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Upcoming Bert Kreischer dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Who Bert Kreischer is
Bert Kreischer is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster and actor, born November 3, 1972, in St. Petersburg, Florida, and raised in Tampa. A Bert Kreischer ticket buys a long-form storytelling show, usually in an arena, from a comic who often performs with his shirt off. He is known by the nickname "The Machine," from his most famous story.
His public profile started at Florida State University. In 1997, during his sixth year there, Rolling Stone ran a six-page feature, "Bert Kreischer: The Undergraduate," naming him the top partyer at the country's number-one party school. That article inspired the 2002 film National Lampoon's Van Wilder, which he has said he had nothing to do with. He started stand-up in Tallahassee, worked the door at the Boston Comedy Club in New York, and moved to Los Angeles in 1999. Television followed with Hurt Bert on FX and Bert the Conqueror and Trip Flip on Travel Channel.
Specials, podcasts and the screen
Kreischer's audience was built as much through podcasts and streaming as through clubs. The milestones, by date:
- Specials: Comfortably Dumb (Comedy Central, 2009) and The Machine (Showtime, 2016), then four Netflix hours: Secret Time (2018, filmed in Philadelphia), Hey Big Boy (2020, Cleveland), Razzle Dazzle (2023, Omaha's Orpheum Theater) and Lucky (2025, Tampa).
- Podcasts: Bertcast since 2012, plus 2 Bears, 1 Cave with his close friend Tom Segura, Open Tabs and the cooking show Something's Burning, produced through Berty Boy Productions, the company he launched with his wife, LeeAnn, in 2022.
- Film and series: The Machine (May 26, 2023), a feature adaptation of his signature story, and the Netflix series Free Bert, which premiered in January 2026 and was renewed for a second season.
"The Machine" story, about unwittingly helping the Russian mafia rob a train during a college trip to Russia, is the bit most first-time fans know. Do not expect it at every show; his tours are built on newer material.
What the live show is like
Expect long, high-energy stories rather than rapid one-liners. The material centers on his family, his wife and two daughters, partying, and his own physical misadventures. In the Razzle Dazzle special, he pulls his shirt off less than a minute into the set, and crowds treat that moment as part of the ritual. The content is for adults, with frequent profanity.
The Permission to Party tour, which played arenas such as Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, in October 2025, broke from his usual pattern. He told the Phoenix New Times that instead of touring the material from a just-released special, he spent a year and a half building a new, denser hour. He has also said he does little crowd work (improvised back-and-forth with audience members) in arenas, so sitting close does not mean you will be pulled into the show.
Tours and festivals, dated
- Hot Summer Nights Tour (2020): drive-in shows during the pandemic. The open-air experience inspired his festival.
- Arena era (2022): Pollstar listed him fourth among the year's top ten highest-grossing tours, according to his official biography.
- Fully Loaded Comedy Festival (2022 to 2024): an outdoor touring comedy festival modeled on music festivals. The 2023 edition opened June 14 at Forest Hills Stadium in New York and closed September 15 at The Gorge in Washington, with lineups that varied by city.
- Permission to Party World Tour (2025 onward): his current headline tour as listed on his official site.
- Fully Loaded at Sea (November 19 to 23, 2026): a Miami to Cozumel comedy cruise, sold separately through the festival's site.
For any dates currently on sale, see the event list on this page or his official tour page.
Where to sit for Bert Kreischer in an arena
Comedy is about faces and timing, so distance matters more than it does at a concert. In an arena, most of the room watches on the video screens; the goal is to see both the comic and a screen without strain.
- Floor seats near the stage: the only spot where you see his expressions without the screens. Arena comedy floors are usually set with chairs, not standing room, but rows are flat, so a tall row ahead can block you. Check whether your listing is reserved or general admission.
- Lower-level sections facing the stage: the best overall value. The raised angle clears the floor crowd, and you keep the stage and the main screens in one view.
- Lower-level sides close to the stage: near, but at a sharp angle. You may watch the screen more than the stage.
- Upper level: the sound carries well in a modern arena, and stories work on audio, but you will rely on the screens all night. Center sections beat the corners.
- Outdoor festival dates: at Fully Loaded stops, lawn or general-admission areas are the casual option. Arrive early for a clear view of a screen.
How demand for his tickets behaves
Kreischer sells on name recognition, podcast loyalty and a large online following, and the closest seats tend to go first. Patterns to expect:
- Presales favor engaged fans. Mailing-list and artist presales typically run before the general on-sale, and the best lower-level sections usually go then.
- Added dates follow fast sellouts. When a market sells quickly, a second show is often added, which can ease resale prices for the original date.
- Weekend shows draw the most interest. Friday and Saturday nights in large markets tend to be the most competitive.
- Festival and cruise tickets are separate products. A Fully Loaded ticket covers a multi-comic lineup, and talent can vary by city.
Every GoodSeats order includes guaranteed entry. Some comedy tours require phones to be locked in pouches during the show; check the event listing and venue policy before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Bert Kreischer called The Machine?
The nickname comes from his best-known story, in which he says he unwittingly helped the Russian mafia rob a train during a college trip to Russia. It became a 2016 Showtime special and a 2023 feature film.
Does Bert Kreischer perform shirtless?
Often, yes. He is known for taking his shirt off early in his set, and he does it in the opening minute of his Netflix special Razzle Dazzle.
Is a Bert Kreischer show appropriate for kids?
It is adult comedy with frequent profanity and sexual and drinking material. Check the venue's age policy on your event listing.
What is the Fully Loaded Comedy Festival?
It is an outdoor touring comedy festival Kreischer founded after his 2020 drive-in tour, with several comics on each bill. The 2023 run went from Forest Hills Stadium in June to The Gorge in September.
Where are the best seats for a Bert Kreischer arena show?
Lower-level sections facing the stage give the best balance of view and value. Close floor seats show his expressions directly, while upper-level seats depend on the video screens.