Daryn Passarello has been named NY Comedy Festival Comic to Watch, and a finalist for Nextflix is a Joke, as well as, Just for Laughs. Currently, Passarello opened for comedian Gina Brillon's latest comedy special and is an accomplished multi-award winning trans influencer, content creator, comedian, and on air personality.

Sureni Weerasekera is a Sri Lankan-born, San Diego-raised, & New York-based stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. She is known for her lighthearted, conversational banter to her ruthless, dark jabs. She has been featured on Netflix, Don't Tell Comedy and HBO.

Big Jay Oakerson is one of the most beloved and recognizable comedians working today. His laid-back style, masterful crowd work, and unfiltered dirty delivery have made him a standout for over two decades. A constant touring headliner, he has performed at major festivals including Moontower, SkankFest (which he helps produce), Just for Laughs Montreal multiple times, Netflix Is a Joke Fest, and the Gathering of the Juggalos. He continues to sell out clubs and theaters across North America with his interactive sets. Jay co-hosts the long-running daily radio show The Bonfire with Robert Kelly on SiriusXM’s Faction Talk (Channel 103), the hit new podcast Story Warz with Luis J. Gomez, and Legion of Skanks with Luis J. Gomez and Ari Shaffir. On television, he has appeared on The Roast of Kevin Hart on Netflix, This Is Not Happening, Comedy Underground with Dave Attell, FX’s Louie, Inside Amy Schumer, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and more. His specials include Live at Webster Hall (2016), The Degenerates (Netflix, 2018), Dog Belly (full hour executive produced by Ari Shaffir, streaming on YouTube), and the 2025 two-part crowd work special Them/They (available on YouTube, as an audio album, and on vinyl). He has also released multiple albums, including An American Storyteller and the Crowd Work Sessions series. Big Jay maintains a strong online presence with over 445K followers on Instagram (@bigjayoakerson), 167K on X (@bigjayoakerson), 158K on TikTok (@bigjayoakerson), and 187K subscribers on his official YouTube channel (@bigjayoakerson) featuring full specials and clips. Big Jay’s comedy is raw, interactive, and relentlessly funny—whether through personal storytelling or turning audience members into co-stars. Catch him on tour or streaming his latest work.

Caroline Hanes is an NYC-based comedian and writer. She was named a "Comic To Watch" by the 2022 New York Comedy Festival. Her stand-up has been featured on SiriusXM, and she performed abroad in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is also a contributor for the popular satirical website "Reductress."

Lisa Curry is an internationally touring comedian and TV writer. She was a staff writer on the Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central and she now opens for Jim on his theatre tours. Her debut album, 'Alive For a While' was recorded in London in 2019 and received an exclusive release on SiriusXM. Lisa now hosts a weekly show on SiriusXM called "Long Story Long," which you can catch every Thursday at 9am + 5pm PT on She's So Funny channel 771

Mia Jackson is a Georgia peach (that's Georgian for “native”), currently living in New York. In 2017, she was selected as a New Face by the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and Atlanta's Creative Loafing named her the Critic's Choice Best Stand-Up in the city. She has toured nationally with Amy Schumer and is a featured comic at festivals and clubs across the country. Her first stand up special aired as part of Unprotected Sets on EPIX in 2018. Mia has appeared on Comedy Central's This Week at the Comedy Cellar, NBC's Last Comic Standing and HBO Max. Her Comedy Central half hour special debuted in November 2019.

Tanner Simon is a born and raised Autistic comedian from Texas. Tanner was selected for JFL 2026 and has opened for Gina Brillon. Growing up in the south, Tanner developed a dry, observational style that explores social life through the eyes of someone who never looks anyone in the eyes.

Jimmy McCullough is a stand-up comedian born and raised in New York. His material ranges from observations about everyday life and bad decisions to the kind of thoughts most people wisely keep to themselves. When he’s not on stage, Jimmy writes sketch comedy and creates digital content, bringing the same offbeat perspective to both stand-up and online videos.

