Austin's comedy calendar is about to get busy. Austin Sketch Fest is back at ColdTowne Theater, and this year it's spread across two consecutive weekends: August 14–16 and August 21–23. ColdTowne produces, books, and organizes the whole thing, which makes sense given the theater has been the city's home for alternative comedy since 2006, with improv, sketch, stand-up and classes running seven nights a week.
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The headliner is Andrew Vincent Dismukes, a Saturday Night Live cast member with deep Texas roots. Born in Houston in 1995, he graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 2013 and the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with a degree in Radio-Television-Film. He started stand-up in 2013, came in second in the 'Funniest Person in Austin' contest in 2016, joined the SNL writing staff in 2017, became a featured player in 2020 and a repertory cast member in 2022. He married fellow comedian Aly Dixon in 2025, and she's also on the bill.
Rounding out the headliners are Aly Dixon and Shitty Mozart, both from New York. Another name to watch is Mimi Meier, a Texan who moved to Austin five years ago and is bringing her show Me? Me!, built around a delusional Hollywood starlet telling her life story. Meier has opened for the likes of Tim Meadows, Kevin Nealon, Beth Stelling and Connor Wood, and her work has played the Moontower Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest and DC Sketchfest. She's currently developing a solo show for 2026.
Behind the scenes, executive producer Ashley Ellis says the festival reviews dozens of submissions each year to pick the best of the bunch, looking for unique perspectives and fresh ideas. She's noted that the fest has given stage time to comedians on the verge of breaking out, including Tim Robinson, Amber Ruffin, Meg Stalter and James Adomian. The goal is simple: stage time, exposure and networking for the performers. The rest of the team includes executive producer Rebecca East, production manager and artistic director Will Cleveland, who's been at ColdTowne since 2016, and consulting producer Dave Buckman.
As for the schedule, the first weekend is the denser one. Friday, August 14, opens with Sick Day and Never Sad at 7:30, followed by the ColdTowne Cabaret, Sir. Thomas Madden Jr. and Daddy's Boy later in the night. Saturday, August 15, pairs Shitty Mozart at 7:30 with UCB's Assssketch at 9:00, and Sunday, August 16, closes the first half with the Illegal Improv Show at 6:30 and Mimi Meier's Me? Me! at 8:00. The second weekend, August 21–23, is lighter, with Aly Dixon headlining Friday at 9:00 and a UCB class show on Saturday afternoon.
If you're planning to go, it's worth knowing that some shows are marked with free parking. Tickets and the full lineup are at atxsketchfest.com, and you can reach the organizers at info@atxsketchfest.com. Whether you're there for the SNL name or to catch someone before they break out, it's a solid excuse to spend a weekend at ColdTowne.
Published Date
13 August 2026
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