Dunedin Fringe Festival

The first Dunedin Fringe Festival ignited Ōtepoti (Dunedin) in 2000: it’s now the second largest Fringe festival in the country. Dunedin Fringe is an annual 11-day multidisciplinary arts festival featuring fresh, innovative and experimental visual and performance art … and everything in between! 

Each year the festival supports approximately 80 events staged by over 500 artists and crew, drawing an audience of around 15,000. It’s a low barrier, affordable, accessible highlight of Ōtepoti’s cultural calendar.

“I felt like part of a lovely whānau. I've been to Fringe events a lot but being part of it as an artist brought it to a new level. I wanted to see if I could be an installation artist and now I know I can!” - Ōtepoti artist Inge Andrews

Dunedin Fringe has an open access kaupapa (philosophy): it’s not curated, meaning anyone can register and present work, regardless of their experience or artistic reputation. The festival attracts artists from throughout New Zealand and overseas, and provides an important forum for experienced artists to test new work and a supportive environment for emerging talent to explore their identity as artists. 

Our Fringe happens in March each year and is timed to align with the Adelaide Fringe Festival, New Zealand Fringe Festival and Nelson Fringe Festival, creating a potential network of Down Under Fringes for artists keen to tour their events. 

Registrations for the Dunedin Fringe Festival open in September each year, and close in late November or early December. New Zealand artists can also apply for Fringe Artist Grants to support their projects – applications open at the same time as registrations.

We hope to see you at our next Dunedin Fringe Festival! 

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