Welcome to the fabulous
Nelson Fringe Festival

6-15 March 2025
Applications are open for the 2025 festival. Click Apply Now to learn more and start your application process! Applications close 18 Nov.

We’re an annual festival in Nelson Whakatū, New Zealand, giving a stage to performers, comedians, storytellers, dancers, musicians and more, for an hour at a time, and always at a cheap ticket price. 

NEW! Matchmaker meetups are where anyone interested in the Fringe can come along and meet others. The next one is on Tues 5 Nov at 5:30pm. Scroll down for all the info.
We picked our festival dates so that we're nestled in between NZ Fringe in Wellington (14 Feb - 8 March) and Dunedin Fringe (13 - 23 March 2025) - like a little fringey three-way cuddle. Applications have closed for NZ Fringe, but there's still time to apply for Dunedin Fringe.
people performing on stage at nelson Fringe Festival
Woman with microphone
actor on stage at Nelson Fringe Festival
people enjoying a dringe at Nelson Fringe Festival
actor on stage
actor the Nelson Fringe Festival

What's been happening

We have a new venue!

We are absolutely ecstatic to announce that Yaza Café in Montgomery Square will be our new Comedy Club for the 2025 Fringe. Yaza will stay…

21 October, 2024

News

The Elephant in the Room

Join us for a reading of Breffni O'Rourke's new play, The Elephant in the Room. If you're curious about how a…

6 September, 2024

News

MatchMaker

Tuesday 5 November Matchmaker - meeting others on the fringe. Matchmaker are informal meetups where anyone interested in the Fringe can…

Alive & kickin’

The programme for the 2024 Nelson Fringe Festival is now live on our site - take a look-see! We're incredibly…

14 February, 2024

News