Edmonton Fringe Theatre

Edmonton Fringe Theatre Fringe Theatre is home of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. Fringe with us August 13 - 23, 2026! Fringe Theatre was born of a revolution.
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Largest, longest running Fringe in North America. Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2025 - Top 10 Cities: our Festival is their #1 reason why! We are a grass roots, DIY movement that cultivates ongoing collisions between community and art. We are Edmonton-grown and Edmonton’s own. We exist because theatre exists, and what exists here doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. At Fringe Theatre, we culti

vate art, celebrate community, put people first, think yes, take risks, thrive on change, honour our past, and push forward. Theatre is an exchange. A living, breathing story shared among people. At Fringe Theatre, we believe in the power of story. Storytelling strengthens communities and crosses divides. It is a starting point, a journey, a celebration. The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is the largest, longest running Fringe Theatre Festival in North America. As an event with international presence, we rank among the top 5 Fringe Festivals in the world alongside Edinburgh, Scotland and Adelaide, Australia. The magic of Fringe lives with the people who built this Festival from the ground up, and who continue to nurture it 40 years later. The vibrant success of the Edmonton Fringe Festival is thanks to the more than 40,000 artists who have bravely taken an artistic risk with us since we exploded onto the scene in 1982. It’s thanks to the more than 800,000 fringers who take creative chances with us every August. It’s thanks to the more than 1,000 volunteers who continue to help build one of North America’s most influential arts movements. But the Festival is just 11 days of activity. We are a home to art 365 days a year. We honour the expanding definition of community and aim to build meaningful relationships with anyone interested in collaboration and artistic growth. The Fringe Theatre Arts Barns is a space for brave conversations and great creative risk. This is where chance encounters grow into meaningful collaborations, where messy first inklings become brilliant realizations. This is a loiter-positive space where you are invited to eat, meet, and create year-round. Fringe Theatre is for you, because fringing is for everyone. We’re happy you’re here, fringer. You belong here.

Q***r existence is full of lessons – about who we are, how we endure, and the revolutionary impact of our love! If you’...
06/12/2026

Q***r existence is full of lessons – about who we are, how we endure, and the revolutionary impact of our love!

If you’ve been wanting to celebrate Pride Month in the nerdiest way possible, now’s your chance...

Join us for Nerd Nite: We’re Making It Gay!
💫 June 25th
🖖 Doors - 7PM
👯‍♂️Fringe Grounds Cafe
💖 Tickets - Offer What You Will

We’ll be getting schooled by three super smart humans exploring the incredible impact of Q***r Communities:

🙌 Zita Dube-Lockhart - Your Brain On Bonds: Community, Connection, and the Science of Resilience
🙌 Evan Westfal - The relationship between homosexuality and fecundity: Why Being Gay Helps a Species Survive and Reproduce
🙌 Allison Hadley – The Rainbow Connection – Exploring the intersections between q***r culture and nerd culture.

Come learn something new, celebrate Queen knowledge, and embrace your inner nerd.

Get tickets at www.tickets.fringetheatre.ca/?season=Q2Q2026

Nerd Nite: We’re Making It Gay! is part of Q2Q: A Q***r Barns Series, proudly presented by Fringe Theatre and the City of Edmonton.

alright who let these RATS in 🤨 River and Kid better be on rat patrol ALL NIGHT LONG 🚨let us know if you see them tryna ...
06/12/2026

alright who let these RATS in 🤨 River and Kid better be on rat patrol ALL NIGHT LONG 🚨

let us know if you see them tryna steal ur hot dog

The way to a Fringe Volunteer’s heart? Through their stomach, of course! Join our Kitchen Team and help keep the Festi...
06/10/2026

The way to a Fringe Volunteer’s heart? Through their stomach, of course!

Join our Kitchen Team and help keep the Festival fueled. From serving up hearty meals and tasty treats to delivering delight and hydration across the grounds with our Mobile Refreshment Team, you’ll be spreading care (and deliciousness) to Volunteers all Festival long.

