Hamilton Fringe

Hamilton Fringe Accessible, playful, and engaging, the Hamilton Fringe Festival is an action-packed 12-day art festival.

Hamilton Fringe, a 12-day Summer festival every July in downtown Hamilton, ON and Frost Bites, the only site-specific winter festival in Hamilton every February!

These shows feature journeys through the weird, wild, and wonderful moments of life - and you’re invited along for the r...
06/22/2026

These shows feature journeys through the weird, wild, and wonderful moments of life - and you’re invited along for the ride!

→ Hope & Joy by Hope & Joy at Theatre Aquarius Studio .and.joy.productions
→ Raging Gracefully by Big Chick Energy at The Westdale
→ Karl the Cat and the Junkyard Pack by Playdough Productions at The Staircase | Bright Room
→ Finding Jamie by Zac Williams at The Staircase | Elaine May
→ The Syllabus by Morbidelli 17 Productions at Mills Hardware
→ Church Boyfriends & Other Impure Thoughts by Alison Fishburn at Theatre Aquarius Studio
→ Spooning the Great Bear By the Light of the Moon by Xenoproductions at The Players’ Guild of Hamilton .prod

Live shows, local vibes, cheap tix, and BIG summer energy! Visit HFTco.ca to book tickets for these shows and more.

This lineup of shows tell it exactly how it is. You won't be able to escape the realness of these stories (this sounds l...
06/20/2026

This lineup of shows tell it exactly how it is. You won't be able to escape the realness of these stories (this sounds like a threat 😈)

→ How to Love a Fascist by Lucky Penny Productions at Mills Hardware
→ No Die! – Or: How I Left Amsterdam and Almost Died in Africa by Fedor Comedy at Mills Hardware
→ Intro to Adult Acting by We Tried Theatre Inc. at The Players’ Guild of Hamilton
→ GO by Pitchin'in Productions at Mills Hardware
→ Wheel and Turn by Lady Sunflower Productions at The Westdale
→ “Kill Me Now” – The Teaching Confessions of an Undercover Creative by Mermusetmc at The Gasworks
→ Medically Strange by Phoebe Taylor at Backroom @ Ringside

Live shows, local vibes, cheap tix, and BIG summer energy! Visit HFTco.ca to book tickets for these shows and more.

Call For Actors & Indigenous Writers for Hamilton Cold Reads: Neechie EdishBuilding on the success of our sold-out 2025 ...
06/18/2026

Call For Actors & Indigenous Writers for Hamilton Cold Reads: Neechie Edish

Building on the success of our sold-out 2025 premiere, Hamilton Cold Reads: Neechie Edish is a showcase for new and in-progress scripts - Indigenous Style!

Writers submit a short script a maximum of 15 minutes - plays, film scenes, TV scripts, sketches, or a series of character based poems. Actors are cast on the spot just before the event! All selected pieces will be read aloud by the actors in front of a live audience, giving writers the chance to hear their work brought to life while receiving valuable real-time feedback.

Whether you're an Indigenous Canadian writer, an actor (of any background), or an eager audience member, Hamilton Cold Reads: Neechie Edish gives you an inspiring space to meet likeminded people and share new ideas from Indigenous artists in and around town.

Applications close July 8. It is FREE to apply at HFTco.ca

These food-focused Hamilton Fringe shows will satisfy your indie theatre cravings – and make you hungry for more!→ 1 Mil...
06/17/2026

These food-focused Hamilton Fringe shows will satisfy your indie theatre cravings – and make you hungry for more!

→ 1 Million Served—Years Well Waitressed by Outport Productions at The Staircase | Elaine May
→ First Bite to Last Laugh by BULL & BLOSSOM INITIATIVE at Mills Hardware
→ Tacos & Extinction by Squirrel and Nut Productions at The St. Luke's Mission
→ Into the Swing of Things by Eric Jeddry at Backroom @ Ringside

Live shows, local vibes, cheap tix, and BIG summer energy! Visit HFTco.ca to book tickets for these shows and more.

06/16/2026

Looking for this? 👀

The 2026 Hamilton Fringe Festival Program is out NOW in the wild. Head out to one of our awesome partners, grab a treat, and dig into the meat of Hamilton Fringe 2026, link in our bio for where to pick them up

Want to thumb through the program without leaving your bed? Check out the Festival Program online at HFTco.ca

Shorts Showcase deadline extended!The Films on the Fringe: Shorts Showcase competition presented by offers Hamiltonians...
06/15/2026

Shorts Showcase deadline extended!

