Kevin Hart To Lead New Stand-Up Comedy Competition in 2026

Whether you love watching stand-up until your sides hurt or have the guts to step onstage yourself, Netflix has something big in the works. The streamer just announced a brand-new comedy competition series, set to premiere in 2026, with global superstar Kevin Hart at the helm as executive producer.

In the yet-to-be-titled eight-episode series, Hart will join forces with a lineup of comedy heavyweights — names to be revealed later — to guide contestants through an unfiltered, uncensored, and unapologetic journey into the world of stand-up. The show promises to pull back the curtain on the gritty, hilarious, and often unpredictable road to making it as a comedian.

Contestants from across the U.S. will face rigorous challenges designed to mirror a comedian’s real-life hustle, from nerve-wracking open mics and disastrous bombed sets to grueling rewrites and the pressure of big-stage performances. Every test will draw inspiration from the mentors’ own career trajectories, offering viewers a rare and raw glimpse into comedy’s toughest moments and brightest spotlights.

Kevin Hart will be joined behind the scenes by executive producers Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Nan Strait, and Dan Volpe of Alfred Street Industries, as well as Luke Kelly-Clyne and Meghan Hoffman from Hartbeat. Alfred Street, founded in 2019 by Emmy-winning producers Cutforth and Lipsitz, is known for hit series like Next Gen Chef, Homicide: Los Angeles, Is It Cake?, and the Emmy-winning Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo.

Hartbeat — the global entertainment company founded by Hart — has built its reputation on content at the intersection of comedy and culture. From the global showcase Comedy in Color to Hulu’s LOL Live, BET’s revival of Comic View, and original stand-up specials for London Hughes, Affion Crockett, and the late David A. Arnold, Hartbeat has consistently spotlighted diverse comedic voices. The company’s Women Write Now program, which champions the next generation of Black women in comedy, has already made an impact both onstage and behind the camera.

With Hart’s comedic legacy and Netflix’s global platform, this upcoming series is poised to be a raw, laugh-out-loud ride — and a potential career-making moment for some of comedy’s next big names.