Nate Bargatze’s 2024 Be Funny Tour broke attendance records at 20 arenas across the country, selling 1.2 million tickets as Pollstar’s top-earning comedian in the world—and 12th among all tours including music.

Along with multiple stand-up specials (including the latest Netflix show Your Friend, Nate Bargatze), a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album and two Saturday Night Live hosting gigs—including this past October during the sketch institution’s 50th anniversary season—he even had his own Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas CBS holiday special with Lorne Michaels, which he calls “the most fun I’ve had of anything in my career.”

Before Bargatze’s literary debut Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From a Simpler Mind comes out May 6, he kicks off his 66-date Big Dumb Eyes world tour with residency dates this month at the Wynn’s Encore Theater.

How have you seen Vegas comedy audiences change over the years?

When I first started coming to Vegas, it really was a lot of corporate gigs. I’ve been at the Comedy Cellar, but I’ve since been at the Wynn for years, and this is really my first big go at it.

There’s a lot that’s changed now. I feel like when I go, people are there to see me. But there’s a big appetite for comedy right now. You can see how stand-up is in a really good spot, and a lot of people are interested in it. They have so much comedy there at the Wynn and also at the other hotels, and so it’s just a perfect mix. As someone that lives in Nashville, another hot city for comedy, I feel like Vegas is obviously very hot for comedy as well.

Any favorite places you always like to hit when you’re in town?

There’s Javier’s at Aria. I’m a big fan; love going there. I honestly stay at the Wynn quite a bit. The golf course there is nice, and I’m a big golfer, so I’ll play there. Usually you have a bunch of comedy buddies there. We just walk around and have fun, hang out at the pool, and then go do the show then gamble a little bit. Nothing really too crazy.

After Las Vegas your tour goes to Europe and the United Arab Emirates. No matter what is happening in the world, no matter how dividing our differences may seem, what is it about live stand-up comedy that helps people unite?

I think it’s because you’re in the moment; you’re in there together. It’s this idea that you’re getting caught up in the moment that’s so beautiful, and that’s what makes stand-up so great. And that’s what makes Vegas great. It is all live. So you bought tickets, you go to your seat, you’re going to watch your performance where you get swept up in the beauty of it all. It just makes it a special night.

NATE BARGATZE January 8, 10-11, 29, 31, & February 1, times vary, $115-$150. Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

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