Submit Your Team

Submissions are closed for this year!
Please make sure to read the FAQ below carefully before submitting.

  • Great question! Here’s the submission tier schedule:

    • Early Bird: through January 28th

    • Middle Bird: through February 11th

    • Tardy Bird: through February 28th

    FYI, each tier is progressively a bit more expensive so we recommend getting your submission in early.

  • Nope! Solos, duos, small teams and huge teams are welcome to apply. We are open to short-form, long-form, musical, narrative, solos, etc. If you’re team does something unique and you’re wondering if it will fit, feel free to drop us a line.

  • No, we do not cover any travel expenses. If you’re team is accepted into the Festival, you are responsible for covering all travel costs.

  • Great question! Each team member gets an all-access Performer Pass which gets them into every show, depending on seating capacity. All that means is that Festival Pass, Sponsor Pass and ticket holders have first priority, followed by Performer Pass holders. Generally, there shouldn’t be a capacity issue but of course we can’t promise that.

    AND each team member gets an exclusive Festival T-Shirt as well as a 10% coupon code that goes toward purchasing workshops when they go on sale in March.

  • Yes! Workshops will be taught by some of our headliners. We should have the workshop descriptions up soon and they will be going on sale some time in March.

submit my team!

  • The 2026 Asheville Festival Ensemble is a team made up of 6-8 improvisors, put together exclusively for this Festival, who will get to play in one of the show slots during the Fest.

  • We aim to create an ensemble that balances perspective and experience, based on your submissions, to create what we think would be an exciting team to watch.

    Absolutely anyone can apply! We are open to submissions from performers anywhere in the world and with varying levels of experience; even newbies.

    The whole point of the Fest Ensemble is to be able to provide an opportunity for individual performers to get out of their comfort zone by being a part of a team of strangers, coached by a seasoned pro, and then let it loose on stage to see what happens!

  • Submissions for the 2026 Asheville Improv Festival Ensemble are open through February 28th.

  • That’s right! Our Festival Ensemble will have at least two full, 2-hour coaching sessions from a very seasoned pro—Rudy Mendoza, of Bilingual Improv School— and will then get to perform in one of the Fest show—when/where to be determined.

  • No, we do not cover any travel expenses. If you’re accepted into the Festival Ensemble, you are responsible for covering all travel costs.

  • Great question! You will get an all-access Performer Pass which gets you into every show, depending on seating capacity. All that means is that Festival Pass, Sponsor Pass and ticket holders have first priority, followed by Performer Pass holders. Generally, there shouldn’t be a capacity issue but of course we can’t promise that.

    AND you will also get an exclusive Festival T-Shirt as well as a 10% coupon code that goes toward purchasing workshops when they go on sale in March.

Submit Yourself

Are you a performer without a team? Or maybe you’re in between teams? Why not apply to be a part of the 2026 Asheville Improv Festival Ensemble?

This year’s Festival Ensemble Coach is the inimitable Rudy Mendoza, founder of Bilingual Improv School. Read more about him here.

If you’re interested, please make sure to read the FAQ below carefully before submitting.

submit myself
A man is doing a handstand on stacked wooden chairs, with one leg raised upward and a concentrated expression on his face.
Two women performing stand-up comedy on stage with three empty chairs behind them, holding microphones.
A woman with wavy blonde hair wearing a maroon outfit stands on stage, holding a microphone and a paper, speaking or singing at a performance event.
A woman with blonde hair, wearing a black sleeveless top and red leopard print pants, is performing on stage with her arms raised.
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair in a striped shirt and black shorts dancing on stage with a man playing a keyboard in the background surrounded by trees.