“On the Kitchen Team, every Volunteer we welcome is happy — because we’re there to take care of them and give them a chance to rest. That’s honestly the most rewarding part. We’re helping people who spend their time helping so many others!” - Yao, Team Leader

Fringe Volunteers receives special benefits including:
1️⃣ Vouchers to redeem tickets to Festival, Holdover Series, and Fringe Theatre Season shows.
2️⃣ Discounts with Fringe Grounds Cafe, and select Vendors.
3️⃣ Name recognition on our Festival site. .. And MORE!

If food is your passion, you're looking for some food service experience, or you want a summer full of Fringe (and perk), sign up today at fringetheatre.ca/volunteer. Tag a foodie friend, or drop your favourite food emoji below!

The Edmonton Fringe Festival is powered by Lead Festival Partner

Photos by: Carl Hernandez (1,2) and Anna Kuranicheva (3)
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS:
1: Two Kitchen Volunteers deliver some mobile refreshments to Information and Engagement Volunteers while standing outside of the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market
2: Two Kitchen Volunteers stand behind the counter, smiling at the camera and waiting to dish up some meals for other hungry Volunteers.
3: A Kitchen Volunteer stands behind the serving counter, scooping up a warm meal for another Volunteer out of frame.

⚾🎭 THE THEATRE KIDS ARE TAKING OVER THE BALLPARK 🎭⚾This Thursday, June 11, the Edmonton Riverhawks are handing over the ...
06/09/2026

⚾🎭 THE THEATRE KIDS ARE TAKING OVER THE BALLPARK 🎭⚾

This Thursday, June 11, the Edmonton Riverhawks are handing over the stadium to the theatre kids. Arts + sports - what could possibly go wrong?

Join the Riverhawks as they face the Victoria HarbourCats for a night packed with baseball, drama, costumes, chaos, and special performances from Fringe Theatre, Citadel Theatre, and more!

With special appearances from our friends Fingers and Shrimp from Rat Academy!

✨ Youth wearing a theatre character costume get FREE admission at the Box Office when accompanied by a paying adult! (Subject to availability. Silver, Bronze, or Bleacher seating).

🍻 It’s also Thirsty Thursday!
⚾ Baseball!
🎭 Theatre!
🌭 Ballpark snacks!
🐀 Rats!
🤩 Main character energy!

Grab your tickets, plan your costumes, and get ready for the most theatrical baseball game Edmonton has ever seen.

THURSDAY JUNE 11

Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Victoria HarbourCats (+ THEATRE!!!)

📸Rat Academy Photography by Marc J Chalifoux

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
Two performers in rat costumes are overlaid onto the REMAX baseball field green stadium seats. The yellow text below them says "Be there..."

Our Volunteer Program is already 87% full, but there are still lots of amazing teams accepting applications: 🙌 Accessib...
06/08/2026

Our Volunteer Program is already 87% full, but there are still lots of amazing teams accepting applications:

🙌 Accessibility – providing inclusive support so everyone can Fringe to their fullest
⛑️ First Aid – here to fix fringers up and get them ready to fringe on
🏠 Host – opening their homes and hearts to our travelling artists
💫Information & Engagement – providing the answers to all those burning questions
🎪 KidsFringe – offering the tiniest Fringers the chance to get creative and explore theatre
🍴 Kitchen – helping nearly 1,000 Volunteers stay fed and fueled
🎥 Multimedia – capturing moments and memories at every turn

Apply while you still can at fringetheatre.ca/volunteer for a summer of behind-the-scenes Fringe fun, cool Volunteer perks, community, and more!

Photos by: Alex Yucoco (1,6), Nanc Price (2), Anna Kuranicheva (3,5), Paula Kirman (4)

The Edmonton Fringe Festival is powered by Lead Fest ATB Financial

WE ARE COMIN TO THE BALLGAME WIT H THE THEATRE PEAPLEThis thursday tha RIVERhawks are grashiously letting us come into t...
06/06/2026

WE ARE COMIN TO THE BALLGAME WIT H THE THEATRE PEAPLE

This thursday tha RIVERhawks are grashiously letting us come into the stadiun to show everyonw how to ACTALLY PLAY BACEBALL. WE WILL THROW BALLS AND TSHIRTS AND HOTTDOGS.

