Bay Area Black Comedy Competition returns to Oakland

The annual festival that has launched the careers of many famous comedians is back after a pandemic pause.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition has returned to Oakland, bringing comedians from across the country to the historic Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, where this year's winner will be crowned on Sunday. The annual festival, which has long served as a launching pad for rising comics, was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a six-year delay, comedian Mario Hodge emerged as the 2020 winner.

Why it matters

The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition provides a platform for Black comedians to showcase their talents and connect with industry professionals. The festival's return to the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, a historic venue in Oakland, is significant as it helps maintain the city's cultural identity and support for the local comedy scene.

The details

The competition resumed this year, with finalists from 2020 returning to complete their run. Founder Tony Spires created the event after experiencing racial discrimination at comedy clubs in San Francisco during the 1980s, with the goal of giving Black comedians a voice. The festival offers cash prizes and opportunities for performers to connect with talent scouts and producers. This year's event marks a return to the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, which closed in 2005.

  • The Bay Area Black Comedy Competition was paused mid-event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • On the opening day of this year's festival, finalists from 2020 returned to complete their run.
  • After a six-year delay, comedian Mario Hodge emerged as the 2020 winner.
  • The 2026 competition winner will be announced on Sunday in Oakland at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.

The players

Tony Spires

The founder of the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition, who created the event after experiencing racial discrimination at comedy clubs in San Francisco during the 1980s.

Mario Hodge

The 2020 winner of the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition, who started comedy late in his 40s and is looking forward to opportunities in movies, comedy specials, and more.

Angelia Walker

A comedian who traveled from Texas to compete in the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition, marking her first time in the Bay Area.

Erroll Jackson

The event organizer who is excited to bring the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition back to the historic Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts in Oakland.

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What they’re saying

“I've basically been doing comedy for 20 years, and to have the opportunity, this is my first time in the Bay Area.”

— Angelia Walker (cbsnews.com)

“I started comedy late, in my 40s, so this is my first time ever doing a comedy competition, and I just so happened to win.”

— Mario Hodge (cbsnews.com)

“That was what motivated me in the first place to start this thing, because we were being rejected. I said, this isn't right, so what we been doing now is, yes, giving our comedians a voice. We created it for our people, but we welcome everybody.”

— Tony Spires, Founder (cbsnews.com)

“It's really important that that kind of culture, and that kind of history, that identifies with Oakland, stays that way. And so we are really excited to be a part of it, and bringing it back to the Henry J.”

— Erroll Jackson, Event Organizer (cbsnews.com)

“I look forward to be in movies, you'll see a comedy special from me, and you'll see a lot of Mario Hodge.”

— Mario Hodge (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The 2026 competition winner will be announced on Sunday in Oakland at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.

The takeaway

The return of the Bay Area Black Comedy Competition to Oakland's historic Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts provides a vital platform for Black comedians to showcase their talents and connect with industry professionals. The festival's long history of launching the careers of famous comedians, combined with its focus on supporting the local comedy scene, makes it an important cultural event for the city.