Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent for “The Daily Show” and acclaimed stand-up comedian, has been announced as a headliner for the Traverse City Comedy Fest, taking place April 16-18, 2026.
Wood Jr. will perform at the City Opera House on Friday, April 17, with tickets going on sale this morning, December 9, at 9 a.m. Traverse City Tourism is the presenting sponsor of the fourth annual festival.
Roy Wood Jr. is known for his work as a comedian, Emmy-nominated documentary producer, and WGA-nominated writer. He served as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” from 2015 to 2023 and guest hosted the show in 2023.
Wood Jr. headlined the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2023, achieving its highest ratings since 2017. His fourth stand-up special, “Lonely Flowers,” premiered on Hulu on January 17, 2025.
Wood Jr. hosts CNN’s “Have I Got News for You,” an adaptation of a UK comedy series, which premiered in September 2024 and returns with new episodes in Winter 2026.
He will appear in the upcoming comedy “Outcome” alongside Keanu Reeves and Jonah Hill and in the Sundance film “Love, Brooklyn.”
Wood Jr. released his debut memoir, “The Man of Many Fathers,” on October 28, 2025, and has co-starred in Paramount Pictures’ “Confess, Fletch” (2022) with Jon Hamm. He has guest appearances in “Only Murders in the Building,” “Better Call Saul,” and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”Gary Gulman is the other headliner announced for the festival, performing at the City Opera House on Saturday, April 18. Tickets for Gulman’s show are already on sale.
The Traverse City Comedy Fest will feature dozens of shows and events with acclaimed comedians from Michigan and across the U.S. More headliners and programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
Comic submissions for the festival opened on December 1 and will remain open until January 5. Submissions are available for stand-up comics, improv troupes, and specialty shows, with fees of $35 for stand-up comics and $70 for improv troupes and specialty shows.
The Traverse City Comedy Fest promises a lineup of top comedic talent, with Roy Wood Jr. and Gary Gulman headlining.
As tickets go on sale and submissions open, the festival is set to be a highlight for comedy fans in 2026.
