Philly’s first, best, and only pun-off.
A winning routine by Emma Taylor Miller at IAPIP #7
Events in YOUR area!
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Stay tuned for updates
How does this thing work?
We host two kinds of events!
Our flagship pun-off, It’s Always Punny in Philadelphia, held at Helium Comedy Club, features two rounds. In PUNDITS, contestants sign up in advance to deliver a 3-ish minute standup routine full of puns about a topic each of them picks. In PUNDEMONIUM, contestants pull a topic out of a hat and take turns coming up with wordplay off the top of their head. Draw a blank or repeat? You’re out. Last punner standing wins. The champion of each round wins honor, glory, and prize. Sign up for PUNDITS in our site menu!
We also host WAR of the WORDS, a dad joke, wordplay, and pun-based quizzo throwdown, usually at Tattooed Mom. Teams compete in rounds including “Complete the Dad Joke,” “Headlines,” and more. No outside knowledge required, only some creativity and patience for absolutely outrageous groaners.
About Us
It’s Always Punny was founded by Aaron Schwartzbaum in 2022. A long-time competitor on the national wordplay circuit (we’re not alone…) with multiple tournament wins in New York, DC, and Seattle, he’s now focused on building the punning scene here in Philly.
In 2025, he was joined by Mylin Batipps, a local competitor and PR/marketing wizard who now handles social media and continues to deliver groans on stage.
In PUNDEMONIUM, contestants go head to head, off the top of their head
As Seen In…
ABC Localish: Free Puns: Handing out plenty of laughs and groans
Axios: No Joke: Philly will crown a pun champion this weekend
FOX 29: 'It's Always Punny in Philadelphia': Underground wordplay competition
Billy Penn: ‘It’s Always Punny in Philadelphia’ looks for the city’s best freestyle dad jokes
Philadelphia Voice: Pun competition 'It's Always Punny in Philadelphia' to take place at Helium Comedy Club this month
Philadelphia Inquirer: 10 puns that prove It’s Always Punny in Philadelphia is puns of fun
Action News: 'It's Always Punny in Philadelphia' delivers laughs, one-liners and plenty of groans