Matt Kinney earned the Judge's Pick Award at the 2025 San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival, rising above nearly 80 comedians in a series of competitive showcases to win over the festival's judging panel. Known for his sharp joke writing, dark humor, and unique perspective, Matt has continued to gain momentum since his festival victory, with stand-up clips reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers online and helping establish him as a rising comedy voice on TikTok. In 2026, Matt returns to the San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival as a headliner, performing Thursday, August 27 at 9 p.m. at Astronaut City.

Alex Durazzo won the Audience Award at the 2025 San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival, earning the support of both comedy fans and fellow performers. Since then, he has continued to build momentum throughout Southern California, producing sold-out pop-up comedy shows and hosting the weekly Makeshift Mic at Astronaut City. In 2026, Alex returns to the San Gabriel Valley Comedy Festival not as a contestant, but as a headliner, performing Tuesday, August 25 at 9 p.m.