The Post | Tuesday, February 10,2026
Photo: Artist Supplied – Embarrassed Naked Female
Kim Bailey is the chief executive of the Creative Capital Arts Trust.
The Fringe Festival can look overwhelming at first glance. So many shows, so many venues, so many choices. My best advice? Don’t try to do Fringe perfectly. Do it curiously. Do it a little bit randomly. Do it in a way that gives you great stories the next day.
Here’s my slightly unofficial guide to making the most of your three weeks.
Step 1: See something you would never normally see
Start by circling a show that makes you think, “That’s not really my thing.” Then go anyway. Fringe is built for joyful risk-taking, and some of the most unforgettable shows are the ones you didn’t know you needed. Bonus points if you can’t quite explain the show to your friends beforehand, if it’s in a venue you’ve never been to, or if the description includes words like experimental, absurd, or weird.
Step 2: Make a Fringe bingo card (mentally or literally)
Try ticking off a few of these over the festival:
• see a show in a bar you’d never normally go to
• be crazy and chat to the artists after the show
• see two shows in one night and feel very cultured about it
• laugh unusually hard
• take someone to a show on Valentine’s Day that tells them what you think about love (my recommendation is Driving Me Crazy at Fringe Bar)
You don’t need to complete the whole list. But we’d love it if you did!
Step 3: Mix the short and the long
Fringe is great for bite-sized adventures. A 50-minute show after work can transform an ordinary Tuesday. But if you can, also plan one bigger night out to include dinner, a show, maybe even a second show if you’re feeling brave, try the Spirit of the Fringe Southward Gin or Garage Project Fringe beer. Think of Fringe as your menu, not a single course.
Step 4: Follow your feet sometimes, not just the programme
Yes, the programme is your friend. So are recommendations, reviews, and that colleague who has already seen six shows. But also allow for a little wandering. Posters, street buzz, overheard conversations, and last-minute decisions are all part of how Fringe works.
Step 5: Bring someone who doesn’t usually go to shows
Fringe is one of the most welcoming ways into live art. Shows are shorter, tickets are affordable, and the atmosphere is relaxed. If you’ve got a friend who says “that’s not really my thing”, then Fringe is your chance to prove them wrong (gently). Make it social. Make it fun. Make it about the experience, not just the show.
What I’m personally excited to see this year
One of my favourite things about NZ Fringe is that the artists are at every stage of their creative journey. We have first-ever shows to seasoned performers trying something totally new. This year, I’m especially looking forward to:
• Bug Songs Not Love Songs: Nothing says Fringe quite like two bugs singing original love songs to you.
• Phobia: Because I’m a sucker for dark theatre and horror.
• Embarrassed Naked Female: Presented alongside The Sensemaker, which I was lucky enough to see in 2023. This is physical, absurd, dark humour at its best. (Ask me again next week and this list will probably be different, but that’s Fringe for you.)
Final rule: There is no wrong way to Fringe
Whether you see one show or 10, whether you plan everything or go with the flow, you’re part of what makes the festival what it is. Fringe only works because audiences are curious, open-minded, and willing to give something new a go.
So pick a show. Or let a show pick you. Grab a friend. Take a chance.
