50th Annual SF Comedy Competition Semifinals

Welcome to Montalvo!

I’m so glad that you are able to be with us tonight. Whether it’s your first time here, or your fiftieth—welcome! I am thrilled to welcome you to another season of Montalvo’s Carriage House Performing Arts Series.

As a multidisciplinary arts center, there’s even more to enjoy at Montalvo in addition to the world-class talent found in the Carriage House. We are a public park and arboretum open year-round for picnics, hiking, and leisurely strolls, as well as a vibrant cultural producer supporting an artist residency, vital arts education programming, and so much more.

Montalvo is a nonprofit organization—as such, we rely on the support of patrons like you in order to continue serving our Silicon Valley community. If you have not yet considered becoming a member, I’d like to personally invite you to engage in a deeper relationship with our dynamic institution. After all, there’s something for everyone at Montalvo!

Enjoy the show and thanks again for joining us tonight,

Angela Torre McConnell
Executive Director

50th San Francisco Comedy Competition Semi-Finals

The San Francisco Comedy Competition is one of the most prestigious comedy events in North America, launching the careers of people like Patton Oswalt, Robin Williams and Ellen DeGeneres. It’s an outrageously funny evening, where you will see the comedy stars of tomorrow competing for their chance at fame and fortune. Hundreds of comedians audition each year to compete. Only 32 are chosen. 

The competition is an annual, multi-week, judged, stand-up comedy contest held in comedy clubs, bars, restaurants, casinos, and theaters in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. Each comedian performs for a unique group of judges for every show they do and receive scores in seven categories.  

For the 2026 competition, Montalvo is honored to host one night of the semifinal round. Top contestants from the preliminary weeks will each perform 8–12-minute sets that will have you rolling with laughter! 

To learn about tonight’s competitors, visit The Comedy Underground.