Using the Power of Punchlines to Build a

Better, Kinder, More Connected NYC

Comedy builds community.

NYLaughs is a unique 501(c)3 performing arts nonprofit dedicated to using stand-up comedy as a force for connection, joy, and community in the lives of New Yorkers. We are a grassroots organization known for innovation, inclusion, and transforming how the arts are experienced citywide. We work to bring more laughter, connection, and cultural vibrancy to NYC. Through free performances in NYC’s iconic public spaces, we create shared moments that foster belonging, deepen appreciation for stand-up, and celebrate it as a vital cultural asset woven into the city’s DNA.

Our mission is to elevate stand-up comedy as more than just entertainment—it’s an art form that reflects the spirit, diversity, and resilience of NYC. Stand-up comedy in NYC is a creative consciousness unlike anywhere else in the world. By producing accessible, inclusive, and free events in public spaces, we remove barriers to engagement, spotlight voices from all walks of life, and help audiences rediscover the power of humor to unite us.

At NYLaughs, we’re building a city where comedy inspires us and neighbors become friends—all one joke, one show, and one laugh at a time.

A laughing New Yorker makes a better New Yorker (and a lot less cranky one on mass transit)!