Sydney Fringe Festival will expand to North Sydney, as well as the inner west, central, eastern and Greater Sydney.
An estimated 490 events will take place at more than 80 venues across the city, reviving some disused favourites.
The 2025 program includes cabaret and musical theatre, circus, comedy, dance, film, workshops and kids’ events.

Sydney Fringe Festival may be a way off yet, but we’ve got our first glimpse at this year’s program. Returning for its 16th year, the festival will expand north of the bridge for the first time and Western Sydney is even more present across the program.

With an estimated 490 events taking place at more than 80 venues citywide, this year’s Fringe is set to be the biggest yet, reviving forgotten spaces, spotlighting emerging talent and turning the entire city into a stage. From pop-ups in laneways to immersive theatre, circus, cabaret and comedy, here’s what to expect across Sydney’s many corners.

Opening night

For one-night-only, The Rocks will be taken over for the festival Opening Night. Roving performances will bring the laneways to life, and visitors will be granted a sneak peek of some of the festival highlights. Pop-ups and surprises around every corner await in one of Sydney’s most vibrant central locations.

Theatre for Opening Night includes Doomers by Matthew Gasda (Two80 Cabaret in Surry Hills), the American playwright known for his squirm-inducing living room plays, and Partying with Manson, a 60-minute, one-woman theatrical tour-de-force delving into the twisted mind and world of Susan Atkins, a young hippie who fell under the spell of Charles Manson and his notorious “Family” (Flight Path Theatre in Marrickville).

There’s comedy too: the Improv Comedy Night will see quick-witted talents take to the stage for a high-stakes competition of creativity and laughs, while the Sydney Stand Up Comedy Championship invites the audience to crown the city’s best comedians in Sydney’s longest-running stand-up battle. Both take place at Waywards at the Bank in Newtown.

Sydney Fringe Festival kids program — Lah-Lah meets Sydney Youth Orchestra at this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival. (Image supplied).

Central Precinct

From Chippendale to The Rocks, the Central Precinct for Sydney Fringe Festival darts through some of our best venues, including Turner Hall and Darling Quarter Theatre. A lot of the bigger, more expensive shows will take place across this precinct, turning the CBD into a devlishly dark playground that manages to find moments of brightness throughout.

‘When Night Comes In’ (from August 22)
A sultry, immersive experience spread across multiple rooms and levels at Union Bond Store in The Rocks. Blending theatre with cocktails, it’s described as a hedonistic night out.
‘Grandpa Poseidon‘ (from September 6)
A family-friendly theatrical performance that makes its Sydney premiere during the Fringe Festival, fashioned as a 65-minute show about feeling lost and finding your way again, set in a seaside town with a child and a retired god as the stars.
‘Lah-Lah Meets Sydney Youth Orchestra‘ (September 27)
Designed for children aged two to seven years, this show tracks Lah-Lah and her Big Live Band as they join forces with the Sydney Youth Orchestra for a musical extravaganza that’ll introduce the little ones to the world of music and instruments.
‘For You to Know and Me to Find Out‘ (September 24–27) An award-winning dance-theatre solo work from Liv Tennet making its Australian debut at Sydney Dance Company in Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Described as a masterclass in expressive movement and humour, it explores maintaining artistic identity while navigating motherhood. ‘
‘Dead Mum‘ (September 18–21) A darkly funny cabaret about grief and survival playing at Chippen St Theatre. Writer and performer Jack Francis West draws on his own experiences of losing his mother at 19, using disarming comedy to create space for conversations about grief. Recommended for fans of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer.

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Inner West Precinct

With the lion’s share of Sydney’s most unique venues, the Inner West Precinct should once again host plenty of Sydney Fringe Festival’s most popular shows. Maybe you want to dive into an immersive, multi-floored world where cocktails and whimsy build a memorable experience. Or perhaps you’re keen on a big, dynamic comedy sets from some of the world’s best funnypeople. There’s plenty of range in the Inner West this year. Here are some of our top picks.

‘Best of International Comedy’ (September 2–28)
A showcase of the festival’s top comedians from around the world, hosted at Newtown Hotel six nights a week. These one-hour shows promise big laughs and feature the best comedy acts of the festival.
‘Dorothy in Oz‘ (September 3–28)
An immersive cocktail adventure at Marrickville Town Hall that transports audiences into L. Frank Baum’s magical world of Oz. Participants become part of the action while crafting their own cocktails and exploring the whimsical land and its characters
‘Takatāpui’ (September 3–13)
An electrifying storytelling performance by Daley Rangi, a Māori shapeshifter with a microphone and killer heels, at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists in Erskineville. The show explores the complexities of identity, queer joy, violence, love and rage.
‘NYAA‘ (August 7–September 13)
An exhibition at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative in Leichhardt showcases works by 11 First Nations emerging artists connected to Bundjalung Country, highlighting Indigenous talents throughout the festival period.
‘Australia’s Least Wanted‘ (August 30, September 3 & 5)
A three-performance show at two different Erskineville venues featuring Dharug man Adam Nobilia sharing the harrowing story of Kamilaroi man Jacky Boi, inspired by his experience as a prison teacher.

Triptych Sydney Fringe Festival — Triptych will play at the Off Broadway Hub at Eternity Theatre in Darlinghurst. (Image: Lewis Major).

Eastern Sydney Precinct

Perhaps one of the biggest announcements so far was that the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst will reopen after a year-long closure. The iconic performing arts space will host the Off-Broadway Hub, where a celebratory program of all things theatrical, from original musicals to genre-bending variety shows and contemporary dance, will play each night until September 27. Combined with some of the festival’s biggest venues, the Eastern Sydney Precinct is the most dynamic this year. Here is just some of what’s going on.

