ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

05/26/2026

Did YOU get to see SPHERE by last year!? 🌎 As a nonprofit organization, our free outdoor shows are a big part of our mission to unite our community through the arts!

📸photo credit: Kat Kuo .design
🌐show: SPHERE by
💡lighting design recreated by Emily Stork

05/14/2026

Heyyyy SHOTSPEARE fans!👋🏾 What Shakespeare play do YOU think would make a hysterically brilliant Shotspeare!? 🍻Give us your suggestions in the comments 🗣️⬇️

Show: Shotspeare ‘25,
Photography credit: David Schiffhauer, .photography

Lighting credit: Emily Stork,

05/03/2026

No, it wasn’t a dream🌙 You DID witness a giant sphere in the middle of downtown Rochester🌎

Now the question is…what will 2026 bring👀????

Who’s ready for the 15th season of the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival?
🙌🏾🙌🏼🙌🙌🏿🙌🏾🙌🏽

Show: SPHERE by VERTICALI
Videographer: Launch Creative .studio
Lighting Design: Recreated by Emily Stork
Location: Parcel 5

04/28/2026

1️⃣ FRINGE PLACE🎪

Who is ready to spend all 12 nights here, connecting in community⁉️ We sure are!💃🏽🎸🎭

🎥videography: .studio,

04/27/2026

The stages of a Rochester, New York spring as told through contemporary dance 🌦️❄️🌷

Dancer: Mariah Steele
Show: Catch & Collide, Fringe ‘25
Photographer: Keith Bullis,
Venue: School of the Arts,

04/22/2026

Soooo you’ve been accepted to perform at a Rochester Fringe venue…now what!?👀

Join us for a FREE webinar focused on how to market your Fringe show!🎫🎫🎫

🗳️Register here: https://tinyurl.com/mmb8n54w

This one hour webinar is open to all artists who will be performing in this year’s festival!🎪 We will provide you with all of the steps & tools that you need to prepare your marketing for a successful festival!

📙Guidance around best practices for copy + imagery to use for our official Fringe guide & website.

📣Handling PR for your show.

📲 How to gear up your social media channels.

📺 Advertising opportunities for your show.

You will also be able to ask your🔥questions at the end of the webinar.

👯All shows and cast members are welcome to attend!

📅 May 6th
⏰12PM EST
🕸️ Webinar

04/22/2026

📣Calling all Fringe artists! Today is the final day to submit for the Production Launch Fund!

There is no Fringe without artists, without risk-taking, and without experimentation. This fund, supported by the Rochester Area Community Foundation, offers $200 to $1000 of funding to individual productions bringing work to the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival in 2026.

Artists can apply at the link below:
https://lnkd.in/e969bWYH

Funding will be prioritized for shows that face financial barriers. Applications close at midnight!

Photo: The Navel Gazers | The Rose Room | Fringe ‘25
Photo Credit: David Schiffhauer

04/17/2026

“You saw him at the Fringe. Next, catch him on Netflix! 📺 Rochester’s own David Kwong invites you to The Puzzle Room, his new video podcast series launching on May 11!

The renowned magician, mentalist, and The New York Times crossword constructor personalizes each puzzle for a pair of celebrity guests, leading to plenty of unexpected epiphanies and clues. 🧩

Read the full article below & let us know if you’ll be tuning in🪄!

Who’s up for some brain games with your favorite stars?