Sydney Fringe Festival has is back with a jam-packed 2026 program. We’ve rounded up all the weirdest, wackiest (and very Fringe shows) that should be on your radar this week.
New South Wales’ largest independent arts festival is back, 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 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 Sydney Fringe Festival picks
1984! The Musical!
We interviewed Henry Barnes, who plays Mr Parsons in the upcoming 1984! The Musical! and he told us to expect “a bit of raunchy fun” with “still a couple of things to think about”. The show features all-original numbers, with killer choreography brought to life by choreographers Ellie Zheng and Isla Mowbray.
This show should be high on your radar, as this musical adaptation of Orwell’s dystopian novel was co-written by Diana Reid, a bestselling Australian author who recently penned a film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, due for release this year and starring A-list actor Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Where: Flight Path Theatre, Marrickville.
When: September 10-19.
Price: $29.
Saltwater Girls
Saltwater Girls was the first show we saw at the 2026 Sydney Fringe Festival, and what a way to kick things off. Making its world premiere at the Fringe, writer and performer Lana Filies had us laughing, but she also gave us plenty of vulnerable moments as she shared her navigation of queer desire against the backdrop of Catholic school.
My favourite line? “She got bullied for liking Kate Bush… they called her bush.” Join her as she tries to work out whether her teacher is queer (Sappho, short hair, short fingernails were a giveaway) and enjoy her one-woman performance and beautiful writing, which is further lifted by her natural wit, comedic timing and charisma.
Where: The Boom Boom Room, Erskineville Town Hall.
When: September 8-12.
Price: $28.
Ash Funny Poet
We were sold by this description of Ash’s show: “It’s Dr Seuss meets Bush Poetry.” His one many show is a threading of his best poems, with the order of delivery chosen by the audience. He’ll cover major themes (techonology, dating and life purpose) as he rhymes his way through the 45 minute show. He does warn us though, “If heart-felt prose is what you’re looking for, keep looking.”
Where: Marrickville Town Hall, Festival Hub, The Chambers.
When: September 8-12.
Price: $27.
No Pho No Faan
No Pho No Faan is selling out very quickly, so make sure to get a ticket to the Friday or Saturday night shows before they’re no longer available. The heartwarming show follows two women, with two very different journeys to Australia, who bond over a shared love of food.
Cuc Nguyen fled war-torn Vietnam as a refugee and survived a sinking boat, while Tiang Lim arrived from Malaysia as a trainee nurse. Decades later, the pair reunite over pho and faan to reflect on their lives in Australia. The description states, “Despite their commitment to mastering English, coming to grips with the Australian idiom has been challenging, confusing and often comical. Their experiences – sad, happy and hilarious – are the basis of this play.”
Where: The Office, Erskineville Town Hall.
When: September 9-12.
Price: $27.
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 Racist Immigrants
Unlike many of the shows that have short, four-night runs at the Sydney Fringe Festival, The Racist Immigrants will be at three different venues from September 9 until September 28. The concept, described as “Just your immigrants next door attempting to assimilate” brings together spoken word and story telling, comedy and plenty of audience interaction. Expect discussions around food, culture, taxius, boats, bat soup. For the racist immigrants, “Nothing is off limit”.
Where: Erskineville Town Hall, The Office; Newtown Hotel and Barrel Below, Multicultural Comedy Hub (Clarence Street).
When: September 2-28.
Price: $27.
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.
Fool’s Paradise at the Entertainment Quarter
Entertainment Quarter will host a brand-new Sydney Fringe Festival destination this year at two venues: the Bunker and the Virago. Consisting of seven weeks of acrobatics, comedy, cabaret and music, the shows will run from August 26 to October 11.
Highlights include the gravity-defying Return of the GODZ, circus spectacular Radio Variety, family favourite All-Star Circus and the immersive Flying Bubble Show. For something a little more raucous, The Big Top Drag Brunch brings together some of Sydney’s favourite queens for an afternoon of outrageous comedy and bottomless laughs.
Where: Fool’s Paradise, The Entertainment Quarter, 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park NSW 2021.
When: August 26-October 11.
Price: Price varies for each show, starting at $29.
