Feeling a little punny? We have a verbal supplement.

The 48th Annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships

was held on

Saturday, May 10, 2025, 10 am - 6 pm

Be square, be there in Brush Square Park, right behind the O. Henry Museum in downtown Austin!

Missed it? See the video on Watch 2025

The Pun-Off is a FREE public event that takes place outdoors, weather permitting. No ticket or RSVP is required!

The Grand Daddy of all pun competitions is in Austin, Texas, naturally. Is it the best?
Yes. Is it the oldest? Definitely. Is it the funniest? Easily.

There are a lot of great pun competitions all over the US. Probably all over the world. But the O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships has been around for 48 jears!
It’s hard to imagine one more refined. For Texans, anyway.

2025 Pun-Off Champions! [photo by Julia Balinsky]

Punniest of Show Winners 2025

1st Place (Gary Hallock Memorial Award ): Erika Ettin

2nd Place: Emma Miller

3rd Place: Toby Miceli-Gwiazdowski

PunSlingers Winners 2025

1st Place: Blake Bauserman

2nd Place: Arun Debray

3rd Place (tie): Jarred Abel and Toby Miceli-Gwiazdowski

MMMVP Award (McClughan Memorial Most Viable Punster)

Kyle Goulston

2026 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

49th Annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships

May 9, 2026 - 10am - 6pm

Live Music begins at 10:00am!

Punniest of Show Competition

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026, approx. 11:30am-1:30pm
Place: Brush Square Park (Outdoors, weather permitting. Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, etc.!)
32 contestants perform prepared 90 second pun routines for judges.

PunSlingers Competition

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026, approx. 2:00pm-5:30pm
Place: Brush Square Park (Outdoors, weather permitting. Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, etc.!)
32 Contestants make spontaneous puns on a topic in five seconds against an opponent. Contestants advance through rounds until one PunSlinger wins it all!

And there's more!

Live Music starting at 10:00 am.
Silent Auction - bid on unique, valuable items from 10:00am-4:00pm.

Punsters United Nearly Yearly (P.U.N.Y.) Social

Date: Friday, May 8, 2025, 6 - 9 pm
Place: Brush Square Courtyard (beside O. Henry Museum)
Contestant games & pun practice rounds. Punster of the Year Award.