Festival FAQs

Our Fringe was the first in North America, and remains the largest, longest running Fringe Festival on the continent. Annually, we welcome more than 800,000 site visits; drive $20Million in economic impact; engage 1,000 Volunteers; support more than 1,600 Artists; and create more than 250 jobs. Yes, that’s every year. Plus, we deliver $1.3Million in annual ticket sales straight into the pockets of Artists – a practice unique to the Fringe Festival movement.

Did you know?
As a charitable arts organization, Fringe Theatre brings community together through the power of storytelling. We support Artists by giving them the tools and platform they need to wow you, entertain you, move you, and challenge you. That’s why Fringe Artists receive 100% of the base Festival ticket price!

The 45th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival returns to the heart of Old Strathcona August 13 – 23, 2026!

Located in the heart of Old Strathcona, Edmonton Fringe is the perfect way to experience all the area has to offer. Our key landmarks are the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (10330 84 Avenue) and ATB Park (known as Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park or Gazebo Park, located at the concern of 104 Street and 83 Avenue). While you’re here, we enthusiastically recommend you check out the awesome nearby shops, restaurants, and businesses. Visit oldstrathcona.ca for a list of local businesses to shop, dine at, and explore.

With 37 venues hosting theatre performances, Festival activity stretches from Old Strathcona, to the French Quarter, 124 Street, Downtown, and more!

Click here for our Site and Venue Maps!

Fringe Shuttle: Good news, Fringers: the FREE Fringe Shuttle is back for the 2026 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival! Thanks to support from the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), Festival-goers can catch a free ride between the Fringe Grounds in Old Strathcona and the French Quarter during all 11 days of Festival. Whether you’re heading to a show, exploring a new venue, or just giving your feet a little break, the Shuttle is an easy way to experience more Fringe.

Better yet? Every ride helps support the future of the program. This year marks a pilot return of the Shuttle service, so ridership matters! Hop on board and help keep connected Fringe experiences rolling into the future. The Fringe Festival Shuttle is FREE! No ticket or payment needed.

Link to Map and Schedule here!

Bike or Walk: Make the most of these precious summer days by biking or walking to Festival. Bonus: you won’t have to pay for parking! Bike lock up is available around Old Strathcona. Be sure to bring your own lock. PLEASE NOTE! Festival activity interrupts regular bike path usage along 83 Avenue. Please be mindful of detour routes during Festival.

High-Level Street Car: Operating on a special Fringe schedule, the historic Streetcar connects Downtown to Old Strathcona via the tippy-top of the High-Level Bridge, giving you a one-of-a-kind view of our beloved river valley before dropping you off right in the heart of our main Festival Grounds. BONUS! Heading to the Sea Change Granite Club or Garneau Theatre to catch a show? Ask your Streetcar operator when you board to make a special stop. They’ll be happy to accommodate! Visit edmontonstreetcars.ca for more info.

Edmonton Transit Service: Riding ETS is a great way to get to Fringe – in fact, they’re our preferred transportation partner! Take routes 4, 8, 637, or 701 along Whyte Avenue or Gateway Boulevard to get to and from our main Festival Grounds. Plan your route by using the ETS Trip Planner. Visit edmonton.ca/transit for more info.

DATS: Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS) drop-off is available near the Festival Grounds on 103 Street and 83 Avenue – please contact DATS directly to book: edmonton.ca/transit.

Parking: Please respect our neighbours and resist the temptation to park in the residential streets surrounding Festival Grounds. Check out the list of nearby paid parking lots at https://oldstrathcona.ca/visit.

FESTIVAL GROUNDS
August 13 (Thu): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
August 14 (Fri) – August 22 (Sat): 12Noon – 12Midnight
August 23 (Sun): 12Noon – 8:00PM

BOX OFFICE
See our Box Office Hours & Location page for more!

KIDSFRINGE
August 15 (Fri) – August 24 (Sun): 10:30AM – 5:30PM

FIRST AID
August 14 (Thu): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
August 15 (Fri) – August 23 (Sat): 11:00AM – 12Midnight
August 24 (Sun): 11:00AM – 8:00PM

INFORMATION
August 14 (Thu): 6:00PM – 10:30PM
August 15 (Fri) – August 23 (Sat): 11:00AM – 10:30PM
August 24 (Sun): 11:00AM – 7:00PM

MERCHANDISE
August 14 (Thu): 6:00PM – 11:00PM
August 15 (Fri) – August 23 (Sat): 12Noon – 11:00PM
August 24 (Sun): 12Noon – 7:00PM

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
August 14 (Thu) – August 23 (Sat): 9:00AM – 9:00PM
August 24 (Sun): 9:00AM – 8:00PM

TICKETS  

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 5 at 10AM (In-Person) or 12Noon (Online and by Phone).  

