Nashville Best Of 2026 · Best Comedy Club
Zanies Comedy Club
Nashville’s home for stand-up since 1983, where national headliners, TV favorites, and rising stars take the mic seven nights a week. Zanies is our pick for the best comedy club in Nashville.
The Verdict
Why Zanies Earns the Title
Nashville is known for music, but when it’s time to laugh, locals head to 8th Avenue South. For more than four decades, Zanies has brought the country’s top comedians to an intimate room where every seat feels close to the stage. Recent lineups have included stars like Dusty Slay, J.B. Smoove, and Duncan Trussell, alongside up-and-comers you’ll brag about seeing first.
It’s also a certified comedy destination. Comedy Central named Zanies Nashville a Certified Club in 2013, and the venue has grown to include The Lab, a second, more intimate stage that hosts even more shows each week. With a full food and drink menu and shows every night of the week, it’s the easiest way to add a night of big laughs to any Nashville trip.
1983
Laughing in Nashville Since
7
Nights a Week of Comedy
~300
Seats in the Main Room
2
The Experience
Pick Your Night of Laughs
From big-name headliners to the next generation of stand-ups, there’s always something on the calendar.
Headliner Shows
National touring comedians and TV and streaming stars headline the main room throughout the week. Popular names sell out fast, so buy tickets early.
The Lab
Zanies’ second, more intimate stage next door hosts rising comics, special events, and extra shows. It’s a great way to catch the next big thing up close.
Dinner & Drinks
Zanies has a two-item minimum per person, which can be any combination of food and drinks. Alcohol isn’t required, so order what you like and settle in for the show.
The Story
Four Decades of Laughs
Zanies began in Chicago in 1978, when founder Rick Uchwat, who came to America as a child refugee from Austria, opened a comedy club on North Wells Street. As stand-up exploded in the early 1980s, Zanies expanded south, and in 1983 its Nashville club opened on 8th Avenue South.
More than 40 years later, Zanies Nashville has become the city’s go-to stage for stand-up, welcoming touring headliners and nurturing local comics alike. Even Nashville’s own Nate Bargatze, our Best Comedian, has said he still likes to pop in here. The addition of The Lab gave the club a second room, meaning more shows, more comedians, and more reasons to laugh in Music City.
“Some of the best comedic talent in the country.”
Zanies Nashville
Plan Your Visit
Showtime on 8th Avenue South
Zanies sits on 8th Avenue South, just a few minutes from downtown. Showtimes vary by comedian, so always check the calendar before you go.
Location
2025 8th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 269-0221
The Lab is right next door at 2019 8th Ave S.
Showtimes
Most shows start around 7 pm, with late shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Doors open 30 to 90 minutes before showtime, depending on the show.
Good to Know
There’s a two-item food or drink minimum per person, and no outside food or drinks are allowed. Acts, prices, and showtimes can change, so double-check the listing before you head out.
Get Ready to Laugh
Check the calendar, grab tickets to your favorite comic, and make Zanies part of your next Nashville night out.