Biggest Stand-Up Comedy Tours in History (Ranked by Tickets Sold)
Introduction
The biggest stand-up comedy tours in history prove that comedy can rival rock concerts and sports events in ticket sales and revenue. From Kevin Hart’s record-breaking stadium shows to Russell Peters’ international dominance, these tours sold millions of tickets and brought stand-up to a global stage.
👉 The biggest stand-up comedy tour in history is Kevin Hart’s What Now? (2015–2016), which grossed over $100 million and sold more than 1.3 million tickets worldwide.
In this guide, we rank the most successful comedy tours ever, based on tickets sold, gross revenue, and cultural impact.
1. Kevin Hart – “What Now?” Tour (2015–2016)
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Tickets Sold: 1.3M+
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Gross Revenue: $100M+
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Highlight: First comedian to sell out an NFL stadium (Lincoln Financial Field).
Kevin Hart transformed stand-up into a full-scale stadium spectacle with pyrotechnics, massive LED screens, and rock-concert energy. His What Now? tour remains a blueprint for arena comedy.
Sources: Pollstar, Guinness World Records
Related: How Much Do Stand-Up Comedians Make in 2025
2. Russell Peters – “Notorious World Tour” (2012–2013)
3. Jeff Dunham – “Spark of Insanity” Tour (2007–2010)
4. Gabriel Iglesias – “FluffyMania” Tour (2017–2018)
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Tickets Sold: ~426,000 across 81 shows
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Gross Revenue: ~$25M
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Highlight: Packed arenas on four continents.
Known as “Fluffy,” Iglesias combined storytelling, sound effects, and warmth to connect with audiences worldwide.
Source: Pollstar Data
5. Eddie Izzard – “Force Majeure” Tour (2013–2017)
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Tickets Sold: 1.3M+ across 45 countries
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Highlight: The most geographically ambitious stand-up tour ever.
Izzard performed in multiple languages, proving that stand-up could transcend borders and cultures.
6. Dane Cook – “Rough Around the Edges” Tour (2007–2009)
7. Louis C.K. – “Live at the Beacon” Tour (2011–2012)
8. Amy Schumer – “Back Door Tour” (2016)
9. Billy Connolly – Australia & New Zealand Tour (2002)
10. Jerry Seinfeld – Various Tours
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Tickets Sold: ≈2.38M (Pollstar era)
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Gross Revenue: ≈$170M
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Highlight: Consistent sell-outs across decades.
Seinfeld’s longevity is unmatched, with his observational comedy still drawing massive theatre audiences decades after Seinfeld.
Source: Pollstar
Honourable Mentions & Recent Arena Giants
While the above tours set historical benchmarks, several comedians in recent years have proven they can pack arenas and rival those numbers. These names represent the current generation of arena comedy giants:
Sebastian Maniscalco – Stay Hungry Tour (2018)
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Highlight: First comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden four times in one weekend.
Maniscalco has become one of the most bankable live comics, consistently selling out arenas with his observational, family-focused humor.
Jo Koy – Just Kidding and Funny Is Funny Tours (2019–2023)
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Highlight: Sold out arenas across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Jo Koy’s global reach, especially within the Filipino diaspora, has made him one of today’s fastest-rising touring comedians.
Bert Kreischer – Body Shots World Tour & Tops Off Tour (2019–2023)
Dave Chappelle – Multiple Tours (2000s–2020s)
Chris Rock – Total Blackout Tour (2017–2018)
John Mulaney – From Scratch Tour (2022–2023)
Jim Gaffigan – Consistent Arena Success (2000s–2020s)
Final Thoughts
The biggest stand-up comedy tours in history prove that comedy isn’t confined to clubs; it can fill stadiums, generate hundreds of millions in revenue, and connect across cultures. From Kevin Hart’s world-record stadium shows to Sebastian Maniscalco’s Madison Square Garden streak, arena comedy has never been stronger.
🎟 Want to see tomorrow’s legends before they hit arenas? Catch them live at Comedyville.
FAQ About the Biggest Stand-Up Comedy Tours in History
1. Who has the biggest stand-up comedy tour of all time?
Kevin Hart’s What Now? tour (2015–2016) is considered the biggest stand-up comedy tour ever, grossing over $100 million and selling more than 1.3 million tickets worldwide.