Jessica Kirson is a powerhouse on stage. She’s a hilariously relatable performer of sheer silliness, vulnerability, and ridiculous characters. Her countless comedic character videos have racked up over 50 million views on social media. Her audience is multigenerational, creating an excuse for large groups of friends and families to spend a night out together. In an era where only 10% of all touring comedians are female, Jessica stands out as one of the strongest comedians regardless of gender. Jessica produced FX’s Hysterical, a feature-length documentary that premiered at SXSW 2021. The film explores the changing landscape of women in stand-up comedy and features Margaret Cho, Nikki Glazer, Chelsea Handler, Fortune Feimster, and other notable comedians. Her one-hour special Talking to Myself was executive produced by Bill Burr and debuted on Comedy Central. She is a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, HBO’s, Crashing, and Kevin Can Wait. She also recently acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film The Comedian. Jessica’s highly anticipated prank call album, The Call Girls, also featuring Rachel Feinstein, was released on September 24th. Recorded virtually during the depths of quarantine, the album features characters such as old Jewish grandmothers, sexy co-eds, a conservative mother and her gay son, and more. Jessica’s characters are coming to life in her new podcast, Disgusting Hawk with rave reviews. Through her Relatively Sane podcast, Jessica has interviewed the likes of Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, and Rosie O’Donnell. She was awarded “Best Female Comic” by the MAC association in New York City and received the prestigious Nightlife Award for “Best Stand-up Comedian.” In her spare time, Jessica is a regular contributor to The Howard Stern Show, where she produces and stars in prank calls for the program.

Eric D’Alessandro, a charismatic New Yorker with an unfiltered sense of humor, a camera, and a knack for storytelling, has etched his name into the hearts of comedy lovers across the nation. His unique comedic style, infused with his Italian-American heritage, spins raw, relatable narratives that resonate with the everyday American. From his early beginnings on YouTube, Eric has steadily crafted a diverse portfolio of work that includes engaging sketches, spot-on celebrity impressions, and comedic covers of popular songs. His authentic characters, notably "Maria Marie," have garnered widespread acclaim, demonstrating Eric's ability to create content that both entertains and connects. A viral sensation, Eric's video "where it was" has amassed over 45 million views across platforms, further cementing his status as a digital force. His social media process extends beyond viral videos, with a loyal fanbase that follows his every move. Forbes acknowledged his ability to engage audiences online and onstage, a testament to Eric's multifaceted talent. Eric's onscreen charisma led him to star in the VH1 movie, "Fuhgeddabout Christmas." His versatility also shone through in the 2016 drama/mystery film, "Nerve," alongside Emma Roberts and Dave Franco. Directors, intrigued by his viral videos, included him in the script, underscoring the impact of his online presence. His talent extends to animation as well. Eric is the creator of the popular YouTube animated show "MariaMogi," further showcasing his creative versatility. In the realm of podcasts, Eric has shared his wit and humor on various platforms, making waves on Barstool Sports' KFC Radio, Growing Up Italian, Jeff FM and the Dr. Drew podcast. His engaging presence and relatable anecdotes have also landed him features in PBS and PIX11 TV Interviews. Eric is a dynamic performer on stage. His raw energy and impeccable comedic timing have made him a headline act at top comedy clubs, theaters, and casinos across the United States and Canada. Notable venues include The Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ, New Jersey’s Count Basie Theatre, NYCs Town Hall, the 1,900-seat St. George Theater in Staten Island, NY, and The Paramount in Huntington, NY. Looking forward, Eric shows no signs of slowing down. His first comedy special, which premiered with 800lb Gorilla on December 5, 2023, has been met with enthusiastic responses and is now available for streaming on Hulu. As he continues to break barriers and redefine comedy, Eric D’Alessandro remains an unmissable act, whose journey is as exciting as his performances

