Joel Byars, MomoCon 2026 & Atlanta Jazz Fest | The ATL Arts Collective

✦ Joel Byars ✦ Momocon ✦ Atlanta Jazz Festival ✦ Derrick Stroup ✦ Art News ✦ Best Bets ✦

 

Joel Byars (photo by Joel Byars Connext Media)

✦This Week’s Featured Guest Co-host: Comedian Joel Byars

Comedian and podcaster, Joel Byars, has been voted Atlanta’s Best Clean Comedian. He’s also the host of the award-winning Hot Breath! Podcast, where he’s interviewed over 400 comedians, about their craft. Joel believes comedy is a way to bring people together, and he’s partnered with organizations like the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society to spread joy and laughter to those who need it most.

(courtesy of MomoCon)

✦MomoCon 2026: Anime, Gaming, and Animation in Downtown Atlanta

Momocon 2026 kicks off tomorrow, bringing together fans of anime, gaming, comics, and animation. The event turns downtown Atlanta into something almost cinematic with the unmistakable energy of people finding joy in the things they love most. Having grown steadily for over 2 decades, the convention attracted almost 60 thousand attendees last year. Arts Reporter Brittany Makins has more.

Atlanta Jazz Festival (photo by Terence Rushin)

✦ 49th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park

Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta belongs to Jazz. From May 23 through May 25, Piedmont Park will be the home of the 49th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival. At the center of it all is Adriane Jefferson, the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. She just celebrated her one-year anniversary in the role, and it’s clear she’s set on not just keeping the lights on, but elevating the entire house. Her first fully curated Jazz Fest lineup includes acts like the Roots and PJ Morton and aims to draw music lovers from across the region to experience the latest and greatest in jazz culture. 

Derrick Stroup (Photo by Todd Owyoung NBC)

✦Atlanta Comedy Spotlight: Derrick Stroup Live at Center Stage Atlanta

Fresh off his debut Netflix special titled Nostalgic, comedian Derrick Stroup is quickly becoming a household name on both his own tours and touring sold-out arenas with Nate Bargatze. Born in Alabama, he has southern roots and relatable humor, making him a must-see comedian coming to Atlanta this month. Just one year ago, the comedian was performing in the side room of an Atlanta comedy club, and now he is headlining two shows at Center Stage on May 27th and 28th. The 28th is already sold out, so save your seats for the 27th on Derrick’s website before they’re gone. When I recently talked with Stroup, we began by discussing the last time we’d seen each other. 

CTR Culture Studios

✦Local Art News Briefs & Weekly Best Bets

ArtsATL senior editor Isadora Pennington keeps her ear to the ground and each month brings us her Arts News Brief. Today, her stories include the new CTR Culture Studios and GFB3 designing the art for this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival.

✦ ArtsATL’s executive editor Shane Harrison stops by with his picks for this week's Best Bets. This week, his mix includes the return of Hot Jambalaya, The American Astronaut for Plazadrome, and Shakespeare Out of a Hat.

 

Special thanks to today’s sponsors:

The Atlanta Opera

Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University

 

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Our theme music is K Michelle Dubois' Hit the Deck from her album Astral Heart, courtesy of Wicked Superb Records. 

The ATL Arts Collective is part of the Wordplay Collective podcast family. Check out our sister show, In Pieces with R Land, for conversations with artist R. Land. 

Thank you for listening!

  

00:00:00 Welcome to The ATL Arts Collective

00:01:15 Atlanta Comedian Joel Byars

00:02:10 Episode Preview: Guests & Segments

00:03:23 MomoCon 2026 Event Preview

00:07:18 Getting to Know Joel Byars

00:16:50 49th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Lineup

00:27:30 Derrick Stroup Live at Center Stage Atlanta

00:41:18 Atlanta Arts News Brief & Weekly Best Bets

00:49:13 Closing