Desi Comedy Fest - Irvine - Sun Nov 8

Celebrate Diwali with Lights, Laughter & Live Comedy!

Get ready, Orange County! Desi Comedy Fest, America's largest South Asian comedy festival, is bringing some of the funniest South Asian comedians to the Irvine Improv on Sunday, November 8, at 6 PM!

This Diwali, celebrate the festival of lights with a festival of laughs! Experience an unforgettable evening of stand-up comedy featuring hilarious perspectives on family, relationships, culture, identity, growing up Desi, and navigating life in America.

Founded in 2014, Desi Comedy Fest has entertained audiences across the country, showcasing talented comedians from diverse South Asian backgrounds. After successful shows in New York, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Texas, the festival is wrapping up its 2026 nationwide tour with a grand finale in Irvine!

Whether you're South Asian, have South Asian friends, or simply love great stand-up comedy, this show is for you!

?? MEET THE COMEDIANS

FIZAA DOSANI (Netflix Is a Joke Festival, The Lincoln Lawyer)

Fizaa Dosani is a Los Angeles-based Indian American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer known for her energetic performances and unconventional comedic perspective. She has performed at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, New York Comedy Festival, and SF Sketchfest. Her television credits include Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer and Dear White People, FX's Snowfall, and ABC's How to Get Away with Murder. Fizaa is also the creator of Facial Recognition Comedy, a nationally touring stand-up showcase celebrating diverse female comedic voices.

SHAMAN JOHAL (Laughs on FOX, The Comedy Store)

Shaman Johal is a nationally touring Indian American stand-up comedian known for his sharp observations, snarky humor, and entertaining takes on family, relationships, and cultural identity. Drawing from his experiences navigating Indian and American cultures, Shaman brings a relatable and irreverent perspective to the stage. He has been featured on Laughs on FOX and performed at prominent comedy venues including The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, Hollywood Improv, and Ice House Comedy Club.

PRIYA PURAM (SF Sketchfest)

Priya Puram is a San Francisco-based Indian American stand-up comedian whose comedy explores the intersection of culture, technology, relationships, and the wonderfully awkward moments in between. By day she works in tech, and by night she turns the chaos of modern life into sharp, relatable comedy. A featured performer at SF Sketchfest, Priya brings a uniquely nerdy perspective to everything from immigrant expectations to dating in the digital age. Whether speaking English, Kannada, or Java, Priya delivers smart, playful comedy that connects with audiences from every background.

SAMSON KOLETKAR (Mahatma Moses, The Indian Seinfeld)

Born in Mumbai and now based in San Francisco, Samson Koletkar is the world's only Indian Jewish stand-up comedian, performing internationally under the name Mahatma Moses. Dubbed "The Indian Seinfeld" by The Indian Express, Samson's comedy combines cerebral humor, clever wordplay, and hilarious observations about marriage, parenting, religion, and cultural identity. He has performed across the U.S., Canada, and India and has been featured on NPR, NBC, CBS, and NDTV. Samson is the co-founder of Desi Comedy Fest and founder of Comedy Oakland.

ABHAY NADKARNI (Just For Laughs, Amazon Prime Video)

A Hindu third-culture kid who grew up between Delhi, Doha, and Bangalore, Abhay Nadkarni brings a global perspective to his comedy. Selected as a Just For Laughs New Face, Abhay has also performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. His comedy combines sharp cultural observations, personal storytelling, and hilarious takes on everyday life. His debut comedy special, Brown Jesus, streams on Amazon Prime Video. Abhay is the co-founder of Desi Comedy Fest.

??? EVENT DETAILS

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026 (Diwali)

Time: 6:00 PM

Venue: Irvine Improv Comedy Club

Address: 527 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618

Tickets: Starting at $25

Age Restriction: 21+

Venue Policy: 2-item minimum per person

Special Offer: Use promo code DCFSOCAL for 20% OFF tickets!

BUY TICKETS

All performances are in English. You don't need to be Desi to get the jokes!

Founded by comedians Samson Koletkar and Abhay Nadkarni, Desi Comedy Fest has featured over 200 comedians and entertained nearly 20,000 audience members across more than 30 cities in 3 countries.

From Indian and Pakistani perspectives to the shared experiences of growing up between cultures, this festival celebrates diversity through laughter.

5 comedians. 1 stage. Countless laughs.

This Diwali, light up your evening with laughter!

Don't miss the grand finale of Desi Comedy Fest's 2026 nationwide tour, right here in Orange County!