Ali Siddiq continues to redefine what independent success looks like in stand-up comedy. The Houston-based comedian and master storyteller has announced his first-ever arena performance as part of his upcoming ‘Custom Fit’ Tour, a 26-market national run scheduled for spring 2026.
The milestone show will take place in Baltimore this May at Chesapeake Arena, marking a major leap for a comic who has built his career almost entirely outside traditional industry systems. The tour will run from April through June 2026, following his already-packed 2025 touring schedule.
Tickets for the Baltimore arena date and the broader tour go on sale:
- Artist presale: now on sale
- Local presales: Thursday, January 22 at 10:00 a.m. local time
- General public onsale: Friday, January 23 at 10:00 a.m. local time
Over the last two years, Siddiq has quietly put together one of the most prolific and impactful release schedules in comedy. Between 2024 and early 2026, he has released multiple full-length stand-up hours directly on YouTube—many of which rival or outperform platform-backed specials in viewership.
His recent releases include:
- ‘Mondays’ (December 2025), which pulled in 2.9 million views in just three weeks
- ‘Rugged’ (2025), with over 6.3 million views
- ‘My Two Sons’ (2025), focused on fatherhood, now exceeding 10.5 million views
‘My Two Sons’ recently earned an NAACP Image Award nomination, making it—according to sources—the only independently produced and self-released YouTube stand-up special to ever receive a major awards nomination.
Earlier, Siddiq’s four-part ‘The Domino Effect’ series (released between 2022–2024) became a viral phenomenon, amassing more than 40 million combined views, with the first installment alone surpassing 18 million.
Siddiq is currently on his 2025 ‘In the Shadows’ Tour, which has taken him through major markets including Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. He continues to tape new material while on the road, with additional special recordings scheduled for Tysons, Virginia, in February 2026.
Beyond his own work, Siddiq has expanded his impact by executive producing and distributing other comedians’ specials through his YouTube channel. Recent releases include:
- Marcus D. Wiley: ‘Marriage Is Major Surgery’ (over 4.6M views)
- Ryan Davis: ‘Under-Rated’ (over 2M views)
More projects are already in the pipeline, including additional specials from Malik S. and ‘The Jive Turkeys,’ an ensemble showcase spotlighting Houston comics slated for 2026.
According to Nielsen data reviewed by industry sources, ‘My Two Sons’ ranked as the third most-viewed comedy special on any platform in the past year, trailing only Nate Bargatze and Jeff Dunham. Siddiq also ranked as the third most impactful comedian of 2025 in total streaming viewership.
With seven specials currently listed among the top 50 biggest YouTube comedy specials of all time, Siddiq’s rise underscores a shifting comedy landscape—one where ownership, consistency, and direct audience connection can outperform traditional gatekeepers.
Siddiq is represented by Irreverent Character Management and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. Full tour dates for the 2026 ‘Custom Fit’ Tour are expected to be announced soon
