Volunteers for 2026
We always have a team of volunteers who ensure the festival runs like a charm. We have a number of…
Welcome to the fabulous
Nelson Fringe Festival
5-14 March 2026
Applications are open for the 2026 festival. Check the Artist page for info, and then click Apply Now to start your application process! Applications close 3 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.
Off-Season events! Come along to the New Play Reading Series (or ask to have yours read) and check out Matchmaker to meet others thinking about Fringe projects. Sign up to our newsletter or scroll down to see our news updates.
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.
Off-Season events! Come along to the New Play Reading Series (or ask to have yours read) and check out Matchmaker to meet others thinking about Fringe projects. Sign up to our newsletter or scroll down to see our news updates.
Sign up for our newsletter
We pick our festival dates so that we're nestled in between NZ Fringe in Wellington (13 Feb - 7 March 2026) and Dunedin Fringe (12 - 22 March 2026) - like a little fringey three-way cuddle.
Grants! We're offering grants to artists from Pasifika, Māori and former refugee or Migrant communities. Click here for more info.
Grants! We're offering grants to artists from Pasifika, Māori and former refugee or Migrant communities. Click here for more info.
What's been happening
Bingo Night! on 21 Oct
Looking for something different to do? Join us for our first ever Bingo Night! It's not your grandma's bingo night…
Grants!
Thanks to support from Creative NZ, Nelson Fringe is able to offer support to artists from the following communities to…
Matchmaker on 28 Aug
Matchmaker – meeting others on the fringe. Matchmaker are informal meetups where anyone interested in the Fringe can come along and…
The Blunderstudy on 28 Aug
Join us for a reading of Justin Eade's new play, The Blunderstudy. When struggling theatre director Martin Quincannon finally gets his…
Can’t Hear Her Voice
Join us for a reading of Jim Risner's new play, Can't Hear Her Voice. If you’re curious about how a story…
