickets starting at $59.97.
Colin Mochrie and hypnotist Asad Mecci bring their HYPROV international tour to the Fallsview Casino Friday night and Saturday afternoon. HYPROV is a show that fuses hypnosis with improv where 20 audience members voluntarily take the stage to be hypnotized and the most receptive hyprovisers then perform improv with Mochrie. 

Friday, Jan. 2

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $18.
Comedy Sportz match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
The Friday Mixer, at a special time. 7 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can.  

Rohalls Corner, 540 Amherst St., Buffalo. 9 p.m. Free
The First Friday Comedy Corner show, a monthly show starring a baker’s dozen of local comics. 

Kenan Center, 433 Locust St., Lockport. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $21.40.
Kenan After Dark. Lockport’s stand-up comedy show with local comedians, a bar and a free drink with each ticket. Hosted by Nicky Spin and featuring local comics Rick Matthews, Jon Schuta, Gary Wallace and Alex Stypula.

Saturday, Jan. 3

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 
ComedySportz Saturday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 7 p.m., tickets $18. 

Dynamic Duos, six roster members from CSz Pros and BCC Shorties Program are paired up for two-person scenes. After each pair performs, the audience votes for their favorite scene and the pairs switch to do it all again, twice. The performer with the most points by the end wins. 9 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
“Ha Ha Show,” an all-ages variety show with comedy scenes, made-up songs and audience interaction. 5 p.m., tickets $12, $8 for ages 16 & under.

“Various Factors,” a Broadway-esque improv musical comedy show where everything is made up on the spot, including lyrics, melodies and choreography. All inspired from audience suggestions. 7 p.m., tickets $20 presale, $25 general admission or $12 for students. 

Monday, Jan. 5

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week of 2026 by hearing new premises and jokes. Once again hosted by the venerable Don Johnson with a bucket draw. Sign-ups at 7. Free.

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy show hosted by Jake Samson and Jake Piskor, also known as the two Jakes. Signups at rustbeltcomedy.weebly.com. Free. 

Third Space Cafe & Entertainment, 777 Main St., Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.
The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. Still a newish open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Matinee, 698 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Train Stop Comedy, open mic comedy with host Mamudu Kargbo. For all levels of comics and audiences. Signups at 7 p.m., 17-comic limit. Free. 

Penny Lane, 10255 Main Street, Clarence. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $15.
“Crack You Up” monthly comedy night at the Lane. Hosted by Julie Schulz and featuring Josh Prygon, Al Mehltretter, Katarina Valentine, Trebor Finnegan and Don Johnson.

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Milkie’s Elmwood Lounge, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 or online, show starts at 9ish p.m. Hosted by the super funny Jesse Winterhalter. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 
Open Mic, where over 20 comics will perform their best 3 minutes, 7 p.m., free with two-item minimum.

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Have a comedy event you want to add, email lakeeffectcomedy@gmail.com.