Acme Comedy Company

This nationally lauded comedy club has been entertaining Minneapolis with national comedy headliners and local up-and-comers since 1991. Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt, Jim Gaffigan, and Dana Gould have all been featured on the intimate stage. The club features food and drinks from Sticks Restaurant, including a “dinner and a show” special.

• Location: 708 North 1st Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401, in the basement of the historic Itasca Building in North Loop Neighborhood.
• Known For: Hosting a diverse lineup of national touring comedians, Monday night open mic.
• Tips: Guests must be 18 or older, or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Have a birthday coming up? Bring up to three friends to any show for free during your birthday month.

The Parkway Theater

This retro movie theater features live comedy and music events, as well as cult classic films (often projected using original 35mm film). The theater features a full bar, real buttered popcorn, classic 1980s arcade games, and a very Instagrammable Art Deco interior.

• Location: 4814 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55417
  
• Known For: A variety of comedy events, ranging from stand-up performances by national headliners to live podcast recordings and storytelling slams.
• Tips: It's recommended to purchase tickets in advance through theparkwaytheater.com to secure seating, especially for popular events.
  

Cedar Cultural Center

This non-profit, all-ages venue has championed global sounds, dance, singer-songwriters, film, and comedy shows since 1989. The intimate venue gets you up-close and personal with performers, as if you were a guest in their living room. (Shows are offered both seated and standing, but the Cedar goes above and beyond to offer accessible seating and save dedicated space for wheelchair users, as well as free tickets to aids and companions of folks who need assistance to attend a show.)

• Location: 416 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55454
  
• Known For: Stand-Up Comedy Shows, Live Podcast Recordings, Collaborations with First Avenue.
• Tips: Seating is first-come, first-served, so arriving early can help secure preferred spots. Street parking is available in the surrounding area, and public transportation options are nearby, given the venue's central location.
  

Varsity Theater

Once an Art Deco movie theater, this storied Dinkytown venue near the University of Minnesota has become a local and regional favorite for live music and comedy. Bonus: you’ve got to check out the restroom—really. It was once named the coolest public restroom in America.

• Location: 1308 4th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
  
• Known For: Hosts a variety of comedy events, featuring both national and emerging comedians.
• Tips: It's advisable to purchase tickets in advance through the Varsity Theater's official website or authorized ticket vendors, as comedy shows can sell out quickly.
  

Where to Catch National Comedy Shows in Minneapolis

Hennepin Arts (Orpheum, State, Pantages)

When the really big headliners come to Minneapolis, chances are they’ll be performing at one of the historic Hennepin Arts stages lighting up Hennepin Avenue in downtown. These large, ornate theaters harken back to the heyday of American entertainment, whether you’re watch the symphony, a touring Broadway show, or a national comedian like Hannah Gadsby, David Spade, Mike Birbiglia, Tig Notaro, Marc Maron, or Steve Martin and Martin Short.

• Orpheum Theatre: 910 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
  Minneapolis’s largest comedy venue, so its lineup skews toward national headliners and large-scale comedy productions.
  

• State Theatre: 805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402
  A beautifully restored venue known for its elegant architecture and diverse programming. It regularly hosts top-tier stand-up tours as well as a heavy slate of live podcast and spoken-word events.
  

• Pantages Theatre: 710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
  The Pantages Theatre offers an intimate setting for its performances. It focuses on more niche comedy.

Rick Bronson House of Comedy at the Mall of America

The House of Comedy, offers live standup comedy shows weekly from headliners like TJ Miller, Arsenio Hall, Nikki Glaser, Preacher Lawson, Brendan Schaub, Sarah Tiana, Bryan Callen, and Jeremy Piven.

• Location: 408 East Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425, top floor of the Mall of America,
• Known For: Regularly features well-known comedians with national recognition from television, film, digital platforms and comedy festivals.
  
• Tips: There is a two-item minimum for all performances (either food or beverages) so prepare to get dinner or drinks with your ticket! The East Parking Ramp at Mall of America provides convenient access to the venue.
  

The Filmore

Primarily a concert venue, part of the national Live Nation Fillmore brand, they hosts high-production shows in an upscale, rock-club-meets-theater atmosphere.