2. Which comedian sold the most tickets internationally?
Russell Peters’ Notorious World Tour (2012–2013) broke records across multiple continents, selling over 300,000 tickets and proving comedy is truly a global language.
3. How much money can comedians make from touring?
Top comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and Chris Rock gross tens of millions from tours. Seinfeld alone has grossed an estimated $170M from live performances during the Pollstar era.
4. Are comedy tours as big as music concerts?
Yes. Kevin Hart, Jeff Dunham, and Gabriel Iglesias have filled arenas and even stadiums, putting their tours on par with some of the biggest music acts.
5. Who is touring now at the arena level?
Current arena headliners include Trevor Noah, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy, and Taylor Tomlinson, following in the footsteps of the biggest tours in comedy history.
Post by Eddie Case, exclusively for Comedyville.com, All rights reserved.
Comedyville is a Comedy Club located in Downtown Montreal.
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Biggest Stand-Up Comedy Tours in History (Ranked by Tickets Sold)
Introduction
The biggest stand-up comedy tours in history prove that comedy can rival rock concerts and sports events in ticket sales and revenue. From Kevin Hart’s record-breaking stadium shows to Russell Peters’ international dominance, these tours sold millions of tickets and brought stand-up to a global stage.
👉 The biggest stand-up comedy tour in history is Kevin Hart’s What Now? (2015–2016), which grossed over $100 million and sold more than 1.3 million tickets worldwide.
In this guide, we rank the most successful comedy tours ever, based on tickets sold, gross revenue, and cultural impact.
1. Kevin Hart – “What Now?” Tour (2015–2016)
Tickets Sold: 1.3M+
Gross Revenue: $100M+
Highlight: First comedian to sell out an NFL stadium (Lincoln Financial Field).
Kevin Hart transformed stand-up into a full-scale stadium spectacle with pyrotechnics, massive LED screens, and rock-concert energy. His What Now? tour remains a blueprint for arena comedy.
Sources: Pollstar, Guinness World Records
Related: How Much Do Stand-Up Comedians Make in 2025
2. Russell Peters – “Notorious World Tour” (2012–2013)
Tickets Sold: 300,000+
Gross Revenue: $21M+
Highlight: Record-breaking crowds in Asia and the Middle East.
Russell Peters proved stand-up could be a global language, performing to sold-out arenas in countries where English wasn’t the first language.
Sources: PRNewswire, Newswire.ca
Related: Richest Canadian Comedians and How They Got There
3. Jeff Dunham – “Spark of Insanity” Tour (2007–2010)
Tickets Sold: 1.9M+
Gross Revenue: $38M+
Highlight: Guinness record for widest-reaching comedy tour.
Dunham’s mix of ventriloquism and stand-up connected with families, making his tour one of the few comedy events to attract multi-generational audiences.
Source: North Charleston Coliseum
4. Gabriel Iglesias – “FluffyMania” Tour (2017–2018)
Tickets Sold: ~426,000 across 81 shows
Gross Revenue: ~$25M
Highlight: Packed arenas on four continents.
Known as “Fluffy,” Iglesias combined storytelling, sound effects, and warmth to connect with audiences worldwide.
Source: Pollstar Data
5. Eddie Izzard – “Force Majeure” Tour (2013–2017)
Tickets Sold: 1.3M+ across 45 countries
Highlight: The most geographically ambitious stand-up tour ever.
Izzard performed in multiple languages, proving that stand-up could transcend borders and cultures.
6. Dane Cook – “Rough Around the Edges” Tour (2007–2009)
Tickets Sold: 1M+
Gross Revenue: $35M+
Highlight: MySpace-era fan power.
Cook leveraged early social media dominance to sell out arenas, pioneering online fan-driven comedy success.
7. Louis C.K. – “Live at the Beacon” Tour (2011–2012)
Tickets Sold: 500,000+
Gross Revenue: $16M+
Highlight: Direct-to-fan ticketing.
Louis C.K.’s ticketing model disrupted the industry by eliminating fees and selling directly to fans online.
