The New Zealand Fringe Festival is back for its 36th year, and this one hits different. With 170+ events taking over Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Greater Wellington, it’s the summer you’ll keep talking about. Think nature docs that surprise you, comedy that really lands, theatre that draws you in, and circus acts you won’t forget. Don’t be the one who hears about it after. Tickets are officially on sale TODAY! tickets.fringe.co.nz
FIND THE PROGRAMMES
Our 2026 programme has officially hit the streets. 10,000 beautiful copies waiting to be picked up, circled, highlighted, and obsessed over.
Find them at…your favourite Fringe venues and in cafés, bars, and local spots like Mojo, Moore Wilson’s and Unity Books. And in all the pockets of Pōneke where weird things tend to happen. Keep an eye on our socials for drop-spots, staff picks and special announcements…
FRINGE ADDICT MEMBERSHIP LIVE NOW
If you’re planning to see more than one show (which you will), just get the membership. For $20, Fringe Addicts get 20% off tickets to every show & exclusive perks. A no-brainer, if you ask us. More info here
The Flying Fijian Circus. Photo: Supplied.
This year’s Fringe is something special, and we want YOU to be the first to feel it.
Since 1990, NZ Fringe has been where Wellington’s weirdos, visionaries, rebels, and rule-breakers come to play. And this year, we’re everywhere! More than 30 venues across Pōneke, from theatres and bars to community halls, parks, and the waterfront. If there’s a space to perform in, chances are Fringe has already moved in.
The Fijian Flying Circus is taking aerial arts to another planet. The Beatles Dub Club (UK) is set to shake The Gods Paramount on opening night. The Eco Fashion Runway will turn Forrester Lane into an eco-glam catwalk, and Tolerance at BATS brings together eight of the sharpest playwrights in the city. And to close it all out? A full-blown, 70-piece singing phenomenon Bangers and Mash, guaranteed to send the festival off in absolute style.
This isn’t your corporate arts newsletter. This is Fringe. Raw, unfiltered, brilliant chaos. Find your next obsession. tickets.fringe.co.nz
The Eco Fashion Runway. Photo: Supplied.
The Shows That’ll Change Your Night
David Klein Presents Birds, a nature doc for people who think nature docs are boring. Klein works at Predator Free Wellington and delivers in TED-talk style. Voted Best Newcomer in 2015. Nature lovers, this one’s yours.
Circus of the Night. Listen. This ALWAYS sells out. Performers hanging by their hair. Stunts that shouldn’t be possible. It’s risqué, it’s dangerous, and it’s the kind of show you’ll be talking about for months.
D’Things N Such. Five fearless FOB clowns with a broken compass. They won Most Memorable Marketing last year for a reason. They’re hilarious AND vulnerable. Fresh off smaller stages, they’ve just landed the big stage at Circa. Don’t miss them.
DONATE TO NZ FRINGE
Support for NZ Fringe also comes from the big hearts of individuals like yourself. Please consider making a donation to support emerging artists.