The Films on the Fringe: Shorts Showcase competition presented by offers Hamiltonians a FREE opportunity to enjoy short films (24 minutes or less) by Canadian filmmakers under the stars on Fringe Boulevard, located on King William St at James St N. ⁠
⁠
The winning filmmaker will receive a $400 screening fee and have their film screened in July. Second and third place will each receive a $100 honorarium and a Fringe Binge 6-Show Pass for use at the Hamilton Fringe Festival.⁠

The winning short films will be chosen by our amazing jury: Yasith Weerasinghe, Rebecca Applebaum, and Todd Brown!
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Deadline to apply has been extended to Monday, June 22 at 11:59 PM. For more details and to apply, visit HFTco.ca (or click the link in our bio!)

Calling all vendors in and around Hamilton!We’re looking for artists, makers, and vendors in and around Hamilton for mul...
06/13/2026

Calling all vendors in and around Hamilton!

We’re looking for artists, makers, and vendors in and around Hamilton for multiple marketplace days on Fringe Boulevard.

If you’re a First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis artist and maker available for a half or full day market on Saturday, July 18, consider applying to our outdoor Indigenous Marketplace. Registration is FREE but space is limited, so we encourage interested vendors to apply as soon as possible! Applications close July 1 or until all available spots are filled.

If you’re a young artisan and entrepreneur aged 16 and under, apply to become a vendor at our outdoor Junior Makers Market, happening Saturday, July 25. Whether it's handmade crafts, artwork, jewellery, or something completely unique, it's a great opportunity for kids and teens to share their creativity with Fringe festival-goers. Registration is FREE but space is limited, so we encourage interested vendors to apply as soon as possible! Applications close July 3 or until all available spots are filled.

For all other artists, makers, and vendors in and around Hamilton, there are two Sunday Fringe Boulevard Marketplaces on July 19 and 26 that are open for vendors. We will be offering two options for vendor fees: 12-4 PM: $45 [Half Day] or 12-9 PM: $75 [Full Day]. Space is limited, so we encourage interested vendors to apply as soon as possible! The final application deadline is July 1, or until all available spots are filled.

Apply online at HFTco.ca or click the link in our bio for more information!

Meet the film and television movers and shakers making up the 2026 Shorts Showcase jury!⁠Shortlisted for the shots 2023 ...
06/11/2026

Meet the film and television movers and shakers making up the 2026 Shorts Showcase jury!⁠

Shortlisted for the shots 2023 New Director of The Year Award, Rebecca Applebaum burst into commercial directing with “Distant Friends.” Her second commercial, “Want”, won the Special Jury Prize for Performance from the Marketing Awards, a bronze statue from Clio Health, nods from The One Show, and ADC Awards. Her short film SPOONING was featured in CBC Television’s Canadian Reflections series, and garnered a Best Actor win from the Canadian Film Fest and an Outstanding Performance nomination from the ACTRA Awards.

Yasith Weerasinghe is a filmmaker and artist who found his place through the community of Hamilton and McMaster. His main focuses being directing, writing, cinematography, and photography. He strives to represent his culture and to mix harsh truths with the beauty of life. He continues to create art and represent the communities that made him the young new artist that he is today.

Todd Brown is a Hamilton based producer. Also a former journalist and festival programmer, Brown is best known for his long tenure as head of international acquisitions at XYZ Films, where he worked on cult classic titles such as THE RAID and MANDY and, more recently, titles such MILE END KICKS and HONEY BUNCH.

—⁠
⁠
The Films on the Fringe: Shorts Showcase competition presented by offers Hamiltonians a FREE opportunity to enjoy short films (24 minutes or less) by Canadian filmmakers under the stars on Fringe Boulevard, located on King William St at James St N. ⁠
⁠
The winning filmmaker will receive a $400 screening fee and have their film screened in July. Second and third place will each receive a $100 honorarium and a Fringe Binge 6-Show Pass for use at the Hamilton Fringe Festival.⁠
⁠
Deadline to apply is Monday, June 15 at 11:59 PM. For more details and to apply, visit HFTco.ca (or click the link in our bio!)

WE’RE BACK!Hamilton Fringe Festival returns July 15-26, 2026, lighting up 16+ indoor and outdoor locations across the ci...
06/10/2026

WE’RE BACK!

Hamilton Fringe Festival returns July 15-26, 2026, lighting up 16+ indoor and outdoor locations across the city.

With live comedy, theatre, music, dance, visual art, film, family fare, and more – there truly is something for everyone at Hamilton Fringe!

Buy your tickets now! Check out all the incredible shows and programming coming this July at HFTco.ca

Address

Hamilton, ON

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5am
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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+12896982234

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