iO Theater (fka ImprovOlympic) is returning with Chicago’s largest improv festival iO Fest, with over 120+ comedic acts from around the world, including 10 headlining acts such as:
3Peat (Comedy Central, The Blackening, Big Mouth), 2Square (Veep, 30 Rock, Seth Meyers), Improvised Shakespeare (Barry, Deli Boys, Fargo), Bear Down Podcast (Veep, The Good Place, Superbad) and more.
The festival spans over four days in July, with performances starting in the afternoon and continuing throughout the evening.
iO Fest is a celebration of the art of improv and solidifies Chicago as the artistic epicenter of the improv world with 4 days full of performances, workshops, panels, parties, and more. 4-Day and 1-Day passes are on sale now and will grant festival goers access to over 120+ performances across 4 stages. Headliner tickets are sold separately. The festival runs July 24-27, 2025.
“We love producing iO Fest because of its ability to build community in the improv comedy world on an international scale. Not only does it provide opportunities for different performers to observe, learn, and work with each other, but also enables them to connect with one another on a personal and professional level in the heart of Chicago,” Steve Plock, Managing Director of iO Theater.
There’s no better place to celebrate improv than Chicago — the birthplace of improv. The city’s comedy community continues to have a profound impact on the local and cultural zeitgeist, with several comedians training, performing, and working at iO Theater. Not only does the theater prioritize outstanding, hands-on education and performance opportunities, but it also creates a close-knit community that comedians and locals alike have trusted for decades.
Our world-renowned Training Center has launched the careers of innumerable notable alumni, including (but not limited to) Mike Meyers, Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Adam McKay, Jordan Peele, Seth Meyers, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler, and Rachel Dratch.
Alumni returning for iO Fest 2025 include: Peter Grosz, John Lutz, Matt Walsh, Dewayne Perkins, Susan Messing, Nnamdi Ngwe, Patrick Rowland, Andy Buldoc, Brad Morris, Shantira Jackson, Jon Thibodeaux, and more.
Chicago’s comedy scene is still flourishing, and iO Theater/iO Fest continues to prove the significance the city holds in the entertainment world, from improv to sketch to stand-up.
Please contact Annaliese Baker, Digital Content Strategist, at abaker@ioimprov.com and Steven Plock, Managing Director, at splock2@ioimprov.com for more.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!