Buy your tickets:  

• Online: fringetheatre.ca
• By phone: 780-409-1910
• In person prior to the Festival at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns Box Office (10330 84 Avenue) or Edmonton Arts Council Shop & Services (9930 102 Avenue)
• In person during Festival at any Box Office  

If you purchase tickets online or by phone, your e-tickets will be emailed to you. If you purchase tickets in person, we’ll print them for you on the spot. All ticket sales are final – sorry, no refunds or exchanges. The only exception is if Fringe Theatre cancels or changes the schedule of a performance.

Questions? Please email boxoffice@fringetheatre.ca. 

PASSES  

Passes go on sale Wednesday, August 5 at 10AM (In-Person) or 12Noon (Online and by Phone). Snag your pass online, by phone, or in person. Pass sales are limited, so please act quickly!  

•  Frequent Fringer Pass: $170 for ten (10) tickets
• Double Fringer Pass: $340 for twenty (20) tickets 

Festival passes allow you to reserve up to two (2) tickets to any Festival or Holdover Series performance  

• Tickets are subject to availability – please book your tickets as soon as possible
• Limited to one pass per person
• Passes are non-transferable
• Discounts and passes may not be used with any additional offers or bought, sold, or exchanged for cash. 

Frequent Fringer Pass and Double Fringer Pass sales are limited, so please act quickly!

Show tickets are $20 or less (including fees).

Some shows offer special pricing for the littlest Fringers, Students, and/or Seniors. Our listed tickets (in the Festival Guide and online) are inclusive of the ticket price and service fee. What you see is what you pay.

Did you know Artists set their own ticket price? 100% of the base ticket price goes directly into their pockets.

As a charitable organization, Fringe Theatre charges a service fee of up to $5 per ticket to support basic Festival operations. Our service fee helps us continue to amplify Artists’ stories by providing them with the infrastructure they need to share their art with you.

Frequent Fringer Pass and Double Fringer Pass sales SOLD OUT!

Festival passes allow you to reserve up to two (2) tickets to any Festival or Holdover Series performance.

• Frequent Fringer Pass: $170 for ten (10) tickets

• Double Fringer Pass: $340 for twenty (20) tickets

Snag your pass online, by phone, or in person. Passes go on sale Wednesday, August 6 in person at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (10330 84 Avenue) at 10AM, or online at fringetheatre.ca or over the phone at 780-409-1910 at 12Noon.

Frequent Fringer Pass and Double Fringer Pass sales are limited, so please act quickly!

Limited to one Frequent Fringer/Double Fringer pass per person. Tickets are subject to availability – make sure you book your tickets as soon as possible!

Please note: Passes are non-transferrable and only valid for shows at the 2025 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and the 2025 Holdover Series. Pass tickets may be used for any Festival show but are subject to availability. Discounts and passes may not be used with any additional offers or bought, sold, or exchanged for cash.

All ticket sales are final – sorry, no refunds or exchanges. The only exception is if Fringe cancels or changes the schedule of a performance. Questions? Please email boxoffice@fringetheatre.ca.

Visit our Festival Guide Page for more details!

With 37 venues and 209 indoor shows featuring Artists from around the world, we are North America’s largest, longest-running Fringe Theatre Festival.

We strive to make theatre accessible and continually work with our community to address barriers and, where possible, find solutions so everyone can fringe to their fullest. We provide an accessibility overview of the venues in the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns.  

For more, click here. 

If you require a wheelchair stall, please inform our Box Office Staff either in-person, over email at boxoffice@fringetheatre.ca or over the phone (780- 409-1910) when you are purchasing your ticket. 

Tickets purchased online do not guarantee wheelchair stall availability. 

Additionally, our Accessibility Team can help with Festival navigation. Please email or call to ask any questions that may help you plan your Fringe experience! 

Email: accessibility.vols@fringetheatre.ca 

Call: 587-570-4577 

Venue accessibility information for all Festival venues is available when booking your tickets online at fringetheatre.ca; identified by the icons next to each show listing in the Festival Guide; or in-person from our friendly Volunteer team at the Box Office 

Please note: many venues used during Festival are operated by third parties. 

If your experience differs from the accessibility information provided, please reach out so we can continue to improve our communications: hello@fringetheatre.ca 

Every day, discount tickets are available to select performances. Discount tickets vary by day. Shows offering discounted tickets are posted daily here.

Thanks for your interest! Our Festival is powered by a more than 1,000 generous Volunteers. Fringe isn’t possible without their support!

To learn more about volunteering and to apply to join in the fun, please click here. While our Volunteer teams are full for this year’s Festival, we offer Volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Please sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter to be among the first to hear about upcoming Volunteer opportunities, including when applications open for next year’s Festival.