Mike Cannon is a New York City–based comedian, podcaster, writer, and actor. He has headlined some of the world’s most iconic venues, including a sold-out hometown performance at Gramercy Theatre, the footage of which he released in full on YouTube in 2025. Mike currently co-hosts the parenting and career podcast "Beautiful Boys" with fellow comedian Andy Haynes, as well as the preposterously titled "Fart Carnival" with best friend and frequent collaborator Brendan Sagalow. In 2023, he served as a contributing producer, writer, and panelist on Vice TV’s "Super Maximum Retro Show," hosted by Chris Distefano. His latest stand-up special, "Traumatized Animal" (2024), has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, millions of views across social media, and widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. In 2022, Mike released two independently-produced hour specials on YouTube: "Mike Cannon’s Huge Mistake," a crowd work special fueled by edibles, and "White Privilege Homeless." Both earned praise from audiences, fellow comedians, and critics. His debut special, "Life Begins," premiered on YouTube in 2020 and was named one of Laugh Button’s Top 35 Comedy Specials of the year. The accompanying album, released by 800 Pound Gorilla Records, was recognized as one of Interrobang’s Top 11 Comedy Albums of 2020 and one of SiriusXM Raw Dog Radio’s Top 10 Comedy Albums of the year. Mike’s first comedy album, "I Think It Just Kicked In," debuted at #1 on the iTunes Comedy chart, #7 on the Billboard Comedy chart and has been streamed more than five million times. Outside of stand-up, Mike has built an extensive résumé as both an actor and writer. He received critical acclaim for his lead performance in the feature film Timing, available on Amazon Prime, and has appeared on "Friday Night Pints" and "Answer The Internet" (Barstool Sports); "Stupid Questions with Chris Distefano" and "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" (Comedy Central); and "Double Cross with Blake Griffin," "Greatest Ever," and "Top Funniest" (TruTV). Additional television appearances include "Failosophy" and "Money From Strangers" (MTV), "Red Eye" (Fox), and MSG’s "The Bracket." He was also a contributing writer and performer on MTV2’s "Guy Code," co-hosted Cosmopolitan magazine’s "Sexy vs. Skanky," and was a featured performer on VH1’s "Why Am I Still Single?" Mike also creates and hosts several original digital series on his YouTube channel, including "Coach Cannon," "Comedians Taking Edibles and Doing Crowd Work," and his road documentary series, "Spots." He previously co-hosted the Here’s the Scenario podcast with Mike Feeney and Brendan Sagalow, hosted the "Irish Goodbye Podcast," and created the long-running web series "The Weed News with Mike Cannon." He is a frequent guest on SiriusXM and has appeared regularly on "The Jim Norton & Sam Roberts Show," KFC Radio, Barstool Radio, "Barstool Breakfast," "The Bonfire," and "Bennington." When he isn’t touring the country, Mike is a regular at New York City’s top comedy clubs, including the Comedy Cellar and New York Comedy Club. Whether he’s performing in a theater, club, bar, casino, parking lot, rooftop, technically legal underground speakeasy, or—on two separate occasions—an elevator, the goal is always the same: make as many people laugh as possible. Ideally, all of them. Realistically, most of them.

Zach Liss is a New York-based stand-up comedian from Lancaster, PA. He was selected by Jeremiah Watkins to open for his comedy special “Crazy Pizza” and has featured for comedians such as Andrew Dismukes, Ian Fidance, and Sean Donnelly. He co-hosts and produces “Highly Suspicious" at New York Comedy Club and "Hush Hush" at Flophouse Comedy Club. Zach has appeared on WGN News Chicago and co-created "First Date Comedy Show" which was nominated for 'Best Comedy Show in 2024' by the Chicago Reader.

Will Purpura is a comedian based in New York, NY. Will has a high-energy positive act that's fun for everyone. Winner of the 2026 Fall Invitational Comedy Competition.

Ryan Rizzuti is a Long Island comedian with a big presence and an even bigger point of view. His high-energy, punchline-driven style mixes sharp observations with stories about first impressions, everyday interactions, and the strange characters you meet living in and around New York. He performs regularly throughout New York City.

Michael Fleming is a New York–based stand-up comedian originally from Roanoke, Virginia. After starting his comedy career in Charleston, South Carolina, he moved to New York City to pursue stand-up full time. His observational style and playful storytelling have earned him over a million likes on TikTok, and he’s performed at clubs across the country.

Chris Miceli is a New York–based stand-up comedian whose comedy blends observations with self-deprecating storytelling. Despite looking like someone who should be very confident, most of his material revolves around being scared of most things, overthinking, and trying to make sense of everyday life. His style mixes thoughtful humor with the perspective of someone who always seems one small misunderstanding away from a crisis.

