Chicago, IL Open Mic Directory
30 comedy open mics across Chicago, IL – signup times, house rules, and how to find the stage. Updated regularly.
A note from our web-crawling spiders: We scour the internet to keep this directory fresh, but sometimes our spiders get stuck in their own web. Every listing below is tagged Verified (we confirmed it directly with the venue) or Community-Sourced (pulled from aggregators and the venue’s own site — probably true, possibly out of date). Signup times, hosts, and even whether the mic still exists can change without notice. Please double-check before you drive across town — and if something’s stale, let us know so we can fix it.
Find a Mic Near You
Click any pin for details, or tap Get Directions to open it in Google Maps.
Monday
The Comedy Bar Chicago
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
162 E Superior St, Chicago
Monday & Thursday · TBD
Cost: Free
Signup: In-person sign-up; one name per person only — 7:00 PM (doors)
Rules: Must sign up your own name only; all performers present when show begins
The Globe Pub
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1934 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago
Monday · 9:00 PM
Cost: Free
Signup: In-person sign-up — 8:00 PM
iO Theater (iO Stand-Up Open Mic)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1501 N Kingsbury St, Chicago
Monday · 10:00 PM
Cost: Free
Signup: In-person sign-up at the iO Box Office — 8:00 PM
Rules: Held in the iO Chris Farley Cabaret room; bring 4 minutes of material
Logan Theatre
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2646 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Monday · 8:30 PM
Signup: In-person sign-up — 8:00 PM
Rules: Held in the theater’s Lounge; all levels welcome
Bughouse Theater (Bughouse Open Stage)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1910 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago
Monday · 7:00 PM
Cost: Free
Rules: Welcomes stand-up, improv, musical, and drag acts
Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1383 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Monday · 8:00 PM
Cost: Free (no cover/drink minimum for open mic)
Rules: 21+; performers may bring their own sheet music for accompaniment
Tuesday
Laugh Factory Chicago
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
3175 N Broadway St, Chicago
Tuesday · 9:00 PM
Cost: Free (2-drink minimum)
Signup: In-person; 15 names drawn from a bucket promptly at 7:20 PM — 7:00-7:20 PM
Rules: 18+; 2-drink minimum (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Fuller's Pub
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
3203 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago
Tuesday · 9:00 PM
Cost: Free
Rules: No cover
Harrigan's Irish Pub
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2816 N Halsted St, Chicago
Tuesday · 7:30 PM (one source lists 8:30 PM)
EZ Inn (Big EZ Open Mic)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
921 N Western Ave, Chicago
Tuesday · TBD
Cost: Free
Signup: In-person sign-up — 6:30 PM
Rules: Dog-friendly tavern
Frances Cocktail Lounge
Wednesday
Lincoln Lodge ("Three Blind Mice" Open Mic)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2040 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Wednesday · 6:00-7:30 PM
Cost: Free (one-item purchase minimum)
Signup: In-person sign-up; one-item purchase minimum; limited pre-signups posted on Facebook — 5:30 PM
Rules: Capped at 25 comics; any experience level; standup or storytelling
RED ROOM Comedy Club
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
7442 N Western Ave, Chicago
Wednesday · 8:00 PM
Cost: Free (no drink minimum)
Signup: In-person sign-up — 7:00 PM
Rules: Best set of the night earns a spot on the following Saturday’s showcase
Cole's Bar
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2338 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Wednesday · 8:00 PM
Cost: Free (front room)
Rules: 21+ with valid ID
Chief O'Neill's Pub (Guinness & Giggles)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
3471 N Elston Ave, Chicago
Wednesday · TBD
Rules: Audience votes on showcase winner
Bird's Nest (Flock Yourself)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2500 N Southport Ave, Chicago
Wednesday · TBD
Rules: Small corner stage; comics of all experience levels
Thursday
Trophy Room (Gin & Jokes)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
170 W Ontario St, Chicago
Thursday · TBD
Signup: 9:00 PM
Rules: Mixed mic – hip hop, comedy, DJs and more
Blarney Stone (The American Dream Open Mic)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
3424 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago
Thursday · 8:30 PM
Cost: Free
Signup: In-person sign-up — 8:30 PM (arrive to sign up)
Gallery Cabaret
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2020 N Oakley Ave, Chicago
Thursday and/or Sunday (conflicting sources) · TBD
Cost: Free
Rules: Mixed mic – music, comedy, poetry, DJ sets vary by night
Friday
Emerald City Coffee
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1224 W Wilson Ave, Chicago
Friday · 7:00 PM
Cost: Free
Signup: In-person sign-up — 6:30 PM
Rules: Mixed mic (music and comedy)
Saturday
Annoyance Theatre & Bar
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
851 W Belmont Ave, Chicago
Saturday · TBD
Signup: Lottery drawing; pick up lottery ticket at box office after 8 PM — After 8:00 PM (lottery ticket pickup at box office)
Rules: Standup or solo performance; lineup selected by lottery
Second City Training Center
The Hideout (Late Late Breakfast)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago
Saturday (occasional, afternoon) · 3:00-5:00 PM (varies)
Rules: Hybrid showcase/open-mic format with games and challenges, not a pure walk-up open mic
Sunday
The Box (Out The Box Open Mic)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
1411 W 111th St, Chicago
Sunday (2nd & 4th of month) · 7:30 PM
Cost: $10 (Eventbrite or at door)
Signup: Sign up at event or contact host directly — At event or via host
Rules: 21+; all acts welcome (bands, rappers, singers, comedians, poets, magicians)
aliveOne (Living Room Sessions)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2683 N Halsted St, Chicago
Sunday · 5:30 PM
Signup: In-person sign-up — 5:15 PM
DSTRKT Bar & Grill (Cosmic Cellar Comedy Club)
Uncommon Ground - Lakeview
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
3800 N Clark St, Chicago
Sunday (some sources say Monday) · 5:00-6:00 PM performance window
Cost: $5 suggested donation (100% to performers)
Signup: In-person sign-up; limited slots — 4:30-5:00 PM
Rules: Arrive by 4:30 PM if possible; limited slots
Other / Varies
Kibbitznest Books Brews & Blarney
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
2212 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago
2nd & 4th Thursday · 8:30 PM
Signup: First-come-first-served in-person sign-up — 8:00 PM
Rules: Wi-Fi-free venue
Dreamers YOLO
Ace's Liquor and Tap (Ace's Wild Comedy Night)
COMMUNITY-SOURCED
4441 W Armitage Ave, Chicago
Bi-weekly (exact day TBD) · 8:00 PM
Signup: In-person sign-up — 7:30 PM