The Flyover Comedy Festival returns this week for its ninth year, this time taking over the Delmar Loop, the Improv Shop, and more from November 11-15. This year’s festival features exciting performers such as David Cross, Roy Wood Jr., Dropout Improv, Cameron Esposito, The Sklar Brothers, and many more from around the country. Alongside this stacked lineup of performers at several new venues all around the Delmar Loop, Flyover co-founder and executive producer Zach Gzehoviak is excited about new developments for the 2026 comedy invasion, including a collaboration with Fitz’s for a festival-exclusive soda and a comics bowling tournament on Saturday afternoon at Pin-Up Bowl, presented by Netflix is a Joke.
With a packed schedule featuring dozens of talented acts, there are more shows than any one person could attend. Here are a few showcases Gzehoviak recommends putting on your radar at this year’s fest.
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Tell Mom What You Did | November 12, 9:30 p.m.
The Elvis Room at Blueberry Hill
This show, hosted by Daniel Van Kirk, features comics calling on their parents live on stage, telling them a story they’ve never told before, and having a conversation about it with their parents afterward. “It’s a unique show to have funny people sharing vulnerable stories and getting the reactions of their family members,” Gzehoviak says. With a lineup featuring comics Jen O’Neill, Rafe Williams, Steve Vanderploeg, and Dulcé Sloan, it is definitely a show to prioritize.
Yakov Smirnoff | November 13, 7 p.m.
Delmar Hall
Following a surprise appearance at last year’s festival, Yakov Smirnoff is back, this time headlining a showcase at Delmar Hall. While the comic has been a staple performing in Branson for decades, Gzehoviak says that Smirnoff has been doing the rounds lately, even appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and is excited about performing his new hour at Flyover. Don’t miss your chance to see an adopted Missouri legend do what he does best.
Kiry Shabazz & More | November 13, 10 p.m.
Fitz’s Upstairs
One comic Gzehoviak is particularly excited for folks to check out is Kiry Shabazz. “This is his second time performing at our festival,” Gzehoviak says. “He’s coming back, and I always enjoy his shows. It should be a fun one.” Shabazz will be headlining a showcase at Fitz’s Upstairs with comics Nthenya from Kenya, Will O’Donnell, Iain Langlands, Reggie Conquest, and host Charlie Winfrey.
Connor Ratliff presents The Acting Class | November 14, 7 p.m.
Improv Shop Main Stage
As the name might suggest, this is a one-man improvised show from actor and comedian Connor Ratliff that pretends to be a real acting class. Ratliff is a longstanding UCB improviser who is originally from Jefferson City, Missouri. He is likely best known for the Dead Eyes podcast, the long-running George Lucas Talk Show, and most recently appearing as Deputy Kent on Widow’s Bay. Given Ratliff’s bonafides and his general talent for making specific and esoteric pockets of pop culture very funny, it is clear that The Acting Class is a one-of-a-kind show that should not be missed.
Netflix Is A Joke Radio on SiriusXM Presents: Are You Still Listening? | November 14, 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Pin-Up Bowl
For folks looking to catch a live taping, Are You Still Listening? is usually a monthly showcase in Los Angeles recorded for Netflix Is A Joke Radio on SiriusXM, featuring new and emerging comics. This year, Flyover will host two of these showcases of festival comics to be recorded for Netflix Is A Joke Radio, hosted by Peter Revello and Opey Olagbaju. Gzehoviak is also particularly excited about these showcases because they are happening at Pin-Up Bowl, a new venue for the festival and a nontraditional venue for comedy. “We’re not going to have bowling going on during the showcases, but it’ll be a fun atmosphere, and we’re really going to transform the space,” Gzehoviak says.
TAG IT with the Sklar Brothers | November 14, 9:30 p.m.
The Church on Delmar
Festival headliners and hometown boys the Sklar Brothers are back again with their TAG IT show, which features comics working out new material live on stage, with the Sklars writing potential tags to their jokes live on stage. This show is not only a great way to see a bit of how the comedy sausage is made, but also an incredible showcase of the Sklar Brothers’ quick wit and sharp comedy minds. “It’s amazing to see how these guys work and how quickly they come up with hilarious tags or punchlines for comics to rework,” Gzehoviak says. The comics performing include Katherine Blanford, Diana Hong, Dean Delray, Willie Simon, and Peter Revello.
