Countdown Improv Festival

08/09/2026

Quick schedule update for tonight’s last block! Due to extenuating circumstances, the Magnificent 7 will not be able to perform tonight. But fear not, a replacement has already been found. Please come out tonight to see the Countdown debut of legendary improv duo Bassprov!

08/05/2026

This year's festival -- our 10th in Ybor City -- is an especially meaningful one. No festival in the world has a community that shows up year after year like ours does. If you're reading this, you are part of that community, whether you're performing or attending this year's event.

Thank you to Chris Curry at 83 Degrees for this beautiful writeup, and to Christopher George, Dan Deming-Henes, and Dan Row for helming the ship through these exceptionally turbulent waters this summer. Most of all, thank you to everyone who donated and will be cheering the festival on, either right here in Tampa, or from afar.

We (Justin and Kelly) are on the plane to Tampa as we speak. This was a trip that seemed inconceivable at so many points this summer.

The fun starts tonight at The Commodore. LFG!

After Countdown Improv Festival co-founder Justin Peters was diagnosed with brain cancer, the improv community stepped up to make sure the show goes on.

07/12/2026

What other way could we end the festival than with an All-Star blow out: the return of Greg ‘Huddy’ Hudson, and the definitely-happening-very-real debut of the oft-touted, much-maligned, Festival Ska-nsemble!

07/11/2026

Don’t put your scorecard down just yet – Saturday night is stepping up to the plate to round out the fourth day of the 10th Annual Countdown Improv Festival. Best to take advantage of the seventh-inning stretch; this one’s a doozie.

07/10/2026

It’s bases loaded for Friday night, which begs the question: are 4* stages enough to mark the 10th year of Countdown? What if there was a tiny improv festival inside this oversized one? Well, we’ve got just the thing!



*five, if you count the secret stage…

07/09/2026

Next at bat, Thursday night swinging big with 3 stacked stages across 2 venues. One ticket ain’t gonna do it, you’d better get a pass. Better yet? Nab a Campus Pass and get a box with exclusive festival merch. Link in bio for more info!

05/28/2026

Our festival has faced its share of production hurdles over the past decade, but never one quite like this.

Earlier this month, co-founder and executive producer Justin Peters was diagnosed with brain cancer. To say we are reeling is an understatement.

So much is unknown right now, but what *is* known is that our production team, together with Kelly and Justin, has decided to move ahead as planned with the 10th annual Countdown Improv Festival on August 5-9, 2026 in Tampa. It sounds cliche to say it, but this festival and its community has never been more needed or important than it is right now.

We're confident that this year's Countdown will be our best one ever. We also know it has to look different, with Kelly and Justin focusing their energies this summer on Justin's treatment, health, and well-being, and not on the many logistics that make this massive event go. That's where our amazing team comes in.

We need your donations to help fill a budget gap, to support our team, and to ensure that we can focus on quality time and not on fundraising. The outpouring we've seen this week has been nothing short of astonishing, and if you've given already, thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.

We'll see you in August. More updates from us very soon.

Onward, with love and excitement,
Kelly, Justin, and the Countdown production team

https://fundrazr.com/countdown2026

04/27/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to the nearly 140 acts who heard their names at last night's IN PERSON & VIRTUAL: 2026 Starting Lineup Fundraiser & Preview Show! We look forward to welcoming all of you to our 10th annual festival on August 5-9, 2026.

The lineup and schedule will be live on our website later this week -- as will ticket sales! Happy Monday, have a great week, and please stay tuned.

04/21/2026

THIS SUNDAY: Join us In person and live on Twitch as we reveal the lineup & schedule and preview all of our exciting plans for the 10th annual Countdown Improv Festival this August! Don't miss it!
$comedy