Curated especially for children, KidsFringe inspires creativity and play for children ages 12 and under (and their adults)! All shows and activities at KidsFringe are FREE!

KidsFringe is located in Light Horse Park (10324 85 Avenue) on the north end of the Festival Grounds.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at KidsFringe. Learn more about KidsFringe Special Events, Kids Stage, Kids Park, and more here.

The 2026 ATB Golden Ticket contest runs August 5 – 20, 2026. 

One ATB Golden Ticket will be awarded to one winner, including: 

• 100 tickets to theatre shows at the 2026 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival;
• VIP parking for the 2026 Festival;
• 3-night stay at the Metterra or Varscona Hotels on Whyte;
• $250 in spending money;
• Dinner for two at The Next Act: The Official Pub of Fringe; and
• Two tickets to the Festival Wrap Party! 

Enter to win the golden Fringe experience here.  

Did you know that you can enter the contest more than once? Check out #ATBGoldenTicket for even more ways to enter! The more you enter, the more chances you have to win! 

No summer is complete without a stop at a Fringe Festival patio or tent for beer, wine, cider, and canned cocktails. Soak up the summer vibes at one of our many patios. Minors are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

Every patio features an incredible line up of Sea Change Brewing Co. beers, sparkling beverages care of Shiddy’s Distilling, Village Brewery ciders, and wines from Borsao Bodegas and soda from the Grizzly Paw Soda Co.

PATIO HOURS
August 13 (Thu): 6:00PM – 11:00PM
August 14 (Fri) – August 22 (Sat): 12Noon – 11:00PM
August 23 (Sun): 12Noon – 7:00PM

PATIO LOCATIONS

• Sea Change South Beer Tent in ATB Park – located between 83 and 84 Avenue, just off 104 Street.
• Maclab Development Group Wine Tent – located on east 83 Avenue, next to the Varscona Theatre.
• Sea Change North Beer Tent – north of the Streetcar tracks and south of 85 Avenue.

Please note:

• The last call for liquor service is one hour before closing.
• Patios may periodically close for private events. Want to host an event during the Fringe Festival? Contact us at: hello@fringetheatre.ca

Visit the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns lobby to snag your limited-edition theme Fringe merch.

Merchandise Hours:

August 14 (Thu): 6:00PM – 11:00PM
August 15 (Fri) – August 23 (Sat): 12Noon – 11:00PM
August 24 (Sun): 12Noon – 7:00PM

Remember to check out Artisan Alley on 84 Avenue to explore our many amazing Artisan vendors for that one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Located in Studio A inside the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns, First Aid is standing by to patch you up if you get a bump or scratch while you’re fringing. Please note: First Aid does not have any medication.

First Aid Hours:

August 13 (Thu): 6:00PM – 12Midnight
August 14 (Fri) – August 22 (Sat): 11:00AM – 12Midnight
August 23 (Sun): 11:00AM – 8:00PM

Located in Orange Hall (next door to the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns), our Security is standing by to help keep you safe. They also collect lost and found items.

• If you are seeking a lost item during Festival, please visit Orange Hall.
• If you are seeking a lost item after Festival, please get in touch (hello@fringetheatre.ca or 780-448-9000) or visit our Administrative Office inside the Arts Barns.

Our Festival Grounds are too loud and crowded for our non-human friends. For the safety and well-being of pets and Fringers alike, please keep all animals at home unless they’re an on-the-clock service animal.

No. The Fringe Festival Grounds are smoke free. No smoking cigarettes or cannabis, or vaping on Festival Grounds.

When you fringe with us, you join a community that is vibrant, diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and safe. We believe in creating spaces that celebrate creative risk. To do that, we recognize our duty to grow and foster authentic safer spaces. This requires commitment, accountability, and support from everyone in our community.

If you witness or experience harassment, violence, or discrimination, please tell us. We will listen. We will help you.

Thank you for helping make Fringe safer for everyone.

Senior prices are available for anyone aged 65+. We allow patrons to self-identify as seniors. Senior IDs are not required. Artists set their own ticket prices – some shows will offer a Senior price, and some may not.

Student prices are available for anyone who attends school, no matter their age. We allow patrons to self-identify as students. Student IDs are not required. Artists set their own ticket prices – some shows will offer a Student price, and some may not.

Fringe Theatre Holdover Series tickets go on sale the closing weekend of Festival!

The Holdover Series is your LAST CHANCE to catch these MUST-SEE shows of the 45th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival! Curated by Fringe Theatre’s Artistic Director Murray Utas, the official Fringe Holdover Series puts a spotlight on all the weird, wild, and unexpected Festival has to offer.