Lukas is a comedian, actor, and writer originally from Brooklyn NY. He’s a cast-member on Nick Cannon’s Wild ’N Out, was named a Comic to Watch at the 2024 New York Comedy Festival, and a Creator to Watch at NYCF in 2023. He’s also performed at The Edinburgh Fringe, Asheville Comedy Fest, and for you once you grab a sweet sweet little ticket to an upcoming show here at NYCC. I know, crazy smooth transition

Mike Feeney is a New York City-based comedian. His high energy, sharp wit and relatable storytelling connects with audiences of all backgrounds. He has been featured on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon", "Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed", "Last Call with Carson Daly", "Barstool Sports", Fox’s Laughs, Funny or Die, Sirius XM, The Chive, ABC's "Right This Minute", Inside Edition, Reader's Digest and Food Network's Restaurant Stakeout. Mike's viral comedy videos have amassed over 250 million views across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. His debut album, Rage Against The Routine, premiered at number one on the iTunes Comedy Charts and number six on the Billboard Charts. For Mike’s second comedy special, he wanted to do something different than the traditional, cookie cutter experience. He performed in all four rooms of the Comedy Cellar (Comedy Cellar, Village Underground, Fat Black Pussycat Lounge and Fat Black Pussycat Bar) in one night. In an attempt to capture his unique vision, he directed and edited it himself and created his special, Mike Feeney: A Night at the Comedy Cellar. Mike has appeared on such hit comedy podcasts as "Kill Tony", Andrew Schulz's "Flagrant", "Bad Friends", "The Tim Dillon Show", "Are You Garbage?", Barstool's "KFC Radio" and "Answer The Internet", "The Honeydew with Ryan Sickler", Hannah Berner's "Berning In Hell" as well as Sirius XM's "The Bonfire and The Jim & Sam Show". In 2025, he launched his own podcast called "Co-Host Wanted with Mike Feeney", which has quickly become a success. Mike has performed everywhere from dive bars to Carnegie Hall. He has been featured in the New York Comedy Festival, Moontower Comedy Festival, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, Asheville Comedy Festival, Cape Fear Comedy Festival, Rogue Island Comedy Festival and Skankfest. In 2021, Mike was a finalist in the New York Comedy Festival's "NY's Funniest Stand-up Competition". He won "Best Micro Short" at the Houston Comedy Film Festival and his other comedy shorts have been featured in the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival and regularly on the front page of Funny or Die. Previously, Mike was the co-host of "Irish Goodbye Podcast", which was featured in the Top 100 of Apple Comedy Podcasts, and "Here's The Scenario Podcast". Currently, Mike performs all over the U.S. He can be seen performing nightly in New York City at the legendary Comedy Cellar.

Bio: Talent Harris Jr is a former class clown from Long Island who resides in Brooklyn, NY. Talent is known to deliver hilarious social commentary in a musical-like rhythm, with a deadpan expression. He has opened up for both JB Smoove and Damon Wayans at Carolines on Broadway before headlining there himself. When Talent Harris Jr isn’t on stage, he is making sketches with his comedy sketch group Wait What Comedy. His content has received over millions views online.

Chris Brown is a New York based comedian originally from Atlanta, Georgia with over a decade of experience doing Stand Up Comedy. Chris wrote and produced his debut half hour comedy special on Amazon Prime titled “ I just look like this” that was released in 2024. Chris also has a comedy album titled “ I just look like this” that is in rotation on Sirius XM on the Raw Channel as well as Kevin Hart’s LOL Network. Chris was also featured and contributed to The Daily Show Show with Trevor Noah's segment titled “ How to be your own barber “ with Roy Wood Jr that aired on Comedy Central in 2020. Chris was also featured on HBO Max’s "Coming from America" with Gerald Kelly in 2024.

Carolina Montesquieu is a Dominican-American stand-up comedian and writer based in New York City. A 2026 Just For Laughs New Face, she is known for fearless storytelling, sharp observations, and a darkly honest perspective. She currently opens for Ilana Glazer and has been featured at the New York Comedy Festival, with stand-up viewed by millions across social media.

