Culture shapes human cognition and behavior, profoundly influencing humor production. The mechanisms still require investigation. The present research examines the impact of cultural tightness on humor production and tests the mediating role of creative thinking. Specifically, Study 1 compared participants from five tight and five loose provinces in China and found that individuals from tight regions were less proficient in humor production than those from loose regions. Studies 2 and 3 experimentally primed perceived cultural tightness and further demonstrated its effect on humor production in everyday contexts. Studies 4 and 5 provided causal evidence that cultural tightness constrains creative thinking, which in turn reduces humor production. These findings provide compelling evidence that cultural tightness impacts humor production through creative thinking. They further offer the broader implications for education, organizational management, and innovation, highlighting how cultural norms shape both creative processes and humor production.