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Registration for Funniest Comedian in the Valley (FCIV) 2026 is OPEN!
Registration is FREE for comics living in the Greater Phoenix area.
$50 registration fee for all others, payable via Venmo to -Vicich (thumbnail is a picture of him and a big dog).

Register at: [email protected]

Submissions MUST include:
Full name
Stage name, if different from your legal name
Phone number
Email
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok handles (any/all)
Headshot
Whether you’re registering for both the People’s Choice Award and FCIV or just FCIV

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD (PCA)
One night, $100 prize, one automatic spot in the FCIV 2026 Finals!
The competition kicks off May 20th at Desert Ridge Improv with the People’s Choice Award. Open to anyone selected for FCIV 2026, this show is judged SOLELY on audience reaction. Audio software and a decibel meter are used to measure how long and loud the audience laughs. One winner receives $100 prize and automatically moves on to the FCIV 2026 Finals. All others move on to their preliminary round. Full disclosure: Past competitors average 10 supporters each in the audience.

FUNNIEST COMIC IN THE VALLEY (FCIV)
From the Valley to the World
Preliminary rounds will be at Desert Ridge Improv, 21001 N Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050. Selectees will be assigned to one of seven preliminary rounds:
May 27th, June 10th, June 17th, June 24th, July 8th, July 15th, or July 22nd.

We do our best to accommodate scheduling requests up front, but please realize it may not always be possible. Once scheduled, please do your best to honor the date. No-shows are automatically disqualified. Disqualified comics will not be given an alternate date.

There are no quarter finals. Six comics from each preliminary round will move on to the semi-finals. The judges may request up to an additional seven (total) “second looks” for the semi-finals.

Semi-finals will be held August 5th and 12th at Tempe Improv, 930 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85288.

A minimum of five comics from each semi-final will move on to the Finals, along with the winner of May 20th’s People’s Choice Award. The Finals will be held on August 19th at the Tempe Improv.

Primary communication is via Facebook Messenger or Messenger. If you don’t have either, please set yourself up for success by getting them. We do our best to keep comics with non-standard communication informed, but they are ultimately responsible for being easy to reach.

JUDGING
Preliminary rounds will be judged by audience response, originality of material, stage presence/performance, and professionalism.

2026 FCIV FINAL PRIZES
3rd Place: $200.00 and a paid gig of one night or more at an Improv club in the Phoenix area.
2nd Place: $300.00 and a paid gig of one night or more at an Improv club in the Phoenix area.
1st Place: $1000.00 and a paid gig of one night or more at an Improv club in the Phoenix area. A paid gig of one night or more at a Florida Improv (hotel and $250.00 travel allowance provided by FCIV). A showcase gig at Take Out Comedy Club in Hong Kong, China (one night or more). Airfare and hotel provided by FCIV.

That covers it! Registration is OPEN so submit now. We want to see you on the main stages in this city. We want to see you in Florida. We want to see you in Hong Kong.

Tony Vicich
FCIV 2026

These artists all started out with ComedySchools.com in Phoenix. Though many are still stand up comics some have gone on to do other incredible things. How you begin will shape everything you do after.
Tony Vicich

Congratulations to ComedySchools.com alum Mark Fry. Besides his numerous commercials and TV appearances he is a long time producer of the San Luis Obispo Comedy Festival!

Congratulations to Comedyschools.com alum Josh Brekhus for his team LEROY performing weekly at the Upright Citizens Brigade and for his screenwriting career, penning The Wedding Fix, My Favorite Christmas Melody, and Love on the Road.

Congratulations to ComedySchools.com alum and Walking Dead veteran Josh McDermitt for his recurring role on CBS's Fire County airing on Friday nights.

Congratulations to ComedySchools.com alum and 2024 Funniest Comic in the Valley winner Crickette Gill on her upcoming feature appearance at the Tempe Improv.

Congratulations to ComedySchools.com alum and Saturday Night Live veteran Michael Longfellow appearing in his New York theatrical debut, Broken Snow with Tony Danza and Tom Cavenaugh.