Multiple NYC venues
New York Comedy Festival spreads across some of the city's most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Apollo, BAM, the Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden and Town Hall. The festival has grown to ten days with more than 200 comedians across 300-plus shows a year. At BMCC Tribeca PAC, one of the festival's venues, you enter through either 199 Chambers Street or the West Street Gate at 190 West Street, with your ticket telling you which to use.
Before you go
- Official site
- tribecapac.org
- Next festival here
- New York Comedy Festival, Nov 6 to 15, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- Check your ticket for which entrance to use at BMCC Tribeca PAC: 199 Chambers Street or the West Street Gate.
- BMCC Tribeca PAC's box office is only open 12pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and only on the day of the event for rentals.
- BMCC Tribeca PAC is equipped for concerts, dance, theater and film screenings, not just comedy.
- The festival moved its Stand Up for Heroes show from the Beacon Theatre to the larger Theater at Madison Square Garden in 2013.
- Some shows, like Dave Chappelle's, go completely phone-free with a pat-down and wanding at entry.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Spread across Carnegie Hall, MSG, Town Hall and more · 200+ comedians, 300+ shows a year · Ten-day festival.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a comedy festival that fills some of NYC's biggest and most historic stages.
- You're fine with a phone-free, high-security show for a headliner like Dave Chappelle.
Think twice if
- You were planning to use your phone during a strictly phone-free show; it will be locked away or you'll be turned away.
Getting there and parking
At BMCC Tribeca PAC, the entrance for events is either through 199 Chambers Street, the main entrance of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, or the West Street Gate at 190 West Street between Chambers Street and Harrison Street. Your ticket tells you which entrance to use.
At BMCC Tribeca PAC, admin office hours are 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and ticketing hours are 12pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. For rental events, the box office only opens on the day of the event.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at Multiple NYC venues. The venue's own pages are the place to check: tribecapac.org.
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Multiple NYC venues. The venue's own pages are the place to check: tribecapac.org.
Food, water and what you can bring
Festival-specific · New York Comedy FestivalFor its Dave Chappelle show, the festival does not allow cell phones; phones are left in the car or at home or placed in a locked pouch, and guests go through a pat-down and wanding.
Recently at Multiple NYC venues
Classic Albums Live performs Led Zeppelin II & other Led Zeppelin hits at Tribeca PAC Oct. 17, 2026
From the venue · Sep 22, 2026
Tribeca PAC Family 2026 - 27 Season
From the venue · Jul 10, 2026
Classic Albums Live Performs Led Zeppelin II on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Tribeca PAC
From the venue · Jul 9, 2026
Quick answers
How many venues does New York Comedy Festival use?
Many of the city's most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Apollo, BAM, the Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden and Town Hall.
How big is the New York Comedy Festival?
More than 200 comedians across more than 300 shows over ten days.
Which entrance do I use at BMCC Tribeca PAC?
Either 199 Chambers Street or the West Street Gate at 190 West Street; your ticket says which.
What are BMCC Tribeca PAC's box office hours?
12pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and only on the day of the event for rentals.
Can I bring my phone to every show?
Not always. The Dave Chappelle show, for instance, is strictly no cell phones, with a pat-down and wanding at entry.
Has the festival always used the same venues?
No. Its Stand Up for Heroes show moved from the Beacon Theatre to the larger Theater at Madison Square Garden in 2013.
A little history
Over its 21-year history, the festival has used some of New York's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Apollo, BAM, the Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden and Town Hall.
The festival expanded from seven to ten days in 2023, and now features more than 200 comedians across more than 300 shows a year.
Marking its tenth year in 2013, the festival's Stand Up for Heroes show moved from the Beacon Theatre, where it had run for three years, to the larger Theater at Madison Square Garden.