Wellington, NZ – The New Zealand Fringe Festival returns in 2026 for its 36th year! On Thursday Dec 11th, 2025 the festival launches the monumental full programme for its upcoming season. Since its humble beginnings in 1990, the NZ Fringe Festival has grown into an incubator for talent, granting creative space and freedom for both emerging and established artists to showcase their work. NZ Fringe contributes to a thriving New Zealand arts scene by giving new and veteran audiences alike a chance to witness and be a part of, The Birthplace of Brilliance.
From February 13th until March 7th 2026, the New Zealand Fringe Festival events will be taking place over the Greater Wellington region. Across the three-week season, 178 events will be open to the public, ranging from whānau-friendly showcases, interactive outdoor spectacles, racy burlesque shows, moving theatre and dance pieces, hilarious comedy shows, and much more. Take your pick from the extensive range of genres, styles, ticket prices, free events, and venues. Tickets will be available on Thursday 11th of December for the 2026 season on the NZ Fringe website (tickets.fringe.co.nz)
“We’re so excited to release our stellar 2026 NZ Fringe programme. Absolutely fizzing with exciting local legends and international heavyweights alongside incredible comedy, theatre and cabaret. Fringe shows will take place across the region in 30+ venues including theatres, community halls, bars, parks and the Wellington waterfront. Not to mention closing the festival out with one heck of a 70-piece choir singing Bangers and Mash! This mass karaoke phenomenon has sold out every show since its world premiere at Adelaide Fringe in 2024, from Brisbane to Cairns, Townsville to their UK tour in Brighton and Bath. Now they’re bringing this interactive singalong sensation to Pōneke for the ultimate festival finale. NZ Fringe is bringing the HEAT to Pōneke for 23 days in summer 2026! Come, get amongst it!”, says Director of NZ Fringe Festival, Vanessa Stacey.
Spectacular Scale: International Collaborations and Homecoming Talent
NZ Fringe 2026 is incredibly proud to be bringing some spectacular large-scale productions and exciting international collaborations to Pōneke for next year’s festival! Making their debut is The Fijian Flying Circus bringing a colourful explosion of talent to Hannah Playhouse. The 20-strong ensemble holds special significance for NZ Fringe Director Vanessa Stacey, who grew up in Fiji where they host their own thriving Fringe festival each April. This vibrant production promises an unforgettable spectacle of aerial artistry and acrobatic brilliance.
The festival’s opening weekend features The Beatles Dub Club from the UK, fresh off their Glastonbury festival performance. They’ll take the stage at the Gods Paramount, a new venue for the 2026 New Zealand Fringe, on February 13th. Expect a special DJ set showcasing The Fab Four like you’ve never heard before in a rhythmic celebration. Other festival highlights include The Eco
Media Release Embargoed 5:00am Thursday 27 November, 2025
Fashion Runway on February 14th, where the Sustainable Trust/Te Aro Zero Waste will transform their Forrester Lane space into a glamorous eco runway with four continuous runways spotlighting local eco designers. The festival’s grand finale sees eight of the most acclaimed emerging playwrights in Pōneke taking the BATS stage for Tolerance, pairing up to create four short plays exploring the theme ‘in joyous creative harmony’. Tolerance runs from March 4th-7th over the festival’s closing nights.
NZ Fringe is incredibly excited to have been working alongside the team at, The Gods Paramount, now set to make its highly anticipated debut at NZ Fringe, with two new venues, backing Wellington’s vibrant arts scene. Every Friday night, at The Paramount, The Fools presents Fringe tasters, offering audiences a chance to catch up on the festival’s hottest shows all in one spot. Homegrown talent will also shine with TNT! featuring the Capital City Big Band, which incorporates the explosive power of big band jazz with the mana and beautiful lyricism of Te Ao Māori, fronted by Lisa Tomlins, creating a uniquely Aotearoa sound.
NZ Fringe 2026 is excited to elevate artist’s commitment to accessible arts with an array of free and affordable events. Summer Shakespeare returns with As You Like It at the Innermost Gardens, while Crows Feet Dance Collective and Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand present WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM. Experience a free outdoor dance and music event at Odlins Plaza on the waterfront, standing in solidarity with Iranians resisting authoritarianism and raising awareness about women’s and human rights violations in Iran. The NZ Fringe Takeover also hits Cuba Street on Sunday February 15th, with free activities from 10am to 5pm, as the festival continues to bring more theatre and art outdoors and into the streets.
The festival’s all-ages programming ensures whānau can experience Fringe together with Walk the Walk, PARK(ing) Day, and the high-energy School Disco! Digital offerings make the festival accessible beyond Wellington, with the free online show “The Valentina”—about a little girl who builds a rocket and takes off to the Moon, and Gemma vs Normal Worms, a 15-episode digital series.
The festival opens February 13th and runs until March 7th across Wellington venues. See the myriad of remarkable shows on offer at the Birthplace of Brilliance by booking your tickets from December 11th at tickets.fringe.co.nz.
