Melbourne Fringe 2026: Director's 11 Must-See Shows
The 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival showcases nearly 460 events throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria. Creative Director Danny Delahunty has curated 11 performances that exemplify bold independent artistry. Among the highlights are Dhandha/Campfire by Joel Bray Dance at Fed Square (29 Sept - 18 Oct), Ocker by Na Djinang Circus in Melbourne (8-18 Oct) and Ballarat (14, 25 Oct), and the Deaf-led opera Manifesto of Silences at Arts House (6-11 Oct). Additional noteworthy performances include 40-LOVE at Dancehouse (7-10 Oct), Till The Day I Die at Trades Hall (1-4 Oct), Exhibit at La Mama (30 Sept - 4 Oct), Philosophy of the World at Festival Hub (29 Sept - 3 Oct), Fashion Machine at Bunjil Place (3 Oct), Briefs: The Works at Spiegel Haus (23 Sept - 18 Oct), and Fountain Lakes Y2K in Ballarat (22-25 Oct). Delahunty underscores the festival's commitment to fostering independent art and community engagement.
Key facts
- Melbourne Fringe Festival 2026 runs until 18 October 2026.
- Nearly 460 events are scheduled across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Danny Delahunty is Creative Director and CEO of Melbourne Fringe.
- Dhandha/Campfire is an interactive installation by Joel Bray Dance at Fed Square, daily from 29 September to 18 October.
- Ocker is a roving First Nations circus by Na Djinang Circus, appearing in Melbourne and Ballarat.
- Manifesto of Silences is a Deaf-led opera at Arts House, North Melbourne, from 6 to 11 October.
- 40-LOVE is an improvised dance piece by Jonathan Homsey based on the 2025 Australian Open Women's Final.
- Till The Day I Die is a 1935 anti-fascist play by Clifford Odets, staged on a flatbed truck at Trades Hall.
- Philosophy of the World is from UK collective In Bed With My Brother.
- Fashion Machine is an interactive performance by Canada's The Other Guise Theatre Company.
- Briefs: The Works is a queer circus and cabaret from Brisbane-based Briefs.
- Fountain Lakes Y2K is a drag parody play starring Art Simone, Thomas Jaspers, and Jemima Handful.
- Degustation is a circus and dining experience by One Fell Swoop Circus and chef Shu Liu.
Entities
Artists
- Danny Delahunty
- Joel Bray
- Irene Holub
- Jonathan Homsey
- Katie Sfetkidis
- Mark Wilson
- Clifford Odets
- Lisa Proud
- Emma J Hawkins
- Art Simone
- Thomas Jaspers
- Jemima Handful
- Shu Liu
- Simon Abrahams
Institutions
- Melbourne Fringe Festival
- Fed Square
- Na Djinang Circus
- Arts House
- Dancehouse
- Trades Hall
- La Mama Courthouse
- Festival Hub: Meat Market
- Bunjil Place Studio
- Spiegel Haus Melbourne
- Civic Hall Ballarat
- Ballarat Mining Exchange
- One Fell Swoop Circus
- SHU Restaurant
- The Other Guise Theatre Company
- In Bed With My Brother
- Briefs
- Joel Bray Dance
- Melbourne Fringe
- ArtsHub
- Meat Market
- Arts Centre Melbourne
- Melbourne Theatre Company
- Malthouse Theatre
- Poppy Seed Theatre Festival
- Festival of Live Art
- Dance Massive
- A Fair Cut
- ScreenHub
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Fed Square
- North Melbourne
- Carlton North
- Carlton
- Ballarat
- Narre Warren
- Victoria