Durham Fringe Festival

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Durham Fringe Festival

We’re a Community Interest Company set up to establish an annual Fringe Festival in Durham City.

16/06/2026

The beauty of Fringe is you never know exactly what you're in for. It's all about genre-bending and experimentation 🌟

Comedy in the form of song. A classical music concert that is actually an immersive play. There's more to it than a genre category...

Take a chance. Fill your day with creativity. Remember, our shows cost between £5-£15, and you get an automatic 10% off when you book to see any three different shows!

Head to our website to book your tickets ➡️ durhamfringe.co.uk/events

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14/06/2026

We offer a stage to people from our region, across the UK, and even to those hailing from around the world.

Did you know that we carefully time Durham Fringe to take place in the week prior to Edinburgh Fringe? As a much bigger and more established event, Edinburgh draws acts from across the world. We're just a short train ride away, making it viable for productions big and small to tag an extra week onto their time in the UK and drop into Durham.

Whether it originates from Crook or California, Tow Law or Taiwan, find incredible talent at Durham Fringe this summer. Explore the programme and get your tickets booked at durhamfringe.co.uk/events

📸 Photos by .photography and

13/06/2026

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer at Durham Fringe 2026. We are blown away by this year's response. With our festival growing again this year, we are grateful to have your support. In return, we promise you a week of laughs, smiles, and plenty of incredible shows!

Do you fancy getting involved as a general steward or technician? There's still time to register. Find all the details via our website ➡ durhamfringe.co.uk/volunteer

DURHAM FRINGE RETURNS: Wednesday 29 July - Sunday 2 August 🎉

📸 Big shout out to .photography for capturing these photos

10/06/2026

It's time to sound our very first Durham Fringe Academy workshop klaxon!

Are you an aspiring Technician, interested in pursuing a career that helps bring amazing shows to the stage? Fancy being part of a team that builds an entire performance space -- from scratch -- in just one day?

You'll get to work with The CDB Group and Durham Fringe delivery team, learning how to create a space ready for high-quality performance and picking up practical skills from professionals in the industry.

Find out more & register: linktr.ee/durhamfringe

The Durham Fringe Academy is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

09/06/2026

What should you expect at Durham Fringe 2026? Well, with over 140 different shows, it's safe to say you can expect to find something for everyone!

Our shows span every performing arts genre. Although we categorise them as theatre, music, magic, and more, many of the acts we stage blend several performance disciplines.

Whether you want to laugh, cry, think, or be dazzled, you'll find something that fits the bill!

Explore the programme at durhamfringe.co.uk/events

Book in advance to guarantee your tickets and avoid disappointment! 🎟

07/06/2026

Next month, Durham Fringe returns for its 6th city-wide takeover.

📍 11 venues
🎭 140+ shows delivering almost 300 performances
📆 Wednesday 29 July - Sunday 2 August

Support this not-for-profit festival and back grassroots talent by booking your tickets in advance. Head to durhamfringe.co.uk/events to explore the full programme.

Remember, book any 3 different shows and automatically get 10% off! With tickets costing only £5 - £15, it's one of the most affordable ways to see incredible performing arts!

SEE YOU THERE 🪩💃🕺

📸 Photo by | Taken in 2025 at | Act ➡ Harun Musho'd

04/06/2026

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

We are currently recruiting for a Programme & Engagement Assistant to join us for an 8-week paid placement in Durham. This individual will work directly with our team, based in our brand-new venue The Academy in Durham City Centre. This role provides a rare opportunity to support the launch of an emerging venue, working with our Festival Manager, helping to install new venue operating systems, engaging with a wide range of audiences including customers, people interested in or actively working in performing arts, and cultural organisations from across the region.

This placement will also have the opportunity to support 6th Durham Fringe Festival, which will take place from Wednesday 29th July to Sunday 2nd August, across 11 participating venues. While based at The Academy, the placement holder will also have the opportunity to engage in the wider planning and delivery of the festival, providing experience of Arts Projects and Festival management more broadly. There is also further opportunity to work on the development of The Academy’s 12-month programme, and gain experience in an organisation experiencing significant growth and change.

Interested? Find a link with all the details and info on how to apply via https://linktr.ee/durhamfringe

This paid placement is made possible thanks to support from Into the Light

31/05/2026

We're hosting two FREE showcase events to kick off this year's Durham Fringe with a bang 💥

Our showcases offer up to 6 different acts from the festival's programme an opportunity to give you a sample of their show in less than 10 minutes. It's a fantastic way to kick off your week at the Fringe and get inspired about which shows you might want to see.

Tickets are free (and close to selling out!) Book online at durhamfringe.co.uk/events

30/05/2026

MAKE A DAY OF IT AT DURHAM FRINGE ✨

With over 140 different shows, you have SO MUCH to choose from! Come for the day, or even join us for the full five days.

When you book tickets for any 3 different shows, you will automatically get 10% off. Simple as that. With tickets already priced at just £5 - £15, you can soak up incredible performances without breaking the bank.

Explore the full programme at durhamfringe.co.uk/events

What are your top 3 picks?

How the Discover Durham Fringe ticket offer works ⬇
This offer activates when you book to see three different shows. The offer will not apply to a group of three people seeing one show.
The Discover offer only applies in a single transition and discounts cannot be backdated if additional purchases are made later. It is only available for tickets to shows sold through durhamfringe.co.uk and can be applied to full price, family, and concession tickets

29/05/2026

Our final 2026 venue announcement is a rather exciting one...

This summer, we are opening The Academy, a new performing arts venue which will serve not only as a space for events -- including Durham Fringe Festival 2026 -- but it will also house a practical, inclusive and welcoming hub where artists, producers and technicians can learn, make, practice and thrive. Those of you local to Durham may have already seen us begin work to convert a former retail space in Prince Bishops into what will soon become a 70-capacity black box theatre.

However, The Academy is more than just a performance space. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Durham Fringe will host a range of workshops, masterclasses, networking events, and even offer flexible, affordable rehearsal space. The Academy will open its doors ahead of this year's Festival but we're thrilled to announce it will remain open well into 2027!

We've got lots more to tell you about this new project soon, but for now, we're excited to announce the incredibly diverse range of shows coming to this venue during Durham Fringe

The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway, adapted by Philip Harrison
Richard Pulsford: Yorkshire Dad, Immigrant Mum
Living la vida Lorca
Adam Flood: Life And Death Of The Party
A Tail for Our Future
Lament of the Wandering Head by Sun Son Theatre
Of Mice and Men
A History Of The Last Conservative Government, In Their Own Stupid Words
1 Big Oops
99 Red Hot Kitties & a Cockatoo
A Political Brunch
Snow Along the Line
Deluge
Harun Musho'd: Why I Don’t Talk To People About Terrorism

Find info and tickets, head to: https://durhamfringe.co.uk/events/?&venue=98

The Academy would not be possible without the venue's key sponsor, EMG Solicitors. We are immensely grateful for their continuing support.

Address

Durham City Centre
Durham

Telephone

+447903871238

Website

http://DurhamFringe.co.uk/

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