It is not too far from this time last year that the devastating news that SXSW was going to be cancelled was going to be delivered. Along with its cancellation came the nixing of a wide-ranging program of live comedy that had become one of Texas’ biggest annual comedy events.

As we are still in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, SXSW is going entirely virtual for 2021. They did not want to be deterred from not only highlighting the best in comedy wherever the festival could find it, but note how truly special it is and help it survive through its various “homes” and “family members”.

Thusly, SXSW Comedy is opting to have exclusive performances (done with strict COVID-19 safety protocols) from the some of the most hallowed comedy clubs in the country including Acme Comedy Co in Minneapolis, Dynasty Typewriter and the Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles, Gotham Comedy Club in NYC, and Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago with the celebrated comedy stylings of Beth Stelling, Reggie Watts, Erin Jackson, Monroe Martin III, Clayton English, Chris Porter, Emma Willmann, Dan Soder, Joel Kim Booster, and Matty Ryan. Doug Loves Movies, Matt Besser’s improv4humans, selections from The Creek & The Cave’s Bring Back Laughs will also be part of this marvelous cross-country virtual SXSW comedy round-up.

This should be a momentous occasion coming on a year of lockdown in America and how we have all endured and comedy is still going (and will hopefully keep surviving) despite being challenged like it has never been challenged before.

This year’s online edition of SXSW is set for Mar. 16th-20th and you can get more info on their comedy offerings as well as buy/register for a pass here.