Danny Rathbun is a New York based, nationally touring stand up comedian. He has performed at clubs and festivals all around the country, including the Burbank Comedy Festival in California, the Charm City Comedy Festival in Baltimore, and many others. He is the star of the Horror/Comedy film ‘Super Special’, has opened for Jim Gaffigan, and is a regular at Grove 34, QED and many other clubs around the city. He is also the writer, director, and one of the stars of the web series ‘Unpaid Spot’. Danny is known for his intelligent, biting but clean comedy, and that makes audiences laugh at everything from board games to philosophy. He is also the host of Na na na na na na na na Podcast!, which chronicles his gradual descent into madness as he tries to watch every Batman movie ever made, from 1943 to the present.

Nick Griffin has been featured on Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, in his own half-hour special-Comedy Central Presents: Nick Griffin and is a frequent guest on the nationally syndicated The Bob & Tom Show. Griffin recently made his tenth appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. A comic for more than 20 years, Griffin’s smart, sarcastic and hilarious style makes him one of the most well-respected in the business.

Funny, smart, fresh, and magnetic, Neko White is a star. A comedian born and raised in Harlem, Neko has brought his unique perspective and sharp comedy from New York to international audiences. Beginning his career at just fourteen years old, the then high school freshman was sitting in class when a teacher asked, “Does anyone have a talent?” Something in Neko’s mind said, “Go tell jokes!“ He went up in front of his classmates and it worked. And, as they say, the rest is history. As a stand-up, Neko has been featured on Netflix’s "Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends," Cracked Comedy Club, TruTV’s "Laff Tracks," AXS TV’s "Gotham Comedy Live," STARZ’s "New York’s Funniest," and Kevin Hart’s LOL Network. He was named one of the "New Faces" in the Just For Laughs Festival, performed in Netflix is a Joke Festival, and won Carolines’ prestigious March Madness competition. Neko released a comedy album titled "Marscellus," then produced one of the most original filmed specials in recent memory with his self-released "Dark Out." Shot with no audience, a pitch-black background, and recorded with an old-fashioned microphone, Neko’s special received critical acclaim. One publication said "Dark Out" made Neko one of the “innovators changing comedy.” Neko also self-produced his first hour special, "Neko White: Introducing Me.” He was the subject of the award-winning documentary, “One Mic.” Neko is an accomplished television personality. He hosted Vice News’ popular series, "How To Be A Person" and has been a regular guest on MTV2’s "Hip Hop Hollywood Squares" and Comedy Central’s "Dark Humor." Neko made his film acting debut in the movie, "Midlife."

Courtney Fearrington is a New York based comedian that has shown he has the ability to make any group of people laugh. Courtney has quickly become a fixture on the comedy scene with his likable personality and quick wit. He has been featured at comedy clubs and festivals all over the country, including the Bentzen Ball festival. Along with touring, he has been seen on HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, and many more.

Aaron is unlike any other comedian. A veteran of the NYC stand-up scene, he recently suffered a midlife crisis and instead of buying a Porsche Boxster or cheating on his wife, he made his triumphant return to the world of competitive bodybuilding. Doing an unheard-of 3 contests in a four and a half week span, he took first place at all 3 shows. Aaron looks like an elk meat-eating alpha male, but has the heart of a beta cuck. Aaron is the comic that simply has to close out shows. When you see him, you’ll know why. He is undeniably hilarious and packs more laughs per minute than any other comedian working today. No two sets are ever the same. Aaron can be seen in the upcoming season of "Boston Blue," and has appeared in "Daredevil" opposite Vincent D’Onofrio. He also was just cast in Uwe Boll’s new feature film "The First Shift," which bolsters his acting resume to well over 50 projects, including cult classic feature films like "The Boondock Saints 2," "Detroit Rock City," "The Kitchen" opposite Melissa McCarthy and "Saturday Night Live"’s "The Ladies Man." He played the role of 'Cork' opposite Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jeff Daniels and Isla Fisher in the Independent Spirit award winning film "The Lookout." He was also a lead in the dark comedy series "24 Hour Rental," now airing on Amazon. Aaron is married to a woman comedian and has a daughter who is a girl. Aaron’s world record breaking documentary about stand up comedy in NYC “25 Sets” is now available on Amazon. Aaron’s Comedy Central debut on "This is Not Happening) has 2 million views and he has made two appearances on AXS TV’s "Live at Gotham" as well as appearances on "Gotham VR", Big Jay Oakerson's "WYFD?!?," Comedy Central’s second season of "Roast Battle," and DC Comics’ feature film "The Kitchen."