8. Amy Schumer – “Back Door Tour” (2016)
Tickets Sold: 350,000+
Gross Revenue: $16M+
Highlight: Peak of her mainstream fame.
Following the success of Trainwreck, Schumer sold out arenas with bold, candid humour that resonated with modern audiences.
9. Billy Connolly – Australia & New Zealand Tour (2002)
Tickets Sold: 300,000+
Gross Revenue: $10M+
Highlight: Regional dominance.
Connolly’s storytelling charisma drew record-breaking crowds, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, cementing his status as a beloved international act.
10. Jerry Seinfeld – Various Tours
Tickets Sold: ≈2.38M (Pollstar era)
Gross Revenue: ≈$170M
Highlight: Consistent sell-outs across decades.
Seinfeld’s longevity is unmatched, with his observational comedy still drawing massive theatre audiences decades after Seinfeld.
Source: Pollstar
Honourable Mentions & Recent Arena Giants
While the above tours set historical benchmarks, several comedians in recent years have proven they can pack arenas and rival those numbers. These names represent the current generation of arena comedy giants:
Sebastian Maniscalco – Stay Hungry Tour (2018)
Highlight: First comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden four times in one weekend.
Maniscalco has become one of the most bankable live comics, consistently selling out arenas with his observational, family-focused humor.
Jo Koy – Just Kidding and Funny Is Funny Tours (2019–2023)
Highlight: Sold out arenas across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Jo Koy’s global reach, especially within the Filipino diaspora, has made him one of today’s fastest-rising touring comedians.
Bert Kreischer – Body Shots World Tour & Tops Off Tour (2019–2023)
Highlight: Arena sell-outs driven by his Netflix specials and podcast fan base.
Kreischer has transformed into an arena headliner by blending storytelling with his signature wild stage antics.
Dave Chappelle – Multiple Tours (2000s–2020s)
Highlight: Consistently among the highest-grossing comedians.
Chappelle’s tours, often paired with Netflix specials, continue to draw hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide.
Chris Rock – Total Blackout Tour (2017–2018)
Gross Revenue: $40M+
Rock’s return to touring after a decade cemented him once again as one of the greatest live comics of all time.
John Mulaney – From Scratch Tour (2022–2023)
Highlight: Multiple arena sell-outs across North America.
Mulaney’s deeply personal storytelling brought him into the top tier of live comedy draws.
Jim Gaffigan – Consistent Arena Success (2000s–2020s)
Highlight: Millions of tickets sold worldwide.
Known for his clean, family-friendly humour, Gaffigan has quietly become one of the most successful arena comics in modern history.
Final Thoughts
The biggest stand-up comedy tours in history prove that comedy isn’t confined to clubs; it can fill stadiums, generate hundreds of millions in revenue, and connect across cultures. From Kevin Hart’s world-record stadium shows to Sebastian Maniscalco’s Madison Square Garden streak, arena comedy has never been stronger.
🎟 Want to see tomorrow’s legends before they hit arenas? Catch them live at Comedyville.
FAQ About the Biggest Stand-Up Comedy Tours in History
1. Who has the biggest stand-up comedy tour of all time?
Kevin Hart’s What Now? tour (2015–2016) is considered the biggest stand-up comedy tour ever, grossing over $100 million and selling more than 1.3 million tickets worldwide.
2. Which comedian sold the most tickets internationally?
Russell Peters’ Notorious World Tour (2012–2013) broke records across multiple continents, selling over 300,000 tickets and proving comedy is truly a global language.
3. How much money can comedians make from touring?
Top comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and Chris Rock gross tens of millions from tours. Seinfeld alone has grossed an estimated $170M from live performances during the Pollstar era.
4. Are comedy tours as big as music concerts?
Yes. Kevin Hart, Jeff Dunham, and Gabriel Iglesias have filled arenas and even stadiums, putting their tours on par with some of the biggest music acts.
5. Who is touring now at the arena level?
Current arena headliners include Trevor Noah, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy, and Taylor Tomlinson, following in the footsteps of the biggest tours in comedy history.
Post by Eddie Case, exclusively for Comedyville.com, All rights reserved.
Comedyville is a Comedy Club located in Downtown Montreal.