‘The Ghana Road Show‘ (September 2–6)
A fusion of circus, dance, music and visual arts celebrating West African culture, opening the festival proceedings.
‘Triptych‘ (September 2–6)
A unique collaborative dance performance created by rising Australian dance star Lewis Major and his mentor, legendary Russell Maliphant OBE.
‘Kate Bush Unmoored‘ (September 9-13)
A cabaret and musical theatre performance at Eternity Playhouse, celebrating the iconic artist’s work.
‘Fairies Anonymous‘ (September 18-27)
A cabaret and musical theatre show at Eternity Playhouse, blending fantasy themes with performance.
‘Karate Man‘ and ‘Karate Man For Kids‘ (September 23-26)
These Interactive theatre shows at Eternity Playhouse won the Best Interactive Award at Adelaide Fringe, with versions for both adults and children.
‘Limitless’ Comedy Gala (September 16)
A comedy showcase at Bondi Pavilion hosted by Sydney Comedy Festival regular Imaan Hadchiti.
‘Criptonite’ (September 17-18)
A variety show at Bondi Pavilion featuring performances from disabled artists across comedy, pole dancing, live music and other disciplines.
‘The Six-Sided Stage‘ (September 19-20)
A theatre show performing at Bondi Pavilion with an innovative staging concept.
‘Dean, Don’t Dance’ (September 20)
A theatre performance at Bondi Pavilion exploring themes around dance and self-expression.
‘Trumpurlaine the Great‘ (September 19-20)
A satirical theatre piece at Bondi Pavilion, reimagining the Renaissance tragedy Tamburlaine the Great with a recognisable orange-tinged contemporary character.

Greater Sydney Precincts

Looking to go further afield? Parramatta will host Lit!, a bold new addition to the lineup and Western Sydney’s first community-led literary festival, bringing a varied celebration of writing, ideas and works in development to the spotlight. Indigenous creators will be celebrated, Parramatta’s colonial heritage acknowledged, and narratives from a variety of storytelling traditions will be shared. And to further the fun and whimsy, the Greater Sydney Precinct will be spread across four micro-precincts this year, including in Parramatta, Manly and Lane Cove. Here’s just some of the hottest tickets to buy.

‘Will She?‘ (September 11–14)
An intimate one-woman show at PYT Fairfield following a music-obsessed twenty-something on the cusp of something big, exploring themes of ambition and self-discovery.
‘That’s Me In the Corner‘ (September 4–7)
A performance at PYT Fairfield featuring sing-alongs and an exploration of life as an artist, offering an intimate look at the creative journey.
‘FEAST! Morning Tea Edition‘ (September 7)
A pun-filled, jam-packed morning chat show at Hurstville Entertainment Centre hosted by comedian Jennifer Wong, complete with cake and featuring comedian Tommy Dean, master pastry chef Christopher Thé, and a third soon-to-be-revealed guest.
‘And What Will People Say?’ (September 17-21)
Indian dance, original music and spoken word are blended in this 60-minute show about love, fear, shame and resilience. With immersive staging, the show explores the topic of domestic violence through a multifaceted lens, inviting audiences to not just listen, but act.
‘The Leftovers’ (September 18)
Performers Julian Colman and Linda Atkins use spoken word and engaging storytelling to tell a story about grief, mental breakdowns and new beginnings. After fleeing to Byron Bay to start a garden, Julie explores whether or not grief can ever be left behind.
‘Helios‘ (September 25–28)
An international award-winning theatrical show transferring to Pottery Lane Performance Space in Lane Cove after playing at Sideshow in The Rocks. A modern retelling of an Ancient Greek myth set in rural England, marking the festival’s first venture north of the bridge with just four final performances.
‘Dear Stranger‘ (September 5–7)
An interactive experience at The Canopy in Lane Cove, where audience participants write letters to strangers and receive one in return, transforming letter writing into a powerful tool for human connection and offering a rare opportunity to slow down.
‘At Your Request‘ (September 12)
A special interactive music night at Lane Cove Civic Centre featuring iconic jazz pianist and local Judy Bailey with her band. Guests can request songs upon arrival, and the talented trio may perform them during the evening (from $16).
‘A Campfire Story‘ (September 5–27)
A theatrical experience at Manly Dam for ages 15+ featuring spooky stories told around a campfire with marshmallows.

How to book shows for Sydney Fringe Festival

With Sydney Fringe Festival now underway, the best way for you to keep track with everything going on is via the festival’s official website. All the hundreds of shows that pack into the program this year are listed here, and you can simple book tickets via the listing. If you head over to any of the hubs in person, you’ll find to-the-minute reviews being published, highlighting which shows are generating the most hype in real time.

How to get Sydney Fringe Festival this year

With more venues than ever before, Sydney Fringe Festival touches corners of Sydney it never used to. And this is a great thing, especially now that all the precincts have grown.

To get to Central Precinct: Either get off a Central Station and start at the Chippendale end, or you can catch a train to Circular Quay station for anything in The Rocks or Walsh Bay.

To get to Greater Sydney Precincts: Keep in mind there are four satellite precincts that make up the Greater Sydney Precincts this year. To get out to Parramatta, your best option is to catch a train to Parramatta Station. Lane Cove is trickier and your best option is to drive of catch the 251 from Wynyard Station. Manly is best reached via the Manly Ferry, while you can catch a train to Hurstville.

To get to Eastern Precinct: The Eastern Precinct is spread mostly towards the Elizabeth Bay/Potts Point side of Darlinghurst this year. Your best mode of transportation is by walking from Kings Cross Station as it’s close to most of the venues.

To get to Inner West Precinct: Your main Inner West Precinct spaces will be scattered around Newtown and Marickville this year, and both have very accessible train stations.