NZ Fringe Festival 2026
Of course Fringe returns to BATS Theatre this year again!
From 13 February - 7 March, 26 unique shows will take over 1 Kent Terrace, bringing bold ideas, unforgettable performances, and a feast of creativity. Whether you’re after laughter, awe, or something completely unexpected, Fringe Festival is your ticket to discovering the best of Aotearoa’s independent arts scene.
Make sure you leave some free space in your diary, aim to beat the number of shows you saw last year, and don’t keep it to yourself:
Talk about it at work, at your family Christmas meal, tell your mates, your barista, your therapist… everyone should experience these shows!
FRINGE OPENING
El Colibrí
13-15 FEB
Three sisters reunite at their family home in Puerto Rico. Also... There's frogs!
Joana Joy: Miss Tui Whanganui 2009
13 - 14 Feb
Stacked with cultural commentary and physical comedy; proving ya' can take the girl out of Whanganui, but you can't take the Tui crown off her head.
How to Build a Gate
17-21 FEB
Tech genius, Liza can handle corporate pressure, a flirty neighbour and the chaos of modern life. But when her AI prototype starts developing a personality... she’s forced to confront the fine life between innovation and disaster.
Sosisi Tales
17 - 21 Feb
Three friends reunite after a year to embark on a pub crawl. What seems like catch-ups over a pint quickly becomes a confronting conversation that the group must have.
Once Upon a Time in Homowood
17-21 FEB
Did you know that some of Hollywood’s most iconic movies were gay gay gay?
MOTHER IS A DAUGHTER IS A MOTHER
17 - 21 Feb
A bold, multimedia, multidisciplinary exploration of being a mother while you are still a daughter, an artist, a woman, a body (amongst other things).
night ferals
17-21 FEB
Snuggle tight and fall into a bizarre dreamland.
ONE-TWO
18 - 21 Feb
A dice roll of cosmic proportions sets ONE and TWO on a sprawling journey through the depths of philosophy as they try to decipher meaning in a mystically chaos-ridden world that keeps throwing problems, questions and people at them.
The Silver Slipper
19-21 FEB
When the lights are low, the voices soft 'n' sultry, where every song tells a secret and desire takes centre stage - The Silver Slipper is the place to be.
decadunce
19 - 21 Feb
"Decadunce" is about all the dumb things we spend money on in this current cost of living crisis!
THE GOODMANS
24-28 FEB
When new neighbours Hannah and Barnaby arrive for dinner, it’s up to the family to make a strong first impression, get Noble a date for the prom, and round everything out with good old fashioned American family values.
The Last Straight Man on Earth
24 - 28 Feb
The year is 2030. The 'Woke Mind Virus' has infected the souls of the Wellington population, turning them into pronoun-having zombies. The last man standing is Josh Franken, a man who is very straight and normal and definitely not gay.
Ecz-asth-perated Fever
24-28 FEB
Welcome to MED Inc.: where diseases have KPIs, the Black Death is your boss, and murder might just mean a promotion.
My Puppet Who Sighs in Pearl Shavings
24 - 28 Feb
A tale of two faces, a sound deep at sea, and the small moments of anguish before sleep. Woven from anecdote, poetry, and myth, this intimate solo show is an apocalyptic trans allegory alongside an original electronic score.
Pōneke Gangster
24-28 FEB
Welcome to MED Inc.: where diseases have KPIs, the Black Death is your boss, and murder might just mean a promotion.
Tor Snyder: Tor de Force
24 - 28 Feb
From the frozen tundras of Canada to the stages of New Zealand, Tor Snyder has landed with one mission: jokes.
The Lizards Lie Within: A Lizardmen Movie Play Musical
25-28 FEB
Part time spy/super model, Pogolo Vaunslaught is trying to hunt down the Lizardmen who secretly rule the world, mainly through the power of their hips. After 11 years, he finally has a lead but no idea what he's in for.
The Remaining
26 - 28 Feb
Five girls, have spent the past five years living together in a boarding school. As they approach their final weeks together, buried secrets begin to surface, testing their relationships and understanding of each other.
Messy
3 - 7 MAR
When you live with your best friend, you’re both artists and she’s on the edge, life gets Messy.
Redemption
3 - 7 MAR
REDEMPTION offers hopeful ‘redeemables’ a chance to direct their dream sketches, improvised formats, scenes or comedic characters that haven’t worked, been rejected, or just didn’t receive the love they deserve.
SwapRox
3 - 7 MAR
Is your attention span f****cked? PopRox has a baked up a delectable improv show where every 7 minutes, everyone swap roles in this high-energy, character based romp.
Bug Songs Not Love Songs
3 - 7 MAR
Your wall. Two bugs. They’re gonna sing at you.
The meeting
3 - 7 MAR
One woman, seven characters: an explosion of political satire and hilarious farce.
A Man Named Dave
4 - 7 MAR
A Man Named Dave tells the story of an ordinary man with an extraordinary problem.
Tolerance
4 - 7 MAR
Eight of Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s most acclaimed emerging playwrights tolerated one another, as they paired up to create four short plays on the theme of Tolerance.
Operamoth
4 - 7 MAR
A cocoon bursts open into a fever dream.