• Location: 525 N 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
  
• Known For: Stand-up comedy, especially touring headliners or crossover acts (musicians-turned-comedians, podcast hosts, YouTubers, etc.)
  
• Tips: The venue has great sightlines and sound, but for a true comedy club feel, aim for floor seating closer to the stage.

Where to Watch Improv Comedy in Minneapolis

Strike Theater

Dedicated to Minneapolis sketch comedy, improv comedy, storytelling, and spoken word, Northeast Minneapolis’s Strike Theater was founded by SlamMaster of Poetry and SlamMN! Allison Broeren and longtime Improv artists, educators, and Brave New Workshop alumni Mike Fotis and Joe Bozic. Catch ComedySportz shows and Friday Night Stage Matches, plus special (funny) features every month.

• Locations: 824 18th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
  
• Known For: Improv and Sketch Comedy
• Tips: Most shows are affordably priced. Seating is general admission; arriving early ensures better seat selection.
  

Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

This comedy cabaret hosts clean, two-hour improv comedy shows every Friday and Saturday night. Full dinner can be added for just $20 per person.

• Location: 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen, MN 55317
  
• Known For: Improv comedy troupe performing unscripted sketches and musical comedy based on audience suggestions. Clean, family-friendly humor suitable for all ages.
  
• Tips: If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate a special event like a birthday, anniversary, or graduation, tell the box office about it when you make your reservation and the troupe will work the guest of honor into the show!

Morrissey's Irish Pub
Craic Up Comedy Night—Every Tuesday at 7pm

Head over to the uptown neighborhood, grab a pint and get ready for a night filled with laughter. Try out some jokes yourself or let the locals do all the work.

Open Mic & Stand-Up Comedy in Minneapolis

Comedy Corner Underground
Open Mic Night—Fridays at 10pm

Every week, this totally free comedy open mic night draws comedy fans (21+) to Comedy Corner’s intimate underground stage for around 90 minutes of laughs. Arrive early, because the venue has a strict seating limit and often has to turn people away. Want to perform? Submit your request here. (99% of the time you will get on if it's your first time through the club with an amazing three minutes for your set.)

Acme Comedy Company
Open Mic Night—Tuesdays at 7:30pm

Free for all comedy lovers 18+ (ID required), this weekly open mic night is a great place to catch newcomers and veteran comedians trying out new material. Performers can sign up at the bar before the show between 6 and 7pm.

Inbound BrewCo
Once a month on Mondays at 8:00pm

Enjoy a supportive, fun atmosphere where creativity takes center stage at Inbound BrewCo. Watch the performances or sign up for a 15-minute slot yourself.

Indeed Brewing Company
Comedy Night in The Ox—Every fourth Saturday of the month at 10pm

Admission is free for this comedy night at one of Minneapolis' most loved breweries. One part beer, one part comedy, Comedy Night in The Ox is sure to bring the late night laughs.

Rick Bronson's House of Comedy at the Mall Of America
Triple Threat Tuesdays at 7:30pm

This $5 pre-booked showcase of amateurs and pros offers 5 minutes of stage time for each performer. It's a great deal with food and drink specials of $5 on select beers and appetizers.

Sisyphus Brewing
Amateur Hour—Thursdays at 8pm

Located just north of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Sisyphus Brewing’s weekly Thursday Night Amateur hour features both open mic comedians and a headliner comic. Open mic sign up is onsite at the brewery from 6-7pm with the list posted at 7:15—put a star by your name if it’s your first time to guarantee stage time.

Sketch Comedy

Brave New Workshop

Known for their satire takes on pop culture, Brave New Workshop puts on a show full of comedy sketches and parody songs. They've been entertaining audiences since 1958 and produce hilarious, thought-provoking original comedy, improv, and satire right in the heart of the Hennepin Theatre District.

• Location: Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
• Known For: specializes in original, satirical sketch comedy and improvisation, with a style often compared to Saturday Night Live or The Second City.
  
• Tip: Some shows include a brief improv section or direct engagement with the audience — usually light and playful.