THE HAWKS ARE VS ing THE VICTORIA HARBOR CATS. WE ARE PUTTING OUR GRUDGES TO THE SIDE TO BE THERE. AND WE also found d out tha t no 1 is actually a hawk or a cat wihich is grate to hear. They jus t call themselfs that.

AlsoO if YOU ARE A CHILD AND YOU COME DRESS UPED IN A COSTUME U GET FREE AD MISSION. WOW.

GET TICKET. DRESS UP. AND BE REDY FOR A BIG BIG SHOW AND ALSO BACE BALL. THUR JUNE 11.

Rat Academy Photography by Marc J Chalifoux

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
Two performers in rat costumes are overlaid onto the RE/MAX baseball field with players in the background. Yellow text above them reads "Rats at the River Hawks."

06/05/2026

Next on your summer bucket list: a little thrill, a lot of magic, and a show for every mood.

The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival returns to the heart of Old Strathcona August 13 – 23. Festival Guides on sale July 29. Tickets and passes on sale August 5.

Learn more at fringetheatre.ca

The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is generously powered by Lead Festival Partner ATB Financial

Video by: Megan Heryford

06/04/2026

We are so excited to announce our collaboration with the Edmonton Riverhawks!
The Theatre Kids are taking over the ballgame JUNE 11! Book your tickets now and we'll see you at the ballpark!

Ready to share, cheer, and celebrate Q***r creativity in a space that’s warm, welcoming, and joyfully judgement-free? J...
06/03/2026

Ready to share, cheer, and celebrate Q***r creativity in a space that’s warm, welcoming, and joyfully judgement-free?

Join us for Cue the Q***rs – An Open Mic!
🤸 Starting June 10th (and nearly every Wednesday thereafter)
💅 7PM
🎪Fringe Grounds Cafe

No matter your medium, we’re a stage for every voice to shine: welcoming music, poetry, comedian, stories, and everything in between.

Hosted by encouraging, inspirational Q***r Artists from across Edmonton, each night will bring new magic, new mischief, a whole lot of Q***r creativity. Come to be seen, come to be heard, and come exactly as you are.

Want to cheer on your Q***r community (and talented allies)? This is a FREE event. No ticket needed. Just drop-in and enjoy the show!

Interested in rocking the stage? Sign up when you arrive and get ready for the applause!

Cue the Q***rs is part of Q2Q: A Q***r Barns Series, proudly presented by Fringe Theatre and the City of Edmonton.

Learn more at fringetheatre.ca/q2q

Brian “Father Fringe” Paisley, the founder of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, is ill. Brian’s family...
06/02/2026

Brian “Father Fringe” Paisley, the founder of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, is ill. Brian’s family has created a GoFundMe - please visit their page to learn more: http://gofund.me/3bbe37197

We are so grateful for Brian’s vision, creativity, and leadership. He’s transformed the landscape of theatre in Edmonton and arts and culture across North America. Brian’s words are posted in and around our offices to this day:

“Be curious. Be tenacious. Be ready. Be kind – be as human as you can be.”

Our hopeful hearts are with Brian and his family in this challenging time.

Brian created North America’s first Fringe Theatre Festival in Edmonton in 1982, inspiring Fringe events across the continent in the years since. He is a playwright, screenwriter, and author who has been instrumental in shaping Edmonton’s and Canada’s arts scene. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta in 2023 and from Athabasca University in 1990. He was inducted into Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame in 2001 and named a member of the Order of Canada in 2010 as “a cultural visionary who has left an indelible mark on Canadian theatre.”

Reference: 2023 University of Alberta Doctor of Letters Ceremony

Address

10330 – 84 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T6E2G9

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17804489000

Website

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