Sydney Fringe Festival has unveiled its jam-packed 2026 program, with a diverse lineup of events set to take over the city from August to October.
New South Wales’ largest independent arts festival returns this August, bringing more than a month of theatre, comedy, music, dance, cabaret, circus, immersive experiences and family-friendly fun to Sydney.
Following the success of last year’s record-breaking edition, which posted the highest ticket sales and largest number of participating artists in the festival’s 15-year history, the Fringe will once again light up venues across the city, with more than 350 events and 2000 artists participating.
We’ve combed through this year’s program and picked out the 10 biggest and best events to add to your Fringe itinerary. From singalong piano bars, huge Malaysian feasts and absurd comedy to camp spectacles and intimate theatre shows, 2026 will see the return of the weird, wacky and wonderful to Sydney’s arts scene.
Our top 10 Sydney Fringe Festival picks
Fringe Ignite!
Kicking off the Sydney Fringe Festival is Fringe Ignite!, a free street party taking place on Saturday, August 29. The all-ages celebration will transform Darlinghurst’s bustling Stanley Street into a celebration of live music and performance, featuring roving entertainment, dance, circus, comedy and live music.
Stanley Street regularly closes to traffic for the government-run Sydney Streets, with the popular event often reaching capacity early in the day. So, there’s little doubt the Fringe Festival’s takeover of the iconic Darlo street will draw just as big a crowd, with visitors looking to make the most of the completely free community party.
Where: Stanley Street, Darlinghurst.
When: August 29.
Price: Free.
Sydney Fringe Comedy
The month-long Sydney Fringe Comedy program will return to Marrickville’s Factory Theatre with an exciting lineup of emerging and established comedians.
The show Cloche: Improv A La Carte has been described as “a mix between The White Lotus, Fawlty Towers, and every scene you’ve ever seen someone make at a restaurant”, as a group of improvisers invite you to their chaotic restaurant, Cloche.
Three hilarious Sydney comedians, Steph Broadbridge, Bec Melrose and Fiona Cox, will bring Bin Night to the theatre, where the audience will get to decide which one of their jokes is a binner, and which is a winner.
There are also plenty of solo skits and shows headed to this year’s Fringe, including Avinaash Thanabalan’s Inside an Immigrant’s Suitcase and Georgie Humphries’ ROGUE, where the North Queensland comedian dives into life’s absurdities, finding comedy, chaos and heart in the most unexpected people and places.
Where: Factory Theatre, Marrickville.
When: September 3- October 3.
Price: Tickets vary for each show but start from $19.
Copa on The Rocks
In the heart of Sydney’s most iconic precinct, Copa on The Rocks will throw open its doors, offering visitors the chance to enjoy a glamorous tropical cabaret lounge, hosted by the irrepressible Andrew Bukenya. First and foremost, the space is a singalong piano bar, so get ready to shout out a request, pull up a chair and sip a glass of wine as you belt out your favourite tunes.
Where: 6-8 Atherden St, Ground Floor, The Rocks.
When: September 2-October 11.
Price: Tickets from $39-$45.
Forget Me, Please at Old Fitz Theatre
This intimate contemporary story of love, memory and trauma is high on our radar, particularly because it stars Kala Gare, who just blew critics’ socks off with her performance in the Australian musical My Brilliant Career. Forget Me, Please is a new work by Sophie Davis and follows Andi and Sasha, who meet unexpectedly in an emergency department while both recovering from brain injury.
Told through “fragmented, non-linear scenes”, this new play is expected to be an emotional punch in the gut, but is also a must-see for theatre fans and anyone looking to see bold, authentic Australian writing brought to life on stage.
Where: Old Fitz Theatre, Woolloomooloo.
When: September 1-12.
Price: Tickets from $25.
The Emerging Artist Share House
Every year, the Emerging Artist Share House offers some of the best Sydney Fringe Festival performances at the Erskineville Town Hall. I’ll never forget laughing until my stomach hurt at last year’s award-winning absurd comedy show, Nun Sl*t. The best part of these artists is that they’re not afraid to push boundaries and experiment, as shown through this year’s lineup.
We’re excited to see Puss Puss, an offbeat clown comedy following local scaredy-cat PUSS PUSS’ is on an ‘s unhinged quest to “not be a pussy”. There’s also a whimsical ukulele comedy by Catherine Crowley, titled Tripping Up That Hill, inspired by the theatrical spirit of Kate Bush. Multiple award-winning comedian Matt Harvey will also take to the stage in his show Jokes About The Time I Got Detained In America And Other Stories.
Where: Erskineville Town Hall.
When: September 1-26.
Price: Tickets vary by show but start at $20.
Yalgali
This year, Yalgali, Sydney Fringe Festival’s First Nations Hub, is evolving, with Indigenous artists taking their work beyond the hub and onto some of Sydney’s most iconic stages across the festival program.
The Yalgali X Eora Open Mic Night will see local Mob sharing their new work, from music and dance to theatre, storytelling and comedy; there are no limits on what they can bring to the stage. Other highlights of the Yalgali program include Wanna Be A Star by comedian Mema, exploring manifestation, ambition and rejection and the Red, Yellow, Blaklisted comedy showcase at Improv Theatre, led by four of Canberra’s sharpest and funniest First Nations comedians.
Where: Eora Tafe, Darlington.
When: September 8.
Price: $15 full-price tickets, $10 mob tickets.
Decudunce at Qtopia Sydney
Award-winning New Zealand comedian and Canada’s Drag Race writer Marshall Lorenzo’s brings Decadunce to Sydney Fringe Festival, described as a “wildly inventive sketch comedy extravaganza that revels in camp spectacle, absurdity and unapologetic queer joy”. The brand-new show, all about fraud, excess and stupidity, is the third chapter in the nine-time NZ Fringe Award-nominated ‘Baby Gorgeous’ sketch comedy trilogy, which has been called “devastatingly funny” by critics.
Where: Qtopia Sydney, Darlinghurst.
When: September 15-19.
Price: Tickets from $27.50.
FEAST by Jennifer Wong
Come hungry, because FEAST is serving up much more than your average Fringe show. Hosted by comedian Jennifer Wong, this Sydney Fringe favourite pairs hilarious food stories from six of Australia’s funniest writers with a homestyle Malaysian feast by MasterChef Australia’s Sarah Tiong.
Tuck into chicken rendang, Nyonya-style pineapple prawn curry and plenty of sambal before finishing with pandan and coconut tiramisu, all while being entertained by a stellar lineup of storytellers. Dinner and a show? Say less.
Where: Hurstville Entertainment Centre.
When: September 10.
Price: Tickets from $79.
Distillation
In partnership with Museums of History NSW and Sydney Fringe, Luke Casserly brings Distillation to the beautiful Vaucluse House. Luke Casserly recently collaborated with renowned perfumer Joan Woods to create a unique essence of the Midlands bog (the place where he grew up) as the starting point for an olfactory encounter exploring our relationship to place.
Created in direct response to the closure of Ireland’s peat harvesting industry, Distillation explores the future of our fractured landscapes and will make its Australian premiere at this year’s Fringe Festival.
Where: Vaucluse House.
When: September 22-25.
Price: $35.20.
Roaming Fringe On The Rocks
Expect the unexpected in The Rocks this Sydney Fringe Festival. Roving performers will take over the Rocks Market every weekend, bringing aerial spectacle, larger-than-life characters, acrobatics, and interactive circus with acts that promise to stop you in your tracks.
Where: The Rocks Square, The Rocks.
When: September 5-26.
Price: Free.
